Help Picking New NAS

[googlebuddy]

Hi everyone,

Last night my PC crashed and my data was lost. Luckily, I had a backup so I only lost about a week's worth of data.

In any case, it made me realize that I better get a backup solution quick so I'm hoping you can help me in selecting a new NAS.

I need the NAS to primarily do 3 things:
1) Connect to my PS3 to play movies / music
2) Ability to setup a user, password protect the files and have capacity limits per user
3) Work with a MAC & PC

Anything else would be bonus.

I was looking at the QNAP 109 http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_feature.asp?p_id=78
or 209 http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_feature.asp?p_id=83 both with 500GB capacity

What do you think of these devices? Is there something better?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[UncleDave]

They look really great on paper.

I might of gotten one of these instead of a file server if I had known about them! Have you been able to find an independent review?

 

[googlebuddy]

Here is a review:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30181/75/

It's for the 209Pro but the 209 and 209Pro are almost exactly the same. The difference is that the 209 Pro has NFS (Linux client support) and Windows AD Service (basically geared towards corporate instead of home user).

My only hesitation is that the total cost is going to be above $500 after I get hard drives. Is it worth it or is there a better alternative?

 

[CNeufeld]

Personally, I'm going to try setting up a Windows Home Server. HP has a pre-configured box with a single 500GB drive in it, and room for another 3 drives of any size. I'm setting up a home-built system for it.

Basically, it runs a headless version of Windows Server 2003. You can remote into it, install software and add-on's, etc. The OS itself is about $150, then you roll your own hardware.

Clint

 

[Guest]

Linksys NSLU2
Even with its age, this is a great system. Its very customizable and you can add many different linux apps for it. There is a huge community at http://www.nslu2-linux.org/

Go check it out.
FYI, I use one so I know how nice they are.
I use mine to

1) FTP server
2) Itunes server to stream to my PCs, xbox & laptop
3) Webserver
4) SSH remote connection
5) NAS a maxtor II one touch
6) printer server (USB)

plus I can administer it local or remote.

PS, its only a 3rd of the price of the other unit.

 

[UncleDave]

Personally, I'm going to try setting up a Windows Home Server. HP has a pre-configured box with a single 500GB drive in it, and room for another 3 drives of any size. I'm setting up a home-built system for it.

Basically, it runs a headless version of Windows Server 2003. You can remote into it, install software and add-on's, etc. The OS itself is about $150, then you roll your own hardware.

Clint

The home server is going to be more flexible and expandable. With all due respect to googlebuddy I don't know how comfortable he (she?) would be running a server. I like this NAS as it's completely turn-key (after you've bought the drives).

I think it will probably use less electrickary than a server. Solid state operating system now worries about viruses, patches, etc. I know I am capable of running the Windows 2003 server I have and think the NAS would have been a better option!

At the end of the day .... googlebuddy's decision.