NAS, Personal Cloud and Networking

[MasterShrive 2,018]

So I'm looking at getting a NAS. I don't know a lot about it, but I am sick of having my music collection across four different computers which I have to sync every so often. I've also got all my movies on the HTPC, which thus aren't easily accessed from other devices. As I am looking at getting a new phone and a tablet in the nearish future (I've been saying that for 12 months) I also want to be able to share easily with Android devices. So, I have been looking at something like the following:

 

http://www.cnet.com.au/synology-ds211-339316266.htm

 

The reason I am looking at Synology is because they also allow the NAS to act like a personal cloud in their latest software version. I can set up a folder on my computers much like Drop Box, and I figure that by using that I can share the music easily while having it stored in one place, as well as movies and other documents and files which I use for work. I obviously also intend to use the NAS for back up. The above drive would need two HDDs, which is more than my current storage needs and should do me for the future. I assume that the NAS is seen as one device, even if there are two drives in it? As I was going to use one drive for media/cloud use and the other for back up, but it might be better to just RAID the drives and use my current external HDD as back up.

 

I have also been looking at getting CAT6 cables and upgrading my network transfer speeds. I also want to share my printer via the network (just cause I can) and do back ups over the network. The NAS will hopefully be able to take care of this, but as part of the upgrade I am also looking at getting one of these: http://www.fritzbox.com.au/product-fritz-wlan7390.html#

 

I am hoping that will help with speeds and also make things run smoother on the network. If I could I would really like to use IPv6 across the network to make issues like port forwarding less relevant and make remote desktoping from outside the network easier as well. This might be a pipe dream. I'm certainly hoping it will run the network smoothly for quite some time.

 

So, who has experience in this area and does anyone have any thoughts? I'm very new to this, but combined with the Phone/Tablet eventual upgrade this is my next big project for the coming months.

 

~MS.

[Blueberry 444]

Or...you could get google docs.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

For what I do work wise - no chance. I need online and offline access, which is why the drop box-esque solution would work very well.

[Phobos 1,212]

You know my stance on these pre-built NAS's Shrivey. The speed is pretty low. If you don't mind waiting to transferring files semi slowly, it's fine.

 

Also it's a 2 drive, so you'll have to either do RAID 0,1, JBOD or their SHR. Betterish review: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4195/syno ... s-review/1

 

Myself, i have a custom NAS setup with server grade hardware and run ZFS with 4 drives atm.

 

As i told you on xfire, the Billion 7800N will serve you well. I've got one and love it. Do a search and you'll see the same on reviews about it. But like i told ya, have a look around for new gigabit routers that might be on the market.

 

If you're using 5e cables, CAT 6 wont make a difference in your house.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

I would be replacing the cables as well; or at least I was going to look in to it (as most of my current cables have seen better days anyway).

 

I might have to look around again router wise. USB ports were originally something I was looking at, but if I get a NAS that won't matter as much.

 

I don't think I would have the time to set up a custom NAS... but it is really the cloud storage option which would suit me greatly here as I strongly considered drop box as an alternative. If I can have it all on my own network and share it to the web when needed, then I'd be very happy.

[bprc 1,441]

As usual it seems like you've done your homework.

 

I'm more a fan of the PC/NAS option. Gives me more flexibility and options to expand in the future. I've just bought a HP N40L microserver to play around with for $220. Supports up to 8GB, 4 HDD bays (plus OS drive), 2 PCI slots and very low power consumption. Windows 7 and then I can install whatever apps I need.

 

Main thing is make sure whatever setup you go with that you can recover the data if your NAS falls over. So any odd/custom RAID setups will make that hard (Drobo I'm looking at you).

 

Unless you're running 10BaseT at home then Cat5e (or even Cat5) will do fine.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

I think a fully built PC/NAS is out of my area of expertise. Maybe in a few years if I get my head around this first.

 

I was going to go 10BaseT... but are there any draw backs with that? I was hoping it might help with speeds across the network, and if I'm going to all this effort then cable upgrades should be the least of my issues.

 

As usual it seems like you've done your homework.

Can't ask the kids to do it if I won't, lol.

[bprc 1,441]

I was going to go 10BaseT... but are there any draw backs with that?

