Software RAID 5 for NAS/File Server – Compiling a resource

I have researched this and changed my ideas over and over again. I turn to everyone for what guidance and experience they can offer.

For some time now I have been meaning to use my old computer hardware to setup up a machine as separate NAS for my home. The purpose of which would be sheerily for storage, and not performance (streaming media etc.)

For this exercise I am more than willing to take the performance hit and embrace a ‘software’ RAID 5 setup – due to cost of ‘hardware’ alternative with onboard XOR processing.

For such an exercise I was originally going to use the Windows XP hack for RAID 5 on my main machine. However, I am in a quest for greater functionality.

Particularly I am looking at the alternatives of Windows Server 2003 and in particular, Linux (of which I have no experience, but am very interested to develop my knowledge) on a separate box.

With recent advancements I am keen to deploy this functionality:

• Expandability – That the array size can be grown with the addition of extra drives (A particular of the recent Linux kernel as I understand). Also whether it forms space as part of the main pool.

• Better to partition the RAID 5 array with separate drives for each media type (music, tv series etc) or use as a single pool of space.

• I have seen somewhere (very vague) the option of different sized HDDs and using the normal loss in space for the extra drive (parity) as a separate partition (not as important… just for future proofing upgrades).

• To have the array be functioning/accessible across Windows machines in a home network.

• SAMBA, FTP, accessibility away from the network and other interesting options available.

• E-SATA: Peoples experience with expanding for more drives via this option.

• Windows Server 2003 vs Linux build (for the functionality purposes above)

Can everybody share their personal experiences with such a task. Links? Recommended builds of Linux etc?

This is in an effort to compile recent advancements and knowledge for such a task that I wish to share as a resource. Also to see other peoples ideas.

The specifications of the machine will be as follows:

AMD64 3000+
1Gb DDR400
4x400gb Seagate SATAII drives
1xHDD for operating system etc.

(Parts spare from recent builds etc).

My apologies for the detail, but I seem to be going around in circles and would like some clarity.

-Alex