Network Attached Storage?

[Markeh]

We're looking at getting a network storage drive, for auto backing up my dv6 (which will be upgraded to W7 soon, and I'm aware that the Home Premium version I will get does not support network backups) and clearing space on the main PB machine. We've got a Belkin G-Plus MIMO router.

We don't really know which drive we want, but ideally a size of 1Tb and a cheap price would be nice.

Any suggestions for a good drive, and good network backup software (preferably free)?

[Recursion]

IMO get a Windows Home Server, this will do automatic backups of all your PCs in your house, including any stray Macs and then you have the opertunities to take it much further because it is just a Windows OS.

[Markeh]

Yes, and how much does a Windows Home Server cost, how many hours of setting up have I got to do, and what do you mean by much further, Tom?

[Chippiewill]

With WHS you can remotely turn off all the computers in the house or send them messages. It can also be set to make daily, weekly and monthly backups and how many of those to keep at a time. However it does get to around £500....

Also you don't want a 1tb NAS, you want one which is big as you can afford to future proof it, I would recommend a Drobo with Drobo Share.

[Markeh]

any decent links for a drobo?

[Chippiewill]

any decent links for a drobo?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Drobo&l=1

Or for the direct approach
http://www.drobo.com/where_to_buy/resellers_emea.php

Even morer direct:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drobo-FW800-Storage-Array-Solution/dp/B0021AEYUY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257024943&sr=8-2

[Tomm]

Or build one yourself rather than paying rip off prices for NAS devices.

[Chippiewill]

Or build one yourself rather than paying rip off prices for NAS devices.

I think the Drobo will carry on working if any drive fails though, also one which you build yourself will end up with a big box.

[Tomm]

Get a mobo with a onboard raid controller or if you want to splash out then get a proper raid card. Also, you can get a mini ITX box + mobo and have a box about the size of the drobo. Although with a larger case you can get more hard drives to fit in it.


I think the Drobo will carry on working if any drive fails though, also one which you build yourself will end up with a big box.

[Recursion]

That's true, if you have a spare computer lieing around use FreeNAS or a full blown OS.

[Markeh]

I have a Sempron 2400+ system, on an MSI KM4AM-V mobo, 256Mb RAM, XP Professional and a 40Gb IDE HDD. I'd put a 1Tb one in alongside it, if I were to use it as NAS, but I'd rather get a proper NAS drive to be fair.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-ReadyNAS-Duo-Bay-500GB/dp/B0016L2P7I/ref=br_lf_m_1000323103_1_2_ttl?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&s=electronics&pf_rd_p=472753193&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000323103&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1ADWYTM0T52KM0DAHYPE is very tempting, especially as at the moment, if I buy before Christmas, I get a free 500Gb HDD (there's a version for about £20 less with no HDD with the same offer)

Any good?