Simple NAS Device

[richard]

I'm looking for a simple NAS device for me and my tech to use to get rid some of our crap off the servers. I've had a look at the Netgear SC101 but it does not support either mac or linux and it also requires drivers to be installed on the client pc's. What I'm after is a simple transparent device that I can plug into the network and can access with the minimum of fuss. Any suggestions guys :?:

[u8dmtm]

We've got Lacie NAS ethernet disks which we use for backup (as well as tapes). They work out of the box and can be accessed just like any other share. You can also manage them using a web interface and we run Real VNC on them because they are stored elsewhere on the site. They work seemlessly. About £450.

http://www.lacie.com/uk/products/product.htm?pid=10646

[mark]

Buffallo Terastation: http://www.buffalo-technology.com/pr...p?productid=97

[plexer]

Or for AD integration the Terastation Pro the AD integration firmware will be available in march so they say.

Ben

[CyberNerd]

Could someone enlighten me the benefits of NAS over server with lots of (external) disks and a skinny O/S ?

[Dos_Box]

Your information is not relient on an the main processing hardware. For example, if you had a database held on a NAS device and the server was getting overloaded, you can simply upgrade\replace the server without having to shift the information. NAS however is not as fast or as configurable as SAN.

[u8dmtm]

I would cite cost, security, reliability / availability and ease of use as the main advantages.

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/i.../aa070101b.htm

[CyberNerd]

Thanks for that
I was trying to work out if it would be cheaper for us to get a NAS, or to just max out one of our existing servers with scsi drives. I reckon I can cover the security, reliability and ease of use issues, so I guess its down to money!

[richard]

What I want to use it for is to store things like service packs and software updates, back up copies of software and ghost images.

[u8dmtm]

A NAS is fine for that - just don't expect to host shared areas for general use effectivly on them or mega fast access. They really are for small groups (such as the technical support community in a school or a department's staff) to use. Think of it as a big networked USB Stick.

[richard]

A NAS is fine for that - just don't expect to host shared areas for general use effectivly on them or mega fast access. They really are for small groups (such as the technical support community in a school or a department's staff) to use. Think of it as a big networked USB Stick.

I know its just for me and my technician.

[crc-ict]

How about installing a (some?) big disk(s) into an old spare machine and running Linux and Samba on it, or failing that, with an even older machine run NASLite (http://www.serverelements.com/naslite.php)

I'm running an old laptop at home with a text-only Debian install and Samba as a NAS-a-like device for my home network and it serves us pretty well. I can play WMV files in Media Player directly from it over the network even though the laptop only has a 10Mbps CardBus Network Card.

It's a cheap way of doing it of thats the main concern...

[richard]

How about installing a (some?) big disk(s) into an old spare machine and running Linux and Samba on it, or failing that, with an even older machine run NASLite (http://www.serverelements.com/naslite.php)

I could do that no problem but I already share my office with 8 servers, 1 pc and a laptop

[Ric_]

How about installing a (some?) big disk(s) into an old spare machine and running Linux and Samba on it, or failing that, with an even older machine run NASLite (http://www.serverelements.com/naslite.php)

I could do that no problem but I already share my office with 8 servers, 1 pc and a laptop

Put it in someone elses office and say that it is 'important remote storage'

[DMcCoy]

pffft, "important"? you might as well put a "please turn off whenever you feel like it or if it makes a noise" sign on it.