Network Storage - options

[Brizberg]

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice about affordable network storage for home / home office.
I'm currently using regular external hard drives attached directly to my laptop, but I'd like something attached to my home network that I can use to store home media as well as work files, accessible from home but also from elsewhere.
I work with programs like autocad and photoshop so it needs to be something that can handle big files and is relatively fast.
Currently I have about 4TB of information that needs storing but this is likely to increase so it needs to be expandable.
I've been looking at various NAS drives online but the options are quite confusing.
My budget for the NAS unit is max. R5000 (preferably less) - I'm aware that I'll need to buy the HDD units separately.
Any advice on products / solutions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Zipkoppie]

I use the WD mycloud mirror 4Tb(in RAID 1) for my home office, its a little more expensive because of the RAID functionality, but that's the reason I got it.
It does support adding extra storage via USB, so I have an external 4tb attached for non work related data.
I'm actually very happy with it, hasn't given me any issues since I had it and supports most major backup solutions, like mac timemachine.
I tend to use it as an FTP server most of the time that just backs up my Linux machines via scripts I wrote.

 

[Deleted member 83147]

Hi man,

I might actually have something that will suit your needs and budget.

PM me for more info.

 

[InvisibleJim]

Synology or QNAP for off the shelf NAS

NAS4FREE or FreeNAS plus HP Microserver/DellT20/Black box if you want to roll your own (Run OS off USB or SD Card)
XPEnology is an open source implementation of Synology DSM (haven't tried this myself yet but looks quite cool and I like Synology.)

NAS4FREE and FreeNAS use ZFS filing system which protects against data corruption. Latest versions of Synology DSM use BTRFS which provides similar functionality

Buy decent disks (WD Caviar red or Equivilent.) No Green Eco friendly disks in your NAS if your data matters to you.