Best NAS Box for under £300 (without drives)

[tri_94]

Hi there im looking at getting a NAS box, and not sure which is the best to go for.

 

Which i require is acess from the following, Ipad, Android Os, Ps3, Pi, Mac os, Windows PC

 

Some where to drop Pictures, Music, Videos,

to share and stream to all the devices above.

 

i need 4 Bay as i've already got 4x 3.5 drives ready to go in and want to raid 5.

 

 

I was thinking along the lines of Syn DS413J or Qsnap TS-412 but any other recommendations would be great

 

 

Thanks

[Domino]

Personally I've found synologys to be meh, I really like the Qnap range though.

 

That said, a bit of elbow grease and a HP microserver could get you a nice little system, like @Ric_ has just done

[sted]

yeah if the microserver has cashback atm (usually does) its a pretty good device use freenas or if you have the cash proper server lic that way it can also do other odds n sods (the one i have in a school has 08r2 and runs wds/mdt/sophos keeps the other server simpler and under less load and its used to backup the main server tempted to make it a dc as other servers are 08r1 and 2003r2)

[achedgy]

Anothe vote for HP Microserver, got fed up of replacing drives in NAS boxes, the cheaper ones seem to kill them for a past time. The Microserver seems to cope with simuteanous backup jobs much better as well. Cheap with the cashback!!!

[tri_94]

Was trying to get away from running a server

[achedgy]

Just have it as a member server, no odds then and gives you decent control of the security permissions

[Domino]

Was trying to get away from running a server

 

The microserver can still act the same as a NAS if you install FreeNAS, open media server, or similar.

 

Basically it'll be the same as having the QNAP...just cheaper.

[mattx]

Under £300 ?

Get a case, basic PSU and good NIC [ or on-board NIC ] - buy some drives. I think 500 gig ones you can get for around £40 these days and either set it up using FreeNAS.

Then setup what you want in regards to how you want your users to access it. Personally setting up iSCSI on these boxes now takes only around 20 mins, that is the approach I would go for.

[Geoff]

+1 for DIY. Build a box from standard PC components then put your favourite Linux distro on. Either FreeNAS if you want it to 'just work' or something more generic like Ubuntu Server if you want to fiddle.

[tmcd35]

Personally I'd vote:

 

NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ Diskless 4 Bay Desktop NAS (RND4000-100EUS) - www.misco.co.uk

 

Like the idea of the X-RAID feature.

[tri_94]

so how would the speed of the a mircosever compare to off the shelf nas box?

 

also how would i be able to access from PS3 and Android and Ipad?

What price are we talking for a Microserver?

 

One more question is what is power comsumtion like compared to offshelf nas box

Edited October 3, 2012 by tri_94

[RobFuller]

1. Synology

2. QNAP

 

 

Have used both, use QNAP at work for iSCSI storage for DMP backup system (speed is amazing considering the price point) and Synology at home for its feature rich and fantastic web GUI . I just wanted something simple and easy to use and Synology fitted that.

[mattx]

I think it's sad people just want to buy one without building one themselves whilst at the same time gaining valuable experience and knowledge. Looks good on a CV too........

[Netwacky87]

I think it's sad people just want to buy one without building one themselves whilst at the same time gaining valuable experience and knowledge. Looks good on a CV too........

 

And at least you know exactly it works...as you set it up

[mattx]

And at least you know exactly it works...as you set it up

 

True, the only complaint I have with FreeNAS at the moment is the complete lack of 'proper' support trying to get AD to intergrate correctly. It either works or does not. The latest release is just horrible to get working with AD. Go back 3 / 4 years ago and it worked straight out the box but then with that version iSCSI was a pain to get working however, with the new version - 20 mins max.

[tri_94]

so how would the speed of the a mircosever compare to off the shelf nas box?

 

also how would i be able to access from PS3 and Android and Ipad?

What price are we talking for a Microserver?

 

One more question is what is power comsumtion like compared to offshelf nas box

[sted]

I think it's sad people just want to buy one without building one themselves whilst at the same time gaining valuable experience and knowledge. Looks good on a CV too........

 

meh ive built pcs/servers before its hardly rocket science and its usually cheaper to buy pre done esp when microservers usually have cashback

[Geoff]

Surely if you're using iSCSI then you just let a Windows server publish the iSCSI targets as shares, thereby avoiding the whole AD integration?

[tri_94]

so can Freenas or Opennas etc do everything i require? Edited October 3, 2012 by tri_94

[mattx]

Surely if you're using iSCSI then you just let a Windows server publish the iSCSI targets as shares, thereby avoiding the whole AD integration?

 

Yep you sure do, however I have FreeNAS boxes doing different tasks depending on what office they are in.

[tri_94]

so what sort of price am i looking at for a mirco server?

[sted]

freenas feature chart Feature Chart

 

£250 ish before cashback 150 ish with

[tri_94]

where is the best place to get one with cashback?

[tri_94]

and i assume that i stream to ps3 and ipad etc from freenas ?

[Arthur]

where is the best place to get one with cashback?

ServersDirect is the cheapest at £115.98 (inc. VAT) after cashback.

 

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