Looking for a user friendly, secure, internet accessible, Media streaming to PS3, emule friendly NAS
Guys,
I'm new to the NAS world .. have my small home network (just a workgroup) of 4 XP Pro PCs ... mine, wife's and kids'. I currently use my PC as the file server, download client (emule) and media streamer for the PS3.
Since my PC has fallen over a few times (viruses), I am looking for a replacement solution and would prefer to go for the NAS option as opposed to a configuration similar to my existing setup. I understand that a big plus with NAS is they are purposefully built to multi task 24/7 - ie file serving, web serving, print serving, media streaming, etc..
My requirements are as follows:
1 Network storage - so my PC doesnt need to be on all the time
2 Multiple user access with a fast / good response time (all my PCs have a network card of 100mb or above). My router is delivers at 100mb as well.
3 Easily mappable as extra drive(s) in Windows explorer (via a login script). My kids are too young to work via FTP and my wife is not highly computer crazy to want to worry with FTP or other fancy front ends.
4 Security - something similarly to NTFS - for eg kids should be able to access a shared document directory, add or edit content but NOT delete
5 Able to stream media to my PS3 - video, music and photos
6 Accessible from the net via FTP for eg. with some sort of security in place
7 Able to be used as a standalone download client (for emule) so that my PC need not run 24/7
8 USB 2 connectivity for quick copy from pen drive
9 I'll probably move to Canada in a year - as such need something that can be down volted to 110v from UK's 240v
Could you please advise which would be the best choices able to handle all of the above satisfactorily. Whilst not constant, and not expecting more than say 10 users max on my network .. or via internet at a time, there are times when for eg all of us could be requesting files at the same time from the NAS, whilst it would be downloading stuff and streaming media (via RJ45 connection) to my PS3. So I do need something that is decent. Finally, my budget would be £300 or approx $450 US.
Many thanks for your help
Jeff