Network Attached Storage (NAS)

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PearlJam

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What is the best bang for the buck NAS out there available in SA?

I saw the Netgear SC101, but very bad reviews online. Then there are those that sell for R4 500 upwards.
 
Do you really need NAS? A cheap PC running Linux, would do the same trick. A professional solution is easier, less trouble, more reliable, though more expensive.
 
Have you looked at the Airport Extreme?

EDIT - probably not much use if you're not interested in a system that includes, but obj isnt limited to, wireless (801.11n).
 
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lsuacner said:
Do you really need NAS? A cheap PC running Linux, would do the same trick. A professional solution is easier, less trouble, more reliable, though more expensive.
Click to expand...

It seems to be the easiest way to add capacity to my pc, without taking up the space of another pc
 
Oh I see. What I did was to put my Linux file server in the living room, connect it to the TV to watch series on. Doesn't take space. A problem I have with it is it copies at 11mb/s between 2 Linux PCs, it serves data at 11mb/s but it can only download at 5mb/s from Windows PCs. Obviously this might not be at all what you want, just a suggestion. Redundancy solutions and such is a hassle, if you don't use a nice NAS setup. I have lost 2 disks in that PC, since I only use old spare parts for it. Lost some data. heh.
 
Got mine from Pinnacle (CT). Paid R1999 excl.

The drives are not included.

If you get one, do the firmware update BEFORE using the drives. The new firmware formats the drives.
 
The DNS-323 also has Raid 1 which mirrors the data across both drives creating an instant backup in case a drive fails. If you prefer combining the drives, there is an option for this, so that it looks like you have one massive drive.
 
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Raid 0 mirrors!? :o
Freenas is nice, simple to use but not the most efficient* user of the network.
OpenFiler has better network effiency* but I couldn't get it to work as smoothly on my network (seems to prefer a more business/enterprise network with dns etc)

(*test against an old P3 w/ rtl8139 card)

The dns-323 and Intel ss4000-e are purpose built NAS appliances, but upgrade their firmwares before setting up the disks.
 
I need to go for a NAS as i have space restrictions with all my stuff. I got a price of R2 165 for the Dlink DNS-323 which seems good
 
Check out openfiler. You can build a decent NAS/SAN appliance with it from an old pc, with data redundancy thrown in. they recently added an internal database, so you no longer need a domain controller of some sort to run it with. I have a few running, i think i may have posted some more details somewhere on here.
 
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