RAID / NAS / Backup

[Type R Tom]

I’m after a bit of guidance, I’m looking to build a media server to feed my smart TV’s / phones & tablets (both on and off local Wi-Fi) / Xbox & PlayStation / PC’s & Laptop with films (ripped from Blu-ray), music, documents etc. The options I’ve come down to is either build a NAS from my old PC or buy a prebuilt NAS or build a new PC that can do it all.

I’m getting confused about NAS vs Backup, now I’m aware that NAS isn’t backup but for a media server would a NAS with RAID 1 be affectively be the same as a 1 HD “backed up” on another HD elsewhere in a caddie, for example.

Also I’m thinking of a new PC, would a dedicated NAS be better than a PC with 6+ SATA ports be better if you ignore power use? I would be looking to rip my Blu-rays on a PC then stream them around the network.

[Type R Tom]

probedb said:

RAID is never a backup, it's redundancy. With RAID-1 if you accidentally delete a load of files and can't get them back, they're gone from the other drive, it's just a mirror.

Personally I have an older PC running Win 7 and a Highpoint RocketRAID card for my file/everything server. Obviously not as compact as a NAS but so much more expandable/flexible etc.

I'm aware about the delete thing, I'm more concerned about HD's going bang and losing all my films / music that I've spent hours ripping.

[Type R Tom]

8bit said:

RAID 1 means that both disks have exactly the same data all the time. In the event that one fails, the other is still there and allows things to carry on until you replace the failed disk. It won't let you go back and recover a file you deleted though. ETA - just seen someone else answered this while I was typing, sorry.

My advice would be get a home NAS, I got a Synology DS214play earlier this year and I love it. It's already geared up for NAS functions plus media streaming over DLNA, has a Bittorrent (and other download service) client, has built in software for backing up to another NAS or a USB disk (I use this), can run web apps, home mail server, you name it. Far easier than building your own NAS, everything is integrated nicely out of the box.

If you want absolute control over everything that is installed and exactly how it is set up then a home-grown NAS would be the better choice I guess but if, like me, you just want something that works well and doesn't require fiddling with then a NAS is the way to go.

What configuration do you run?

[Type R Tom]

How does this

http://www.ebuyer.com/517659-lenovo-iomega-ix4-300...

and 2 x this

http://www.ebuyer.com/554538-wd-red-4tb-3-5-sata-6...

sound for a start?

[Type R Tom]

Crafty_ said:

So, as I said I've been reading up on NAS boxes recently and am struggling a bit - the problem I have is the phone master socket (and therefore my router) are in an unsuitable place to put a NAS box. I know using wifi is possible but most regard it as a bad idea. What about using homeplugs ?
Would either give me the ability to stream video/music from the NAS to devices (maybe using plex).

I might be able to move the phone socket by adding an extension but a bit concerned what that will do to my connection speeds.

Can't you run a CAT5e cable under the carpet or something like this

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/white-skirting-board-cab...

[Type R Tom]

As I'm thinking about a new PC, what are people opinions on a machine with an SSD for windows etc then several 3TB drivers as a NAS

[Type R Tom]

Come across this too:

http://www.ebuyer.com/616877-hp-proliant-microserv...

The Synology does look good but they are quite pricy. Does anyone know with 4 bays NAS if you can add 2 x HD’s then when they are full add another 2 x HD’s? Running two separates RAIDS