redundant NAS for home application... drobo? Intel SS4200-E?

[TaylorD]

So I am basically looking for a NAS for home, betweeen 2-4TB, to store all of my media (music/movies/etc).

Ideally I would like to be able to set up user level access control for remote access, and have the media library on my main computer automatically sync with the NAS when new media is added. Also looking for something that will survive a single drive failure.


Anyone have any hands on experience with a Drobo setup or Intel SS4200-E, or recommend something else altogther? I know building my own is an option, but I'd prefer a premade, 'ready to go' solution if it is reasonably priced.

 

[cmetz]

Thecus.

 

[TaylorD]

thanks! the m3800 with HDMI and eSata solves a couple of issues for me!

 

[cmetz]

TaylorD, if you can swing the cost, check out the N5200 / N5200 Pro. It's an x86 PC inside (laptop ULV parts) so highly hackable. There are tons of very good third-party modules for them, and it's fairly easy to build your own if you want to add something to it.

They all run a custom Linux OS (web UI). The x86 based ones are all I've used. They are modest in terms of capacity and performance, but they Just Work.

 

[TaylorD]

do you have anything against the M3800? I've read about some incompatibility with some file formats for the media player, but the idea of one less box by the router (media player and NAS in one) is appealing.

 

[cmetz]

I've never used one, I have no idea on specifics. I've used their higher end models - N5200 Pro, 1U4500, and N8800.

I'd be shocked if the Linux-based OS it runs is much different than what runs on the rest of their boxen, so it should work fine, at least as a NAS.

As far as the media player functionality goes, it probably depends on how demanding a user you are. The Thecus is probably very basic, it probably works okay, but it's probably something you'll outgrow. For me, I've never found any appliance/closed media player that's anywhere *near* good enough. I'm a big fan of XBMC, which these days requires a full HTPC.

 

[TaylorD]

I've got a conceptronic (sold in europe only I think) media player now. it's very basic, but I only use it for movies, so if the media player on the M3800 will handle my movie collection, that's enough for me. The way Netflix/hulu/etc are going soon enough my movie collection will be superfluous. (have a Bluray player that does netflix and blockbuster, hopefully hulu soon...)

thanks a bunch for your input, think I will pull the trigger on an m3800 (sub $400 at amazon)

 

[cmetz]

Check out:

http://thecususergroup.proboar...ard=n5200modifications
http://www.onbeat.dk/thecus/index.php/N5200_Module_List

There's a decent chance that the N5200 modules will actually upload and run just fine on the 3800, since it's modern and x86 based (AMD Geode). They do on the 1U4500 and N8800, even though the base firmware load is different.

The stock firmware is pretty blah, and Thecus's documentation, forum, and support are all not very good. There's a lot of third-party modules and stuff for these that make them much more interesting boxen.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Get anything but a Drobo. We have one of these things at work, and I absolutely hate the POS.