Network storage for home network (wifi or not?)

  • Thread starter Thread starter kebuchan
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kebuchan

Hi all,

I have 5 desktop machines running a mix of Linux and XP on my network
at home. Two are wired the rest are wireless (g). Am thinking about
adding a Network storage unit, firstly does anyone have any
suggestions.. something not too expensive.

I am also contemplating wifi or not, moving data (5mp pictures etc.)
round could be really slow when going wireless even if it's 54Mbps.

Would appreciate any feedback on brands/models etc that anyone has
experience with. I have a new 300G Maxtor IDE that I could put into
whatever new enclosure I buy for starters.

Thanks,

Kevin
 
I have 5 desktop machines running a mix of Linux and XP on my
network at home. Two are wired the rest are wireless (g). Am
thinking about adding a Network storage unit, firstly does anyone
have any suggestions.. something not too expensive.
Click to expand...

Its still generally best to have that on one of the
PC or if that isnt practical, on a separate PC.

The non PC approach is still rather immature.
 
Hi all,

I have 5 desktop machines running a mix of Linux and XP on my network
at home. Two are wired the rest are wireless (g). Am thinking about
adding a Network storage unit, firstly does anyone have any
suggestions.. something not too expensive.

I am also contemplating wifi or not, moving data (5mp pictures etc.)
round could be really slow when going wireless even if it's 54Mbps.

Would appreciate any feedback on brands/models etc that anyone has
experience with. I have a new 300G Maxtor IDE that I could put into
whatever new enclosure I buy for starters.
Click to expand...

I've had my Netgear SC100 for about 2 weeks now

http://www.netgear.co.uk/digital_home_sc101.php

You need the latest firmware, but I've had no trouble with it. Paid £70 for
it.

doesn't come with any drives and you need to check the Netgear site for a
list of compatable drives,

Looking through Netgears forum, most of the problems people have with these
units seem to stme from not using any of the drives on the 'tested' list

Clive
 
I have 5 desktop machines running a mix of Linux and XP on my network
at home. Two are wired the rest are wireless (g). Am thinking about
adding a Network storage unit, firstly does anyone have any
suggestions.. something not too expensive.

I am also contemplating wifi or not, moving data (5mp pictures etc.)
round could be really slow when going wireless even if it's 54Mbps.

Would appreciate any feedback on brands/models etc that anyone has
experience with. I have a new 300G Maxtor IDE that I could put into
whatever new enclosure I buy for starters.
Click to expand...

Most (cheap) external drives seem to suffer from poor or non-existant
cooling, and no shockproofing.

The modern trend to have them "stood up" vertically just adds to the
danger of drive damage - do you trust your data after the has falen
flat whilst spun up?

....and you can't easily monitor drive temperatures, as SMART doesn't
work on external drives...

Use an old slow PC as a file server, its less likely to be knocked
off the desk, have better cooling and better performance than many
of the cheaper network storage units.
 
Clive said:
I've had my Netgear SC100 for about 2 weeks now

http://www.netgear.co.uk/digital_home_sc101.php

You need the latest firmware, but I've had no trouble with it. Paid £70 for
it.

doesn't come with any drives and you need to check the Netgear site for a
list of compatable drives,

Looking through Netgears forum, most of the problems people have with these
units seem to stme from not using any of the drives on the 'tested' list

Clive
Click to expand...
I clicked on the "Datasheet" and read what they say about "True SAN."

It looks like baloney to me. Compare this:

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedbookAbstracts/sg245470.html?Open
 
I've had my Netgear SC100 for about 2 weeks now

You need the latest firmware, but I've had no trouble with it. Paid £70 for
it.
Click to expand...
doesn't come with any drives and you need to check the Netgear site for a list
of compatable drives,
Click to expand...
Looking through Netgears forum, most of the problems people have with
these units seem to stme from not using any of the drives on the 'tested' list
Click to expand...

It shouldnt be that fussy if it was properly designed in the first place.
 
Mike Redrobe said:
Most (cheap) external drives seem to suffer from poor or non-existant
cooling, and no shockproofing.

The modern trend to have them "stood up" vertically just adds to the
danger of drive damage - do you trust your data after the has falen
flat whilst spun up?

