File Server

[dave.81]

Is something like a QNAP, Negear NAS at all suitable for a file server? Or best suited to backup storage?

 

I am looking at moving our file storage, profiles etc off our main DC over the summer but wondering what will be our best way forward.

 

We have a QNAP that is being used to save our backups to but i am assuming that the discs would not cope with being a main file server.

 

Budget for this will be next to nothing hence looking at cheaper NAS devices.

[K.C.Leblanc]

It depends a lot what sort of QNAP it is and how many users you have.

 

EDIT: However my gut instinct in no.

[dhicks]

Is something like a QNAP, Negear NAS at all suitable for a file server?

 

Opening up the QNAP we have, it seems to use software RAID rather than any dedicated hardware RAID card (that could just be our model - I'm guessing asking QNAP directly might be the best way to find out exactly what hardware they put in their servers and what roles they think they will be suitible for). This implies it won't manage "high" I/O rates, although exactly what the value of "high" would be is a bit vauge. My guess is that if your current DC is a slightly older machine with several other roles as well then the QNAP server certainly couldn't do any worse, and probably has some snazzy file management features available too.

 

Budget for this will be next to nothing

 

Build your own?

[dave.81]

Yes that is my feelings too that they wont really be up to the job but thought someone might have a good arguement as to why they would be.

 

Building our own is an option but do like to purchase something with support. It maybe that i have to build something though depending on how tight the money men are.

[tumbleweed]

There's a newly released version of FreeNAS that might be worth looking at.