NAS or RAID for optional storage?

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DoubleDogg6

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Sep 3, 2016
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So recently I've been creating YouTube content, ripping Blu-ray discs and the such and it is taking up a lot of space. I have one 1TB hard drive and two 500GB hard drives (Both are pretty full right now, but I am working on freeing up space) but I know in the future I will be making more content and ripping more movies, so I've been looking into network storage. I know that I can use a RAID or a NAS but which would be more effective? I have spare PC parts so I no doubt build a NAS (I will be buying more hard drives no matter what) but which would be better of the two? Thank you for reading and thank you ahead of time for answering.
 
Solution
why_wolf
see USAFRet.

Now for the choice between a NAS or setting up a RAID on your PC, I choose NAS. I have one setup myself (Synology 4-bay, 3 occupied). Hot swappable bays, network share so any computer can use the files, mirrored storage, and a way more straight forward backup system for just the NAS. It's also nice because if anything goes wrong with my main rig I don't have to worry about losing files, I can just nuke it and reinstall windows.

In short if you are really serious about your storage or anticipate having a large amount saved (anything over 2Tb in my book) I would really recommended looking into a NAS.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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NAS or RAID is not an either/or.

Network Attached Storage - A box of drives that you connect to over your LAN.

RAID - Presumably you're thinking of RAID 1, for theoretical redundancy?
In a NAS box, you can have 2 or more drives in a RAID array.
 
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why_wolf

why_wolf

Splendid
Aug 28, 2015
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see USAFRet.

Now for the choice between a NAS or setting up a RAID on your PC, I choose NAS. I have one setup myself (Synology 4-bay, 3 occupied). Hot swappable bays, network share so any computer can use the files, mirrored storage, and a way more straight forward backup system for just the NAS. It's also nice because if anything goes wrong with my main rig I don't have to worry about losing files, I can just nuke it and reinstall windows.

In short if you are really serious about your storage or anticipate having a large amount saved (anything over 2Tb in my book) I would really recommended looking into a NAS.
 
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DoubleDogg6

Commendable
Sep 3, 2016
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Thank you for you're help. That's kinda of what I have on my main rig now (all the hard drives are accessible over LAN), but I wanted something more permanent. Think I will just go with a NAS.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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My house server that does the same function as a 'NAS' is simply a low end Windows PC.
Small SSD for the OS, many large HDD's for media.

Double duty - HTPC to the TV for media, and house server for storage and backups.
Currently 21TB space, not counting the 120GB SSD C drive.
5dp2yeZ.jpg
 
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