network storage.. getting confused

[ubernewb]

here's the deal.. i have a LOT of media that i need to store on my pc/network (converting all my movies from dvd/vhs to xvid) and i am steadily running out of room as time progresses. it's gotten to the point now where i just don't have any more room in my tower (or ide channels for that matter) for any new hdd's.. i know i could switch out for bigger drives, but that seems like a waste of the perfectly good drives i already own

i just recently started looking into network storage solutions (saw the little netgear box at best buy) and the idea is fantastic.. simply buy this box, throw a couple more hdd's into it, then plug her in to my router.. where the files could then be seen by both my computers and my xboxes (where i stream content thru xbmc) .. unfortunately i read a few reviews on newegg and turns out these things are actually crap. any machine that needs to see it has to be running windows and has to install a special app.. all fine and well for my computers, but a big no-go for xbmc, which in all reality is the most important piece to me.

does anyone here know of a storage device that will hold a couple ide hard drives, and will allow access thru samba? i've seen big nas units that cost like $2000 but that's a little out of my league.. for that much, i'd buy bigger hdd's and sell off my other ones for xbox use..

any help guys?

 

[nweaver]

any old PC, like a p2 400 would work great for this, and can be had for $20-$50

 

[GreyMittens]

The problem with a lot of the old PCs, however, is that the CMOS generally doesn't support the *big* drives and updates are few and far between. Having said that, depending on how serious you are into the space - You could drop $300-400 and get a semi current system which will support the drives. If you're dropping in 500+ disks what is 3/400 ?

I've got an AMD3000 sitting downstairs in my storage room that is wired, no keyboard / mouse or monitor and does just this.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: GreyMittens
The problem with a lot of the old PCs, however, is that the CMOS generally doesn't support the *big* drives and updates are few and far between. Having said that, depending on how serious you are into the space - You could drop $300-400 and get a semi current system which will support the drives. If you're dropping in 500+ disks what is 3/400 ?

I've got an AMD3000 sitting downstairs in my storage room that is wired, no keyboard / mouse or monitor and does just this.

Whoa. My supplier would only charge $156 for 400 dvd+r.

But I agree, a server box is the way to go. I need to build one as well.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: GreyMittens
The problem with a lot of the old PCs, however, is that the CMOS generally doesn't support the *big* drives and updates are few and far between. Having said that, depending on how serious you are into the space - You could drop $300-400 and get a semi current system which will support the drives. If you're dropping in 500+ disks what is 3/400 ?

I've got an AMD3000 sitting downstairs in my storage room that is wired, no keyboard / mouse or monitor and does just this.

my dual pentiumIII 866mhz is worth almsot nothing and I have massive drives in it

you don't have to go THAT old to get a good machine. Get somethign capable with like 4 pci slots, some IDE/SATA adapters and go to shool

 

[ubernewb]

hmm.. the idea of a server box seems like a possible winner. what all would i need in it though? if multiple pc's and xboxes are accessing it, would i need to build it fairly decent? like will the thing need a ton of ram to handle the different requests, or will it strictly be pulling info straight from the hdd's (pretty much bypassing the ram) ? also, would i need to get ahold of server software, or would running xp pro on it with samba shares be fine?

so then i'd just need a case, a mobo/cpu, a power supply (i'm guessing a big one to run all the hdd's?) , and some ram.. that'd be pretty much it right?

 

[kevnich2]

An old P2 can handle file serving perfectly well. You can put XP on it but keep in mind that XP home is limited to 5 concurrent connections, XP Pro is limited to 10 concurrent connections. If you use Windows, there is no samba (that's linux) but if you use a linus OS on it, there is no limit to the amount of concurrent connections to the box. I'd recommend a basic computer (P2 400mhz or above will work just fine), your choice of OS and probably an IDE/SATA raid controller and a bunch of large drives. After it's setup, you only need a network cable connected to it and it can sit in some closet if you'd like.

 

[azev]

just remember to keep it in a well ventilated closet. I had a dissaster during one hot day and a couple of my drives died because of overheat. I now put a vornado fans in front of the server to force air ciculation inside the case to cool off the drives.

 

[LoverBoyJ]

I'm interested in building a file server box too for a centralized storage within my network...
can you guru's give us some links to where we can start.
I have an old Dell P3-866Mhz sitting around, I might as well put it to good use..