Cheapest NAS for 30+ users network

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
la chupacabra

la chupacabra

Distinguished
Apr 26, 2014
114
6
18,695
I'm looking for a NAS for a network of 30+ computers (both Macs and PCs). NAS would be used for storing, accessing and editing data on it. It would be mainly MS Office documents and .pdf files. In total there is around 500GB of data. There is no need for streaming. My main concern is compatibility with Macs, fast access without lags and cost.
Could you recommend me:
1. Cheapest available NAS that meets above criteria
2. Cheapest available NAS that meets above criteria and with active directory integration
Also if I buy just an enclosure, what sort of HDD can I buy to fit it? Does any 3.5 SATA HDD will be compatible with 1-bay NAS enclosure?
 
Solution
Greenpedro5
What i would do is purchase 2x1tb (software raid 0) drive i kmow 500gb but your an expanding business so it covers you for longer and use a cheap processor like intel atom or pentium you dont need much power and stick 4gb of ram is you build this as a standard pc and it will have multiple bays in say total £250 $300. Also i would use free nas which is an operating system to get over mac issue it allows u to create shares of both unjx and windows and mac and by using unix it will work no matter operating system of the client. This OS can run ftp services which means staff could access it elsewhere. It isnt hard to use it has a simple web gui. Also there is 1 bay 3.5ich nas but i wouldnt rate them they are designed as home use.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Greenpedro5

Greenpedro5

Honorable
Apr 13, 2013
178
0
10,710
What i would do is purchase 2x1tb (software raid 0) drive i kmow 500gb but your an expanding business so it covers you for longer and use a cheap processor like intel atom or pentium you dont need much power and stick 4gb of ram is you build this as a standard pc and it will have multiple bays in say total £250 $300. Also i would use free nas which is an operating system to get over mac issue it allows u to create shares of both unjx and windows and mac and by using unix it will work no matter operating system of the client. This OS can run ftp services which means staff could access it elsewhere. It isnt hard to use it has a simple web gui. Also there is 1 bay 3.5ich nas but i wouldnt rate them they are designed as home use.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Solution
T

TyrOd

Honorable
Aug 16, 2013
527
0
11,160


When you say for "storage" this implies it's valuable enough to store so it's valuable enough to back up.

So is this disposable or data backed up continuously somewhere?

You need to answer that question before anyone can give you any kind of competent answer in terms of the most cost effective solution.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
la chupacabra

la chupacabra

Distinguished
Apr 26, 2014
114
6
18,695
Greenpedro5; That sounds interesting. Actually at the moment as a server I'm using Sony Vaio laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium on it which works fine with PC computers, but it doesn't with iMacs. I managed to established connection for few hours, but after that it's always lost (It says connection failed). But if I could actually install different OS on that laptop, that could solve that problem. Is there a free operating system available that could be install on Sony Vaio laptop, is easy to use and compatible with Mac OS?
TyrOd; I was going to use NAS for storing both shared folder and backup of all computers + connect USB external drive to it and set up another backup for whole content of NAS
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Greenpedro5

Greenpedro5

Honorable
Apr 13, 2013
178
0
10,710

Free nas it costs nothing it's an open south free project can be installed on usb and booted and ran from it on the laptop. It runs from that leaving all space on the hard drive.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Greenpedro5

Greenpedro5

Honorable
Apr 13, 2013
178
0
10,710


That's it and it gives u and local ipv4 from the dchp server that you access via a web browser once installed into the flash drive do not install on the hard drive. You than create a volume and enable a share have a look on YouTube how to install and setup free nas, that's the best way to explain how to set it up it is really quite simple though
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom