File Server

[marvin]

Hi Guys

 

Can anyone suggest a cheap solution for me to setup a file server, live a 1tb 1gb netowrk link external hard drive?

Basically our server has run out of space and i would like to move some old files onto a external hard drive/file server system but still accessible to members of staff?

 

Currently have server 2003 setup so a windows type system would be good.

 

My budget is around £300.

 

Thanks

[Tricky_Dicky]

Will these files be accessed regualrly and by quite a few users simultaneously or is it more for archiving? Reason I ask, if you want to just dump some files on it then any cheap NAS will do the job. this Netgear looks good.

 

If you want it to be used quite a bit, then a simple file server out of a basic PC will be better and just throw in a load of Hard Drives and put Simplefiller on it.

Rich

[marvin]

They will probably be accessed quite regularly and around 50 users. It is basically 2 shared network drives that have been filled up with files and photos over the years but i know people would definately want them at some point.

 

Do you reckon a normal XP Pro machine would do the job and share it that way or would you say get a cheap server?

[3s-gtech]

Did this with a desktop PC in a server case, with decent specs (Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM). It's got five 500GB hard drives in a RAID5 and a RAID1 array. Performance and uptime are excellent (this is using the 'onboard' RAID too). Hosts shares for all staff and students on Server 2003.

 

Edit: this cost around £250 back in 2007.

Edited October 15, 2010 by 3s-gtech

[Tricky_Dicky]

Do you reckon a normal XP Pro machine would do the job and share it that way or would you say get a cheap server?

 

XP has got a share limit of 10 clients so you will need to either use a Microsoft Server product of Linux. Educational pricing for server is very good and you might find it easier to do it that way.

 

3s-gtechs solution would be perfect for you.

[marvin]

Can anyone suggest a built microsoft server ready for me to just hook up to the network and get it going?

I wouldn't have time setting it up so a setup solution would be ideal.

[INeedAUsername]

we have a hp dl160 windows storage server - has 2 TB

Setup and go

[marvin]

Where did you get it from? can you send me the spec if you can?

[marvin]

Do you think this would work?

 

NetGear ReadyNas Duo 2-Bay 1x2TB (RND2120-100UKS) - dabs.com

[caffrey]

there's always freenas FreeNAS [FreeNAS] or unraid Home

 

will work on older hardware, i'm currently keeping an eye on openmediavault OpenMediaVault by the makers of freenas