...and you can't easily monitor drive temperatures, as SMART doesn't
work on external drives...
Click to expand...

No? Why not?
 
Folkert said:
No? Why not?
Click to expand...

I'd gladly be proved wrong on that.
Do you know of any usb or network enclosures that have software to
query SMART temperature on the drives?
 
Mike Redrobe said:
I'd gladly be proved wrong on that.
Do you know of any usb or network enclosures that have software to
query SMART temperature on the drives?
Click to expand...

That wasn't the question.
 
Mike,

In your opinion, what's an Old PC? .... I have a couple of P2's sitting
around collecting dust. Any recommendations on OS? memory etc.?

Thanks!
 
In said:
Hi all,
Click to expand...
I have 5 desktop machines running a mix of Linux and XP on my network
at home. Two are wired the rest are wireless (g). Am thinking about
adding a Network storage unit, firstly does anyone have any
suggestions.. something not too expensive.
Click to expand...

Use older hardware that you know is reliable. Say, a P2 200Mhz and
up. Use Linux and Samba.
I am also contemplating wifi or not, moving data (5mp pictures etc.)
round could be really slow when going wireless even if it's 54Mbps.
Click to expand...

Haha, that is what they want you to believe. But it is 54Mbps for
_all_ stations combined, i.e. also only half-duplex. You can maybe
expect it to be as fast as 25Mbps Ethernet if you use it with just 2
computers.
Would appreciate any feedback on brands/models etc that anyone has
experience with. I have a new 300G Maxtor IDE that I could put into
whatever new enclosure I buy for starters.
Click to expand...

I would advise to use RAID1 (disks are cheap). With Linux
software RAID is fine.

Arno
 
I'd gladly be proved wrong on that.
Do you know of any usb or network enclosures that have software to
query SMART temperature on the drives?
Click to expand...

Look for the Linux-based ones that allow you a root-login. Of roll
your own. I agree that SMART monitoring is pretty critical for
reliable operation these days.

Arno
 
Yes a p2 is fine and will give you much more performance than the
simple processors in some of the network storage thingies out nowadays.
There are several ready made linux installs that can whip it right up
for you, or get a debian netinst cd, use it, log in and type 'apt-get
install openssh samba webmin' and you will be good to go :) Oh, and put
another smaller drive in besides your 300 gigger for the OS so if you
want to move it or switch os or something, no problem.
 
brady4747 said:
Yes a p2 is fine and will give you much more
performance than the simple processors in some
of the network storage thingies out nowadays.
Click to expand...

Main problem with the P2 is that it may not be very convenient
to have a decent mount of memory in that system, particularly
if you want to run the same OS you run on the PCs for simplicity.
There are several ready made linux installs that can whip it right
up for you, or get a debian netinst cd, use it, log in and type
'apt-get install openssh samba webmin' and you will be good to go :)
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, particularly if you've never bothered
with other than the OS that runs on the PCs.
Oh, and put another smaller drive in besides your 300 gigger for the
OS so if you want to move it or switch os or something, no problem.
Click to expand...

Makes more sense to use a small part of the main drive for that.
 
So you just want to disagree with everything I just said, eh :)
Main problem with the P2 is that it may not be very convenient
to have a decent mount of memory in that system, particularly
if you want to run the same OS you run on the PCs for simplicity.
Click to expand...

Since the OP was contemplating just an enclosure, it seems that running
a gui on his network storage box is not a big priority for him, thus as
most any mobo supporting a P2 will likely to be able to support at
least 128M ram, he should be more than fine with that amount of memory
for running a file server
Not necessarily, particularly if you've never bothered
with other than the OS that runs on the PCs.
Click to expand...

Again, in the context of the OP, he states having a mixed network at
home of Linux and WinXP. Seems he should be able to handle a little web
based configuration of samba with webmin, no? He has obviously set up a
network and wifi as well, so give the dude a little credit :)
Makes more sense to use a small part of the main drive for that.
Click to expand...
I guess this could be debated endlessly, so I will just say that it is
my preference to have OS on separate drive on my file servers, even to
the point of mounting some portions read only or using flash devices
for OS portion.
 
If you go the linux pc fileserver route, I beleive the package you will
want is called smartmontools. I think there is even a webmin module for
SMART, too
 
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