NAS device

[phiber]

Hi Guys,

Currently I have a HPProliant acting as a file server, but I want to get a proper NAS device, something like this:


Seagate BlackArmor NAS 400 Network Storage Enclosure

Now I already have 4 x 2TB drives, where could I get one of these at a reasonable price? Or is there a competitior product slightly cheaper than the 3-4000 rand im seeing everywhere for this device?

 

[MDE]

DONT. I've got the Blackarmor 400 at work and its awful. Been using over a year now...bad software, its slow (compared to other makes) Rather get a synology...much better. Seriously ps. It also destroyed two drives beyond repair.

 

[spiderz]

or a HP microserver

 

[Azriel]

I have the Synology DS410 and it's amazing! Highly recommended. Lots of nice extras available like iPhone and Android apps, media streaming, iTunes server, PhotoStation, DownloadStation, etc.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Synology DS1010+ - never had any issues.

 

[Wong]

Synology or Qnap , stay away from seagate blackarmor :O

 

[TYR]

Qnap TS-410 ... software is very nice, easy to install packages for Twonky, MySQL, Sickbeard, SABnzbd+ etc. ... Running RAID5 over 4x1.5TB, but keep in mind that if a drive ever packs up, the machine will be extremely unresponsive during the 3-4 day rebuild process. Qnap and Synology definitely build much better units than Seagate.

But, the CPU's and (mostly non-upgradeable) RAM on cheapish NAS's will never compare with an HP Proliant MicroServer. I just bought another HP MS and I'll move my Sickbeard/SABnzbd/Torrents etc onto the Ubuntu server installation on that. So, if you can spare the time to setup Ubuntu and all your services, I would recommend getting the much cheaper HP MS.

 

[Wyzak]

At work we've stopped buying the Seagate NAS drives after we had too many failures. The software on them is also shockingly bad. For example I haven't yet been able to find a way to force a disk scan on any of the drives. I've had to remove the drive and connect it to a Linux machine and run disk scan from there to fix. An enormous schlep for something so simple.

We are now buying Western Digital drives instead and we haven't had one failure yet. Their software is also considerably better.

 

[Gnome]

Currently I have a HPProliant acting as a file server, but I want to get a proper NAS device, something like this:

HAHAHAHAHA!

Excuse my laughing. Blackarmor isn't a proper NAS. FreeNAS is far closer to a proper NAS than any of these low cost units.

Let's see: Blackarmor = Proprietary RAID = crap
FreeNAS = ZFS = Enterprise filesystem used by large companies with a proven track record.

Which to take....

 

[RoganDawes]

or a HP microserver

+1

For what you pay for a 4-bay NAS, you could buy 3-4 microservers.

 

[Gnome]

For what you pay for a 4-bay NAS, you could buy 3-4 microservers.

Add the right hardware to the Microserver and you can get ~100MB/s write and 110MB/s write (that is megabytes). I tested with a 40GB random pattern file copied from/to my SSD over Gigabit ethernet.

Did a test for my brother the other day:
Get 3 or 5 disks, I tested with WD20EARS drives (3 of them). Must be 3 or 5, use another number and it will be slower (long story).

Use FreeNAS and format it as RAID-z (ZFS).

Get one of these: Intel Pro/1000 CT (most stores has it as an HP part for around R400). It is an Intel Pro/1000 PCI-express x1 network card.

You'll need the LAN card to get 100mb/s speeds.

Doubt blackarmor NAS can come close 100mb/s.

 

[MDE]

Doubt blackarmor NAS can come close 100mb/s.

Nope max's out at 30MB/s on GIG network

 

[Gnome]

Nope max's out at 30MB/s on GIG network

The blackarmor?

 

[mic_y]

dont do it... had a Seagate Blackarmor for a bit. The software is useless, the NAS managed to nuke 6 hard drives (heads clicking) in the space of 2 weeks, it is horribly slow (could not stream 2 HD movies at the same time) with around a max of 30MB/s read and even lower write speeds. Do yourself a favor and use FreeNAS.

 

[PsyWulf]

Blackarmor's have improved slightly with the newer firmware revisions but overall still ****e compared to Qnap/Synology and even Thecus

 

[OGroteKoning]

I got a Synology DS411j and very happy with it. Got it from Uniterm Direct. They might offer a discount seeing you are a MyBB member.

 

[Gnome]

If you don't mind my asking, how fast is the Synology (MB/s over Samba), what does it cost, how many drives can it take and what kind of "RAID" levels does it support?

 

[kayvee]

If you don't mind my asking, how fast is the Synology (MB/s over Samba), what does it cost, how many drives can it take and what kind of "RAID" levels does it support?

Most of your answers found here or here.

R3750 excl @ Uniterm Direct

 

[Gnome]

Very expensive!

 

[Shake&Bake]

Geez. Glad I ran into this thread. Looking at options for storage (movies, mp3's, general media) Didn't realize that NAS boxes are so pricey! That and the cost of getting a drive or two, make for scary exercise.

Besides NAS storage - What solution can be employed? A server chassis?

EDIT: Gonna leave the idea of NAS - new box, with 5 bays should do for now.