Network Attached Storage (NAS)

[TubeScreamerX]

I am looking for a low-cost alternative that incorporates Network Attached Storage technology for ATA hard drives. The neat thing about NAS is that there is an Ethernet hookup on the enclosure, which gives you dedicated network storage out of the box, with no configuration. I'm aware that there are options such as Iomega's Network Hard Drive, but I am specifically looking for an external enclosure that allows you to install your own ATA hard drive. If anyone has any information about an enclosure with this option, that would be be great.

Thanks,
*arjun

 

[Poop]

I haven't seen anything yet.


It'd be difficult since ATA signal can only run so far.

It's easily done with SCSI and FC-AL (copper) because the signals can travel a further distance.

 

[LittleMe]

there are compaines that make ide to scsi enclousers. i've seen them around, let me look for a link.

 

[LittleMe]

http://www.excelmeridian.com/products/raid_ss16000/index.shtml

scsi4me.com also lists them under the subsystems section

 

[TubeScreamerX]

Those are quite expensive; I was looking for something along the lines of what Iomega offers, in that I only need space for one drive, with NAS capabilites. Thanks anyway though!

 

[Ice Czar]

http://www.ximeta.com/products/netdisk.html


google
ethernet hard drive
or
NDAS (add storage to the query to drop extraneous returns)


and thats not NAS, rather its called NDAS
Network Direct Attached Storage

NAS is:

"A network-attached storage (NAS) device is a server that is dedicated to nothing more than file sharing. NAS does not provide any of the activities that a server in a server-centric system typically provides, such as e-mail, authentication or file management. NAS allows more hard disk storage space to be added to a network that already utilizes servers without shutting them down for maintenance and upgrades. With a NAS device, storage is not an integral part of the server. Instead, in this storage-centric design, the server still handles all of the processing of data but a NAS device delivers the data to the user. A NAS device does not need to be located within the server but can exist anywhere in a LAN and can be made up of multiple networked NAS devices"

and SAN is:

"Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-speed subnetwork of shared storage devices. A storage device is a machine that contains nothing but a disk or disks for storing data.

A SAN's architecture works in a way that makes all storage devices available to all servers on a LAN or WAN. As more storage devices are added to a SAN, they too will be accessible from any server in the larger network. In this case, the server merely acts as a pathway between the end user and the stored data.


Because stored data does not reside directly on any of a network's servers, server power is utilized for business applications, and network capacity is released to the end user."

and what is the most common is
DAS
Direct Attached Storage
the HDD in your box

 

[Allaxul]

I've been thinking about building a small NAS box for awhile now. After some deliberation my current plan is to use a mini-itx Via EPIA-ME6000 as the motherboard/cpu. I figure I can build the basic box for under $300 not counting the drives.

The nice thing about this motherboard is that it has everything you need on board. It should have plenty of processing power for a file server and it only needs a passive heat-sink so you don't have to worry about the fan on the heat sink failing and the whole thing melting down.

I figure I'll install a 250G drive and a cdrom to start with. I'll use the cd to load up a very stripped down version of debian and install samba for file sharing. Then I'll remove the CD, plug it into the ethernet jack and let it run completely headless over the network. I'll add extra drives as they're needed.

The current problem is finding a case to put it in. I'd like something small and inconspicuous that can handle at least 4 drives. I'm thinking about building a custom case out of an attache case or something. Still looking, though. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it.

AllaXul.

 

[Ice Czar]

Ive got a couple of old Dot Hill SANnets (which are just basically external RAID arrays) but with the software that was included I can build a SAN, the problem is I dont need one

Im using them as external DAS

 

[TBONEU]

Well, I interested in the same NAS device as TubeScreamerX. I noticed tonight when I was at Fry’s electronics, they had Ximeta NetDisk 160GB there for $250 and Triton Technologies 120GB Network Drive for $230.

My use is for LAN gaming. I want to store all the patches, mods, and “cough” on it so others can patch their games and join in on the action. Ximeta’s NetDisk sounds “so-so” and I noticed many being returned. I haven’t hear Triton before and can’t seem to find any reviews.

Any thoughts?

 

[TBONEU]

Here's a link to Triton, which is really Tritton! Oops

http://www.trittonsales.com/Networking/tri-nas120.htm

 

[cisobe]

Our office just picked up a Linksys EFG120... Its a NAS with a 10/100/1000 mbs network connection, and dual hard drive support... It was a little pricey, but from what I read it's supposed to be pretty easy to maintain, and easy to admin... Crossing my fingers though, we hook it up and set it up this weekend when we migrate from our old file server....

 

[soulax]

so If i have a PC running Windows2000 with a shared hard drive.... that can be considered a NAS device? (Assumming it's only sharing files)

 

[Ice Czar]

Originally posted by soulax
so If i have a PC running Windows2000 with a shared hard drive.... that can be considered a NAS device? (Assumming it's only sharing files)

yup, but generally a NAS is optimized for file serving
meaning a Gigibit or Fibre Channel network and a dedicated server, and typically its multi-user, and has management software that is employed

a few definitions

A network-attached storage (NAS) device is a server that is dedicated to nothing more than file sharing. NAS does not provide any of the activities that a server in a server-centric system typically provides, such as e-mail, authentication or file management. NAS allows more hard disk storage space to be added to a network that already utilizes servers without shutting them down for maintenance and upgrades. With a NAS device, storage is not an integral part of the server. Instead, in this storage-centric design, the server still handles all of the processing of data but a NAS device delivers the data to the user. A NAS device does not need to be located within the server but can exist anywhere in a LAN and can be made up of multiple networked NAS devices (also above)

Network-attached storage. A new data-centric storage architecture that offloads file sharing from application servers and relocates the storage onto its own independent platform. The resulting consolidation of storage resources provides simplified management and scalability.

Network Attached Storage is a term for a conventional or proprietary server that provides file storage over a network using file access network protocols like NFS or SMB

some more nit picky than others as to exactly what constitutes a NAS

but in the basic sense you have storage, that isnt local, but is available via the network, which is why Id say it qualifies