Network Drives??

[doanster]

I have been using an external firewire drive to back up my data for a while now, and it worked reasonably well. But that was when I only used one computer. I recently bought a MacBook (*gasp*) and I'm now finding that it's increasingly annoying to use a firewire drive to backup data on more than one computer, bringing it back and forth, plugging it in, etc etc etc.

Switching to a NAS solution seems to be a logical next step.
Any suggestions on finding a network drive or enclosure that supports RAID 1?
How about speed, will the network (100Mbps ethernet + 802.11G) be a bottleneck when I need to access large files?
And how about compatibility with an Apple computer on the network?

I'm very new to this, any help is appreciated, thanks!

[drizzt81]

If you are accessing large files (100's of MB that need to be read prior to usage) the 802.11G will be severely limiting when compared to fast ethernet.

RAID-1 is not backup.
Having a NAS and using the files on there is not backup either, since hitting the delete button will make the data disappear.
Since the NAS will be online, it's hackable and/or accessible to a virus that can wipe out your data.

just some food for thought.

[charliemike]

You'd be better off burning DVDs of that data than buying a NAS.

Look at the H's review of that NAS Nexstar device they have up.

Total crap. 802.11g is at BEST 54Mbps. That Nexstar thing didn't even have GigaEthernet ... *eyeroll*

Maxtor has what amounts to a OneTouch III with an ethernet port. I haven't tried it so I can't say for sure but even THAT isn't a backup.

A true backup is either a tape backup or burn your docs to DVD and put them in a fireproof safe.

Any system that is subject to human error, corruption, or viruses is not a backup system.

Take it from someone that has two Maxtor OneTouch IIs ... Putting your life in the hands of something that will short out if you plug in the wrong power supply is NOT a good idea.

[doanster]

Ok, so maybe backup is the wrong term here, sorry.

By "backup", I meant a place where I can store files, and, neglecting human error and/or virus and hackers, where the data is relatively safe from hard drive failure (hence RAID).

But the main point is, I'm looking for a central location to store my files from multiple computers in the house. Any suggestions?

(alternatively, I can use a single-disk network drive, and then use my current firewire drive to backup my data too.. hmmm)

[drizzt81]

things like the Buffalo Terrastation would do what you want. Expensive though:
http://www.buy.com/prod/Buffalo_TeraStation_1TB_NAS_RAID_1_0_5_Back_up/q/loc/10995/10396259.html

[GlobalFear]

A true backup is either a tape backup or burn your docs to DVD and put them in a fireproof safe.

Any system that is subject to human error, corruption, or viruses is not a backup system.
By your discription tapes and dvds are not backups either. They are both subject to human error as is pretty much everything.

[w1retap]

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817338003
And a spare hard drive is what you need. ;) Works like a charm for me, is mac/windows compadible. Also supports networked raid if you buy another one of their enclosures and hook it up to your same network. Works wirelessly if you have an access point or wireless router. My review of it is there on newegg.. I think its the first one. Cheap, easy, quick solution. That guy that did the second review on newegg must be a total nublet. It is easy as pie to setup and get working.

[doanster]

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817338003
And a spare hard drive is what you need. ;) Works like a charm for me, is mac/windows compadible. Also supports networked raid if you buy another one of their enclosures and hook it up to your same network. Works wirelessly if you have an access point or wireless router. My review of it is there on newegg.. I think its the first one. Cheap, easy, quick solution. That guy that did the second review on newegg must be a total nublet. It is easy as pie to setup and get working.

Newegg really needs to start shipping to Canada! :mad:

[charliemike]

By your discription tapes and dvds are not backups either. They are both subject to human error as is pretty much everything.

You know I meant deletions. That was the context presented in the posts before me.

:P

[Madwand]

You can share that drive across the network once it's connected to one machine. At least then you won't have to carry it around to different computers.

You would be significantly affected by 100 Mb/s ethernet speed, so it'd be best to either upgrade to gigabit :), or connect it to the machine with the greatest/most frequent access needs.

Consumer NAS boxes can exceed 100 Mb/s ethernet speeds if they have gigabit support, but usually not by much and they can easily be outperformed by desktop hardware -- they're currently limited by their CPU/ASIC speeds and cheap hardware. I expect this to improve as people pay attention to this issue and real gigabit becomes more common, etc..

[doanster]

You can share that drive across the network once it's connected to one machine. At least then you won't have to carry it around to different computers.

You would be significantly affected by 100 Mb/s ethernet speed, so it'd be best to either upgrade to gigabit :), or connect it to the machine with the greatest/most frequent access needs.

Consumer NAS boxes can exceed 100 Mb/s ethernet speeds if they have gigabit support, but usually not by much and they can easily be outperformed by desktop hardware -- they're currently limited by their CPU/ASIC speeds and cheap hardware. I expect this to improve as people pay attention to this issue and real gigabit becomes more common, etc..

I totally agree with you, but the reason why I want a standalone NAS drive is that i seldom leave my machines on when not in use - they are all in bedrooms so I usually turn them off before bedtime. Except for my uber-quiet Mac, all the other machines are noisy PC desktops :(

[Madwand]

Consumer NAS boxes can exceed 100 Mb/s ethernet speeds if they have gigabit support, but usually not by much and they can easily be outperformed by desktop hardware -- they're currently limited by their CPU/ASIC speeds and cheap hardware. I expect this to improve as people pay attention to this issue and real gigabit becomes more common, etc..

A little update on this point -- Thecus has a new NAS box, N5200, which can actually compete with simple desktop performance. (It uses a 600 MHz Celeron-M.)

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6181&page=1

So things are already improving.

It's not a cheap box, doesn't have WoL currently, and isn't silent, so it's probably not suitable to the OP, but I wanted to correct my above statement.