 

It can be hard to find T BNC connectors but you will save on cable if you opt for the ring topology

 

TBH, if you're happy with your NAS unit, get it. Other than slow transfer speeds it seems like a decent unit. Does it come in a 4 bay unit?

[MasterShrive 2,018]

There is a four bay option, which I am strongly considering.

 

I know this is the expensive way of doing it, but I was going to get the cables pre-fabricated as I don't have the skills nor the tools to make them.

[bprc 1,441]

I'd go with the 4 bay option. 2 drives is obviously very limiting.

 

I take it your cables are just lying on the floor? Are they broken or faulty?

[MasterShrive 2,018]

Floor. And they've been to many, many LANs. Even though the ones I'm using probably aren't too bad.

[bprc 1,441]

What are you expecting to get out of new Cat6 cables?

[MasterShrive 2,018]

I was expecting faster speeds as I didn't think Cat5e did this. Mistaken by the sounds?

[Phobos 1,212]

Cat5e will work on gigabit speeds. End devices for your application will determine the speeds, 10/100/1000.

 

But you said you want to replace the cables, in that case go Cat6 if you want. But they can be $$$

[PistolKnight 554]

I have a roll with at least $150m of cat 6 still on it, just need to buy terminals. I used it to prewire my house when we did a reno

[MasterShrive 2,018]

Wow. I wouldn't trust myself trying to put the ends on. I'd always wonder if I had done it right and therefore always think I wasn't getting the most out of it.

 

Just looking on PCCase Gear I can get 10m of CAT6 for $9 http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?mai ... ts_id=2671 so I think I can handle that budget wise.

 

I just realised my HTPC HDD is getting rather full, so I'm strongly considering getting a new router very shortly, then getting the NAS worked out not long after that. So I'll do a look around RE wireless routers; that one you posted looks pretty solid Phoby and given it's tried and true it would presently be at the top of my list I think. Anyone got any other suggestions? I'm eventually going to plug a printer in to the network, but I think I'll do that via the NAS. I may or may not use an external HDD for back ups off the NAS too, but that would be a while away. It would mean I'd like to have at least two USB ports NAS wise though.

[Duckz 474]

For my needs, a NAS is the best option. I'll be using it to store 95% of my data, and using the streaming featue to stream content over my network. Transfer speeds aren't a major issue for me, as the majority of transfer will be streaming, and anything else will just be moving newly downloaded data from my PC to the NAS.

 

I've been looking at the Synology DS411 for a while now, as it's fairly cost effective, only uses 29W under load and does everything I want a NAS to do and more. Plus the Synology interface is a win in my book. When I eventually have the opportunity to purchase this, or something similar, I'll also be purchasing a small UPS so the NAS can be safely shutdown during a power outage. Something similar to, if not the Eaton S3 should do fine. One feature a couple of the Thecus NAS' that I wish more companies used, is having a built in UPS.

 

4 x 3TB drives in RAID5 will give me 9TB of storage with redundancy.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

I was thinking the same in the end. I wouldn't put 4 HDDs in for a start and likely only start with two, but it may be a better option to have expandability in the future. My data storage needs aren't going to shrink, that is for sure.

 

I hadn't thought about a UPS, but that possibly isn't a bad idea either. Something I might consider in time.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

Well I have made a list on PC Case Gear: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?mai ... wish_lists

 

I think that is about all I am willing to spend NAS wise, though there are probably better options for a few more dollars. I am not sure if they are the best drives to run with or not, but at this point 4TB should be plenty and I don't intend to expand for a while again yet.

 

Any suggestions would be most welcome

[Duckz 474]

Just check on the Synology website, as they have a hard drive compatibility list which have been tested to work with the unit. Other drives general should work, but they have tested the drives that they've listed on their site.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

Yeah, they are compatible. I'm more questioning whether they are the best for my needs.

[Duckz 474]

Did you end up making this purchase Shrives?

 

Just wondering how the DS411 performs overall.

[MasterShrive 2,018]

I did.

 

Got it about ten days ago. So far I have had the time to plug it in and that is about it About all I can say at this stage is it's quiet, lol. I plan to do more soon.

[Blueberry 444]

Shrives, the master of purchasing things and "not getting around" to using them and eternally "planning to get to it soon"

[PistolKnight 554]

i do that with power tools