network drive enclosures

[nevamore]

I've been researching network drive enclosures for home because like most of you I now have a lot of irreplaceable files, pics, etc. that I have stored on my local PC. Sure, I could hang a USB drive off my PC but then my PC needs to be on all the time so my laptop can access it, blah blah . . .

My criteria is this:

- automatic redundancy
- ease of replaing drives in case of failure
- quiet
- won't break the bank
- non-proprietary
- non-PC based because I don't want to maintain a full blown server/PC for this yet.

So far I have come up with one from Thecus which I really like Newegg Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833201001). Just install SATA drives of your choice. (I have 2 80GB Seagate that would drop right in and fulfill my needs for now). Can install larger drives later.

The other possibilty I saw was the Linksys Newegg Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822155002) This one is IDE based and thus probably a bit slower. Seems like I would be locked in to the size of drives that come with this one.

Both of these systems have some nice plusses to them such as FTP access. Does anyone have any experience or comments on these 2 I've come across? Feel free to recommend anything similar. Thanks !

[nevamore]

anyone?

[Jason711]

the only sata drivers that are technically faster than pata drives are the raptors. the interface has nothing to do with the drives speed... unless it becomes a bottleneck.

however, looks like you did research, i like the sata one.

edit...

would be awsome to have a couple of the 500gb hitachis in that thing... 1TB of goodness. ;)

[rodsfree]

Dude....
For less than $399 you can build a SFF that will take a lot more drives and do a lot more.
Install your favorite flavor of linux on it and get everything you want.

Just my $0.02

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/2172.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=2172)

[nevamore]

How could I build a SFF for $399?

[Ultra Wide]

I just saw Thecus N4100 today on some flash ad and checked it out, it looks very nice. I like the hot swap cages.

I myself ordered an Infrant ReadyNAS X6 2 days ago. It has the same features as the N4100, but I like Infrant's support better and their automatic volume mangement. You can add disks and expand, and you can also migrate the whole volume to larger drives, you have to swap them out 1 at a time, but it doesn't mess with your data. If you don't like so much motherly watching they have a ReadyNAS 600 that is more traditional RAID setup. The performance is also quiet good compared to other NAS solutions.

I am in the midst of deciding which drives I am going to get. So, check out the X6 if you are looking at a NAS. There is also Buffalo TeraStation, not as standarized, but can be worked on. And there is also Lacie Big Disk which I think is NAS, but not 100% sure.

Try Tom's Networking for a good review of NAS stuff.

Good luck !

[nevamore]

Thanks Ultra Wide. I just ordered the Infrant ReadyNAS x6 (http://www.infrant.com/) from www.eagis.com (http://www.eagis.com) with $0 shipping. This is exactly what I was looking for! I ordered the diskless enclosure because I have a couple of SATA drives I can use for now. When I fill those up I will replace them with 4 of the biggest SATA drives I can find without losing a byte of data.

Thanks again!

[Ultra Wide]

glad you found something that meets your needs.

Their support forum is quiet good too, they have people from the company answering questions really fast and they are helpful too.

There is also a long running thread in the AVS Forum with lots of good info if you need to use it more as a media server.

[rodsfree]

How could I build a SFF for $399?

Barebones with 2X SATA150 and Intergrated everything including 100BaseT ethernet
$68.00 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101237
LGA 775 Celeron / retail box w/HSF
$76.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819112207
512MB PC2700 DDR kit (2 X 256MB)
$40.13 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141216

That's 185.12 not counting shipping and handling. :eek: :D

It don't look like much.....true but it'll do WAY more than the enclosure you're looking at.

Through about another $100 at it and get a Shuttle - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101469
But it doesn't have SATA - the Shuttle that has that cost a LOT more.


Just some thoughts....
If you are happy with a $400.00 harddrive enclosure then by all means go for it.

Me....I'm a cheap bastard. :D






http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/2172.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=2172)