NAS, WiFi, Media Streaming

edk · 07-12-2010, 06:41 PM

I have an XP box setup as a basic file/print server that needs to be replaced. I'm looking at getting a NAS device (raid capable) and a WiFi print server to replace it with. I'm also thinking of incorporating media streaming as well. Has anyone set sometning like this up before?

Jon Foster · 07-12-2010, 08:05 PM

Why does the existing system need to be replaced? I'm just curious.

Jon.

edk · 07-12-2010, 08:11 PM

very, very, very old. Its a compaq presario 6000 (approx 8 years old). i'm a firm believer in "if it anit broke don't fix it" but common sense says that its going to fail any day now. given the cost of even a cheap pc against some of the NAS devices i've seen i thought i'd see how effective it would be to try a different approach.

Jon Foster · 07-12-2010, 11:00 PM

That sounds reasonable enough. I was going to tell you a cheap PC with Raid and Ubuntu would be your best bet but I honestly don't know how well it would work for the streaming media. It would be perfect for file and print sharing though.

The option we seem to push for file sharing and backups the most at our store are small backpack drives. Western Digital has a nice series of drives with built in mirroring (Raid 1). You can get them in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB configurations. The better drives have a USB port along with a network connection. They are perfect for file sharing, cost almost nothing (the 2TB drives sell like hot cakes at $250.00), don't need to be backed up, use almost no space and don't use much electricity to keep running 24/7.

Jon.

edk · 07-12-2010, 11:11 PM

i like the sound of the 2Tb drive, have to look into it and see what the cost is here. i've seen media boxes around as well that will stream using WiFi, it'd be good to match the 2 and use the nas for both data storage and as a media repository.

Jon Foster · 07-13-2010, 11:16 AM

The US part number (110/120 volt 60Hz) for the 2TB drives are: WDH2NC20000N.

Jon.

jcjacob · 07-13-2010, 03:41 PM

4 months ago I replaced an old PC that I was using as a server with a Synology DS210j NAS with two 2TB drives that I have configured with Raid 1 and have it sitting on my desk behind my LCD monitor.

It's QUIET - even with it sitting here in front of me I can't hear a thing. It can be configured to 'sleep' in a low power state if there's no activity for energy savings, and comes with a lot of good software utilities to expand the functionality of the box as much as you want.

I would recommend that you at least take a look at some of the synology offerings.

They're pretty widely available, but some of the best prices I've seen were on Amazon and Newegg.

edk · 07-13-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Foster

The US part number (110/120 volt 60Hz) for the 2TB drives are: WDH2NC20000N.

Jon.

thanks Jon, much apreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcjacob

4 months ago I replaced an old PC that I was using as a server with a Synology DS210j NAS with two 2TB drives that I have configured with Raid 1 and have it sitting on my desk behind my LCD monitor.

It's QUIET - even with it sitting here in front of me I can't hear a thing. It can be configured to 'sleep' in a low power state if there's no activity for energy savings, and comes with a lot of good software utilities to expand the functionality of the box as much as you want.

I would recommend that you at least take a look at some of the synology offerings.

They're pretty widely available, but some of the best prices I've seen were on Amazon and Newegg.

thanks Jon, haven't had much to do with synology before, but I'l definitely look into them.

JDtech · 07-13-2010, 05:31 PM

I think you need to look at Windows Home Sever. It beats the pants off of any NAS that I'm aware of. Here's a little blurb on it that I wrote some time ago:

Windows Home Server is probably Microsoft’s best-kept secret, and that’s a shame. For if you run a household full of Windows computers, you need this product. With the addition of a Windows Home Server machine - which can be built from an old, unused PC – you will no longer have to worry about whether your precious data is backed up – not to mention that of your wife or kids. Windows Home Server did not first appear in 2009, but it did add features that made it even more reliable in 2009.

There are all types backup options available these days, and most of them fail in one respect or another. They’re either too expensive, too inconvenient, or too difficult to use. Windows Home Server is none of these, and it’s available now.

edk · 07-13-2010, 07:03 PM

had a look at the Home Server on MS and have admit it looks good. Hadn''t really thought of it before. only catch is my old pc is so old it won't match minimum spec for Home Server.

07-12-2010, 06:41 PM	#1
edk Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 49	NAS, WiFi, Media Streaming I have an XP box setup as a basic file/print server that needs to be replaced. I'm looking at getting a NAS device (raid capable) and a WiFi print server to replace it with. I'm also thinking of incorporating media streaming as well. Has anyone set sometning like this up before? __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

07-12-2010, 08:05 PM	#2
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	Why does the existing system need to be replaced? I'm just curious. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

07-12-2010, 11:00 PM	#4
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	That sounds reasonable enough. I was going to tell you a cheap PC with Raid and Ubuntu would be your best bet but I honestly don't know how well it would work for the streaming media. It would be perfect for file and print sharing though. The option we seem to push for file sharing and backups the most at our store are small backpack drives. Western Digital has a nice series of drives with built in mirroring (Raid 1). You can get them in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB configurations. The better drives have a USB port along with a network connection. They are perfect for file sharing, cost almost nothing (the 2TB drives sell like hot cakes at $250.00), don't need to be backed up, use almost no space and don't use much electricity to keep running 24/7. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

07-13-2010, 11:16 AM	#6
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	The US part number (110/120 volt 60Hz) for the 2TB drives are: WDH2NC20000N. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

07-13-2010, 03:41 PM	#7
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	4 months ago I replaced an old PC that I was using as a server with a Synology DS210j NAS with two 2TB drives that I have configured with Raid 1 and have it sitting on my desk behind my LCD monitor. It's QUIET - even with it sitting here in front of me I can't hear a thing. It can be configured to 'sleep' in a low power state if there's no activity for energy savings, and comes with a lot of good software utilities to expand the functionality of the box as much as you want. I would recommend that you at least take a look at some of the synology offerings. They're pretty widely available, but some of the best prices I've seen were on Amazon and Newegg. __________________ -John

07-12-2010, 08:11 PM	#3
edk Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 49	very, very, very old. Its a compaq presario 6000 (approx 8 years old). i'm a firm believer in "if it anit broke don't fix it" but common sense says that its going to fail any day now. given the cost of even a cheap pc against some of the NAS devices i've seen i thought i'd see how effective it would be to try a different approach.

07-12-2010, 11:11 PM	#5
edk Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 49	i like the sound of the 2Tb drive, have to look into it and see what the cost is here. i've seen media boxes around as well that will stream using WiFi, it'd be good to match the 2 and use the nas for both data storage and as a media repository.

07-13-2010, 05:31 PM	#9
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 308 Blog Entries: 1	I think you need to look at Windows Home Sever. It beats the pants off of any NAS that I'm aware of. Here's a little blurb on it that I wrote some time ago: Windows Home Server is probably Microsoft’s best-kept secret, and that’s a shame. For if you run a household full of Windows computers, you need this product. With the addition of a Windows Home Server machine - which can be built from an old, unused PC – you will no longer have to worry about whether your precious data is backed up – not to mention that of your wife or kids. Windows Home Server did not first appear in 2009, but it did add features that made it even more reliable in 2009. There are all types backup options available these days, and most of them fail in one respect or another. They’re either too expensive, too inconvenient, or too difficult to use. Windows Home Server is none of these, and it’s available now. __________________ Follow me on Twitter \| My Tech Blog

07-13-2010, 07:03 PM	#10
edk Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 49	had a look at the Home Server on MS and have admit it looks good. Hadn''t really thought of it before. only catch is my old pc is so old it won't match minimum spec for Home Server.

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