Any advice on a NAS?

[jimmifli]

I'm running out of room on my PC and although I could throw another HD in, it seems like a thumb in the damn.

The house is wired with ethernet on all levels (most rooms), I've got a HTPC from HP in the living room, a mac in the basement studio and an old clunker packed full of half a dozen HDs in my office. I'd really like to be able access all my files (TV, music, photos) over the network. It's also grown larger than I can back up 2TB+ so a raid at least offers a little protection.

So, I think NAS is probably my best option. Anybody go that route yet? Any DIY or off the shelf recommendations? I don't want to spend more than $1500 but I'd like to get as much capacity as I can.

[Shamrock1989]

2 Terabytes of crap ? Good god man.

[jimmifli]

2 Terabytes of crap ? Good god man.
I've ripped nearly every movie I've rented (and liked) for a few years. A year ago I got a FTA sat setup, combine that with a HTPC as a DVR and I can run through space pretty quick. I've got a several hundred movies available at the touch of a button, not too mention 3 years of Bills games.

HD space is cheap and I get lots of retired drives from work, it's really not that much.

[Woody]

Take a look at the Buffalo Terastations. I'm thinking about getting one myself. 3TB starting at $1399... you can get them bigger for more $$$ :niterider

[Merc]

Check out Microsoft Windows Home Server. Costs $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116395 and can be loaded onto an old PC. It has recieved outstanding reviews, doesn't require a super rig to operate and allows you to use that old equipment for something worthwhile. Stick three of these 1TB Western Digitals http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136151 into a box with an old A64 system runnuing Windows Home Server and you should be golden. Definitely read some reviews on anything before you purchase. Great setup BTW, I'd love a wired house.

[jimmifli]

I'm in a town house with 3 ft between my neighbor's house and mine. I found black cable and just ran the cables outside, tapping in through the brick. I had the cable guy do it when he wired me for cable. It just looks like a I really like cable. It only cost $20, a case of beer and $40 - $50 bucks of cable,

I figured I might have to replace it every couple of years since it's not really made for outdoor use, but it's been fine for 2 years. The speeds are great, no real interference or anything.

Thanks for the tip on home server, I've got a couple PCs at work that I could use for it. I'll probably go that route.

I've got 10-15 TBs or so of old drives that vary from 160 - 300 gigs. We use them to back up projects for 2 years, after our obligation expires, we could reuse them but we don't really want to risk important projects on old drives that haven't been used for 2 years. So mostly they just take up space in my basement.

I'd love to set up a system with a boatload of HDs all plugged into a system but I can't seem to find anything that would work.

[Merc]

Sounds like a great project and I'd love to hear your experience with that software.

[35Pete]

I'm in a town house with 3 ft between my neighbor's house and mine. I found black cable and just ran the cables outside, tapping in through the brick. I had the cable guy do it when he wired me for cable. It just looks like a I really like cable. It only cost $20, a case of beer and $40 - $50 bucks of cable,

I figured I might have to replace it every couple of years since it's not really made for outdoor use, but it's been fine for 2 years. The speeds are great, no real interference or anything.

Thanks for the tip on home server, I've got a couple PCs at work that I could use for it. I'll probably go that route.

I've got 10-15 TBs or so of old drives that vary from 160 - 300 gigs. We use them to back up projects for 2 years, after our obligation expires, we could reuse them but we don't really want to risk important projects on old drives that haven't been used for 2 years. So mostly they just take up space in my basement.

I'd love to set up a system with a boatload of HDs all plugged into a system but I can't seem to find anything that would work.

Jimmi. If you have a laptop, one or more PC's, and an ethernet printer then you might want to consider setting up a HAN (Home Area Network).

Once you do that then everything is integrated. Plus you'll really KNOW PC's. Add a Slingbox and you can download/upload from your living room TV right to your PC.

A super TIVO so to speak. Plus watch google videos on your big flat screen in your living room.

[jimmifli]

Jimmi. If you have a laptop, one or more PC's, and an ethernet printer then you might want to consider setting up a HAN (Home Area Network).

Once you do that then everything is integrated. Plus you'll really KNOW PC's. Add a Slingbox and you can download/upload from your living room TV right to your PC.

A super TIVO so to speak. Plus watch google videos on your big flat screen in your living room.
I've been building them for years. My first build was a Cirrus 686, if you really want to learn about PCs buy lots of really cheap shit.

No need for a sling box, I've had XP media center for a couple years.

AS for the home network, there isn't really a need. One computer is a mac which makes it complicated. I just connect and login using the existing user accounts. Works fine since I'm not browsing my other computers all day.

The mac is the main reason I want to go NAS. It's important that I can mount the share on both my mac and PCs (and I don't really feel like learning SAMBA).

[nehemiah]

nerdiest thread in the history of the world.

gawd! you guys are geeks!

[Merc]

Yeah but you are reading nehe, that means, in the back of your mind, you are thinking "I could build one of these things." http://ganjataz.com/01smileys/images/smileys/OdBall-thatworks2.gif

[35Pete]

I've been building them for years. My first build was a Cirrus 686, if you really want to learn about PCs buy lots of really cheap shit.

No need for a sling box, I've had XP media center for a couple years.

AS for the home network, there isn't really a need. One computer is a mac which makes it complicated. I just connect and login using the existing user accounts. Works fine since I'm not browsing my other computers all day.

The mac is the main reason I want to go NAS. It's important that I can mount the share on both my mac and PCs (and I don't really feel like learning SAMBA).

Slingbox is not media center. Go check it out.

[35Pete]

I just ordered this bad boy for my office at work.

http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/live/rs/mediadb/pspic/image/22/upvimg455b141be6d67.jpg

[jimmifli]

Slingbox is not media center. Go check it out.
I know what it does, I just don't see the need. I'm able to record everything I need already and share it with my xbox and laptop.

[jimmifli]

I just ordered this bad boy for my office at work.

http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/live/rs/mediadb/pspic/image/22/upvimg455b141be6d67.jpg
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/images/LargerPhoto/l_AG-HPX500Profile.jpg

Bought one of these a month ago.

[Merc]

I just upgraded my now highly modded laptop to a 7200RPM HDD and i can't believe the performance increase. LOL. Incredible piece of gear Pete, bet you can't wait to get your hands on it. Uber camera jimmi. I'm trumped on both counts. nehe, go surf around on this site http://www.newegg.com/ your inner geek will come out.