I got a NAS server

[Defend Tacoma]

I finally got my NAS server up and running! If you're not sure, NAS is short for Network Attached Storage. It's basically a computer attached to your home network that stores and serves files, and has a few file management type programs running...

Anyways, I picked up a Synology 410j NAS box, and stuffed it with four 1.5 terabyte hard disks. I'm running RAID 5, so it works out to be 4,100 gigabytes worth of storage. I decided to buy an off the shelf box, as I didn't have a spare computer laying around, and I need something very stable. Also I didn't feel like digging up all the apps I would be using myself for it.

The NAS currently houses 350ish gigs of photos and video I have taken, 100 gigs of music (including live music that I tape), 200 gigs of movies, programs, games etc., and another 100 gigs of assorted stuff. So far I'm using it to serve 3 desktop computers, 2 wireless laptops, 2 iPhones, an HD Tivo, Asus o!play, and an Airport Express.

Some services I'm currently using on the NAS:

• Automatic backups to and from my home computers.
• Itunes Manager- Central music repository and server
• Download Station- The NAS downloads stuff from the 'net directly to itself, so the computer can be shut off, or used for other stuff.
• Also setting it up to be a web and email server just for family.
• FTP to grab my data from any computer with an internet connection.

Anyway I mostly got it for the cavernous storage, RAID 5, small footprint, and low noise. I am really enjoying all the other things it can do as well though! Thought I'd let you know what I got cooking in the lab in case anyone else is on the fence or interested in learning more!

Yep, I'm a bit of a geek.

 

[Jake]

Have you considered turning this into an ISCSI box running OpenFiler? Makes for another interesting lab project but the ISCSI technology provides amazing connectivity and with some extra switches & etc. it is fault tolerant. And finally have you looked at RAID10? With the price of TB drives so low, you get really fast reads/writes and rebuilds.

Just an idea...

 

[LittleJon]

four 1.5 terabyte hard disks. I'm running RAID 5, so it works out to be 4,100 gigabytes worth of storage.

Very nice.
I have 2.5tb on three different externals, a large NAS is my next project.

 

[JaDo]

any heat issues?

 

[Defend Tacoma]

Have you considered turning this into an ISCSI box running OpenFiler? Makes for another interesting lab project but the ISCSI technology provides amazing connectivity and with some extra switches & etc. it is fault tolerant. And finally have you looked at RAID10? With the price of TB drives so low, you get really fast reads/writes and rebuilds.

I'll check into OpenFiler... Part of the reason I decided to post on the NAS is I thought I would get some good ideas from the community! Also I was kicking around the idea of RAID 10 quite a bit but decided to sacrifice some speed for capacity. I am no stranger to the difference a fast hard drive can make, I have one of the faster SSD's as the C: drive on my main rig.

Very nice.
I have 2.5tb on three different externals, a large NAS is my next project.

It's really quite fun and cool! I lucked out and got some open box Samsung 1.5 TB Eco drives for $72.99 each at Newegg. I know shopping for open box hard drives doesn't exactly fit my vision of a stable system, but that was too cheap to pass up! Also the NAS can handle one of the drives failing, and keep chugging along with no data loss...

 

[Defend Tacoma]

any heat issues?

Nope, been running for 2.5 days, hard drives are 33ish degrees Celsius, case temp is 43ish. The Eco drives probably help too, as they draw less power, and run marginally slower. There are 2 fans that push air through the back of the case that seem to do a great job!

 

[xillion]

Eco drives are great for a NAS. I have two in mine. I found this article very helpful when I put mine together:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/network-attached-storage,2448.html?xtmc=nas&xtcr=2

Now I want to put together a proper RAID 5 system. I'm thinking of buying a Synology box as well.

 

[Phog Allen]

This is a good post. I have a NAS in mind for our home. Eventually. We want to build up a set top box as a sort of wannaber htpc. Probably no capture function but that could always be added. I want a box that essentially is a motherboard and a boot drive with some sort of minimal Linux distro. This would hopefully allow the playing of just about any a/v files around. These newer motherboards have GPU that allow full rendering of HD on board and have the proper audio capabilities as well. If you can get one like the Media Diva series that has all the proper a/v output jacks, it should make a clean solution. We will see. Thanks for the article.

Regards, Todd

 

[Defend Tacoma]

This is a good post. I have a NAS in mind for our home. Eventually. We want to build up a set top box as a sort of wannaber htpc. Probably no capture function but that could always be added. I want a box that essentially is a motherboard and a boot drive with some sort of minimal Linux distro. This would hopefully allow the playing of just about any a/v files around. These newer motherboards have GPU that allow full rendering of HD on board and have the proper audio capabilities as well. If you can get one like the Media Diva series that has all the proper a/v output jacks, it should make a clean solution. We will see. Thanks for the article.

Regards, Todd

My pleasure, Todd! What I came up with to get my extensive video collection from my NAS to my TV is the ASUS o!play. There is a wired as well as a wireless version. I got the wireless one, but for playing the big 1080p monster files, I find it helps to be wired in. The o!play is a smallish set-top box with component and HDMI outs that can play just about any codec under the sun. It also can output to 1080p. Blu-Ray rips, or .mkv files on it are absolutely stunning!

Here's the amazon page for the o!play in case you want to see some reviews or the write up on it. HERE

 

[xillion]

Hi Todd,

I also use my NAS as storage for video. I use my mac running plex to stream to my HDTV and receiver for 5.1 sound. But there are many new options that use even less power.

Boxee Box

Patriot Box Office. Has an internal 2.5 slot.

and the good old Popcorn Hour.

All of the above boxes decode and playback 1080p perfectly. The boxee box and popcorn hour both have built in bittorrent clients for downloading.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

I've been looking at the boxee box as well. I'll look into the popcorn one too. My Synology NAS has a download manager for torrents, newsgroups and http as well. It's really nice to be able to restart or put my main rig to sleep while the NAS keeps plugging away at the downloads.