Data storage options?

[Bonjour43MA]

I posted this in the computer forum but I'm sure you guys have some type of file backup system setup as well for your photos so maybe I can get some idea of the different options that are available now?


So... looking to setup a network-based file sharing / file backup system for home use. Been looking at some NAS units but the WHS units seem to be easier to use/maintain. Any recommendations/suggestions/experiences ?

These are features/things that I want to do with the setup:

- Centralized file storage that is accessible by any client PC on the network
- Data redundancy (if one HDD fails, no data loss occurs)
- BitTorrent-friendly so I can save the files directly to the storage device
- FTP-friendly, but not a must
- DLNA compliant so the PS3 can see the files
- Runs software that will transcode media files to stream to the PS3
- External HDD backup, basically backup of my backup lol
- Cost effective, my budget for a complete setup with at least 1TB of storage is around $400

From what I can gather, these are pros and cons of each:

NAS
Pros:
- cheaper
- RAID capable
- no OS involved
- low power consumption

Cons:
- limited functionality (compared to a server)
- if it's a pre-built NAS box you can't upgrade the parts if needed
- Data read/write speed is slower on entry level NAS boxes

WHS
Pros:
- easier to use, basically a stripped down version of Windows Server
- some WHS boxes let you upgrade RAM or CPU
- DLNA compliant on most boxes
- Daily backup of your client PCs file systems, kinda like Norton Ghost

Cons:
- more expensive
- data storage space is less if folder backup option is set to on
- higher power consumption than NAS, but most boxes seem to run on Intel Atoms so they should be better than straight-up PC towers?


Right now I can buy the D-link DNS323 2-bay NAS from NCIX, plus 2x500GB WD Green HDDs for just under $300. Add a 1~1.5TB external HDD for about $100 and it'll add up to $400

If I go with a WHS unit, the Acer H340 unit seems like a decent deal at $400, with 1TB drive included and 4 bays in total. Same 1~1.5TB external HDD and it'll add up to $500. Basically $100 more than the NAS option.


Any feedback would be great, and please correct me if any of my points were wrong. Thanks guys!

[MikesJo]

Two separate hard drives for redundancy, backup to the backup every now and then, leave one connected to the network via a computer or router?

I just ordered this "Newertech Guardian Maximus", and two Seagate 1TB LP 5900rpm hard drives I'll put inside the case in a Raid 1 setup. I have two 500 GB seagate externals which will be a backup of the 1TB Raid 1. Be aware that a Raid setup is more meant for up-time than a solid backup solution. For me, I didn't want to spend the time manually copying things over from one drive to another (what I've been doing in the past). I just want to copy and let the raid copy to the other drive. Once in a while I'll backup manually to the other external. Software raid/backup I don't like either unless it's a one time thing like using carbon copy cloner to swap in a new hard drive to my mac. You may want to consider Raid 5 as well but you'd need 5 hard drives.

On top of that I may setup Apple Time Machine (cloning) for my macbook pro should anything happen to my laptop (320GB HD). I have a spare 500GB IDE drive lying around somewhere and bought Newertech universal drive adapter (SATA/IDE 2.5" and 3.5" drives).

I'm using a laptop so my backup solutions were all based around external options. I wanted an enlcosure that supported esata,fw800,usb2 since my laptop can do all of them. Too bad the new macbook pros and imacs have no support for esata (that's where the fw800 comes in).

Can't you just build your own WHS box? Old computer lying around throw in two 1TB drives and use software to back them up?

[Bonjour43MA]

Thanks for the info Mike!

Yeah I can build a WHS box myself but since I don't have any spare PCs laying around, the cost would be about the same as buying those smaller WHS cubes... makes sense to me, I guess.

Do you even bother with physical media to archive your photos? DVDs, BDs...etc

[MikesJo]

I did like 5 years ago. If you have enough hard drives then there's probably no point to the DVDs. But with HDs you could damage them all with one magnet. Archiving is another topic.