I have to disagree with the other comments in this thread. I prefer
using a separate old system as a server rather than a small NAS unit
for file storage and backup. After trying the NAS device and not being
completely pleased with risking my data on a single drive, I set up an
older system use as a server. I think it is a better alternative.
I picked up a Promise PATA RAID card and installed it in the old
system with a couple of inexpensive disks in RAID 1. I also added a
DVD writer and use that to make a backup of critical data for off-site
storage. Neither RAID 1 nor an optical backup drive are available with
the little NAS device.
[snip]
Which NAS device did you try?
I tried a Tritton device which was a piece of junk. In a recent review
of home and small business NAS devices in PC Magazine, another Tritton
device was rated "poor" for set-up and with good reason: Zero
documentation and zero support: no web site and no phone number! I did
get it to work but it took over an hour of fiddling with IP addresses
and figuring out the limitations on the directory structure by trial
and error. The one I bought was super-cheap at Fry's. Even though it
was working properly, I didn't trust it and there didn't seem to be
any warranty in case of failure. So it went back to Fry's.
After I returned the Tritton I looked at other products. The Buffalo
product seemed to be the best and I almost bought that. But instead I
set up the server using a spare desktop system for the reasons
previously stated.
I too am uncomfortable with the lack of access to the NAS data without a
functioning network setup (say my router/switch went on the blink .. I would
be without access to the NAs until I reconfigured my system. I wish the NAS
device could function like a simple external USB drive when needed (through
a physical switch on the drive, maybe?)
There are some devices that will work either as NAS or as an external
USB drive. My concern is disk failure rather than network failure. You
can easily replace a bad router or cable for minimal cost and down
time. But if the NAS is used to store important data, then it needs
backup or else you risk losing data.
I think that NAS is fine for sharing entertainment media (music and
video), but perhaps not the best choice for important data files that
require regular back-up.
How does NAS handle dynamic IP's handed out by the DHCP server on the
router/switch? There doesn't seem to be any way to assign fixed IP address
to it.
You can set it up to use DHCP from a broadband router, or simply set a
fixed IP address within the range of your network (probably
192.168.1.x). The latter is best so that the IP address never changes.
Setup is through a web page interface similar to a broadband router
setup.
My P-II 233 has a REALLY slow disk I/O. I will have to buy the RAID card
and the identical drives and the DVD burner to duplicate your setup. I have
a lic. Win2000 Pro. Cost wise, the NAS will be about 1/2 the cost..
As other have pointed out, the network speed will be the limiting
factor so the slow disk I/O doesn't matter. With my 100 Mbps network,
even the 4200 rpm drive in my old ThinkPad 600 (P II-300, 440ZX chip
set) is not maxed out. Your P II with an add-in RAID card will not be
a limiting factor.
As for cost: You can get a 200 GB Seagate or Western Digital drive for
about $120 at Newegg. Two of those, plus about $100 for the RAID card
plus about $100 for a cheapie DVD burner and you have the whole set-up
for about $440.
I have an external USB Maxtor drive that I use for Ghost imaging as backup.
I suppose I could do that to the RAID server ...
All you need to back up is the data. No need to image the drive. You
will not have any applications installed on the server (except maybe
Nero for DVD burning and/or a backup program) and you can do a clean
OS install of Win2000 Pro in about 45 minutes if necessary. I have
both the OS and the data on the RAID array, so if a disk fails I have
almost no down time. For backups, just keep all you data in a
directory, and copy that directory to the backup media (DVD or
external drive) at regular intervals.
What's with the scares about Maxtor? Are they really that bad? Maybe I
should transfer the archived Ghost images on it to DVD !!!!
It's just my opinion, but I have had a number of Maxtor drives fail
and very few failures with the other brands I've used (IBM/Hitachi,
WD, and Seagate). But personal anecdotes are not convincing evidence
that Maxtor drives are less reliable than other brands, so I wouldn't
claim that this is reliable evidence that should guide anyone else.
- -
Gary L.
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