NAS for IDE

[ProfessorT]

Im looking for a way to put 2 or more IDE hard drives on a network without using a computer. I want a small- stand alone box of some sort with ethernet out for NAS.

Ive got a friend with a 2-300gb IDE hdds and another friend with one or two more that may be added. We want a cheap way to get these on the network without a big box. thx for comments/suggestions

 

[nweaver]

you have to have some sort of OS to run the NAS OS, meaning some microprossesor, some memory, etc.

Either you can build a small/cheap box and use Freenas or linux, or you can look at the BYOD NAS enclosures.

 

[KoolAidKid]

2-disk IDE BYOD NAS for $57

Buy.com has a $20 off of $50 promotion if you use Google checkout.

 

[networkman]

Netgear SC101

 

[ProfessorT]

The reviews for the Netgear sound bad, looking at newegg I found this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822333002

May possibly be a winner, something like this where everyone on the network can see it without installing anything and that it can be easily setup using ntfs file system.

EDIT: Doh its usb, need ethernets!!!

 

[JackMDS]

All the inexpensive (below $250) stand alone NAS Boxes "Sux". Read carefully every data sheet and if you can find out one that you can live with its limitations get it.

Limitations are, Real Speed (stating that it is compatible with 100Mb/sec. does not mean that transfer is actually at this level).

OS compatibility, Format compatibity (almost none supports correctly NTFS).

Otherwise, buy a Mid Level $300 or more unit.

 

[Nothinman]

OS compatibility, Format compatibity (almost none supports correctly NTFS).

OS compatibility should be fine, I can't imagine any of them don't speak SMB. And it makes sense that none of them would support NTFS since they'd have to run an embedded version of Windows for that and it would nearly double the price to license it.

Otherwise, buy a Mid Level $300 or more unit.

Or go with what mweaver said and build a FreeNAS or Linux box, the VIA C3 stuff is supposed to be pretty cheap, cool and low power and you'll be sure that you can do whatever you want with the device once it's built.

 

[ProfessorT]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

OS compatibility, Format compatibity (almost none supports correctly NTFS).

OS compatibility should be fine, I can't imagine any of them don't speak SMB. And it makes sense that none of them would support NTFS since they'd have to run an embedded version of Windows for that and it would nearly double the price to license it.

Otherwise, buy a Mid Level $300 or more unit.

Or go with what mweaver said and build a FreeNAS or Linux box, the VIA C3 stuff is supposed to be pretty cheap, cool and low power and you'll be sure that you can do whatever you want with the device once it's built.

Great! I was looking at some cheap small form factor micro-atx cases but was unsure what mobo, cpu to throw in? Most likely old athlon xp stuff that I have lying around, but something smaller and quieter, etc. would be nice. Any Links/Suggestions?

 

[acaeti]

It depends what you want to do really. Is it just going to be two IDE drives? Or will it be more later?

My guess is that it will be more later. In that case, you could do like you said and setup some crap cpu/mobo system and put linux on it. A short list of recommendations might include:

-Make sure it has a number of SATA ports on the board. The more you get on the mobo, the less you'll have to add in with cards later.
-Get the slowest CPU of the line or get a mobile CPU and use Q-Fan control in the mobo BIOS to turn down the fan speed when it isn't doing any work. E.g. an Athlon 64 3000+ or similar. If you put in the research, you could learn how to make linux scale back the cpu speed when it is not in use to save power/fan noise.
-Do a little research and learn how to spin down the disks when they aren't in use to save more power and wear on the disks.
-Use linux Logical Volume Management (LVM) so you can expand the capacity of your disk array without having to take everything off and reformat or other annoying hacks.
-Think about RAID so you don't lose all of your hard-won media in a single disk failure.
-If you want to get super crunchy, investigate wake-on-lan so you can turn the box off, but wake it up remotely when you want to access something on it.

If these sorts of things are out of your ken and you don't want to devote the 10's of hours it may take to learn how to set things up, then take the advice of other posters and purchase a slightly more expensive ($300+) NAS. I don't have any product recommendations for you there, unfortunately.