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December 18th, 2012

Security: Subject: Server recommendations? Time: 07:22 pm

It looks like the hard disk in my network server has died - not entirely surprising since it's at least 5-6 years old. It might be possible to replace it, but big IDE drives are getting a bit thin on the ground and likely to be old stock, and the server only supports a maximum size of 500gb, which is peanuts by modern standards. So I think I need to look for a new server - doesn't need to be huge, 1TB would probably meet my needs for now, but some expandability (such as a second bay) would be nice. I need it to be accessible by Windows, Mac 0SX 10.4, and Linux PCs on a basic Windows network. At the moment I have a 10/100 network, but sooner or later I may want to upgrade to 10/100/1000 Any recommendations?

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Comments:

nojay Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-19 11:54 am (UTC)

I use a JBOD (Just a Box Of Disks), an old PC filled with a mixture of IDE and SATA hard drives and running W2K because that's what I had when I built it a few years back. I don't know how well that sort of approach would work with non-Windows machines though. I assume FreeNAS or similar would work on such a box and it is probably more connection-agnostic than Windows. The JBOD consumes more power than a dedicated NAS would but I don't run it full-time, just for backups.

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ffutures Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-19 02:05 pm (UTC)

That's certainly a possibility, but I'd really prefer something that took up less room if possible. The nice thing about my old drive box wass that it was very small and quiet, since it powered down the drive and fan after a few minutes of inactivity, but only took a few moments to go back on line if I accessed it.

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dandello Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-19 04:29 pm (UTC)

Pity you're not close to a Best Buy store - Seagate 4TB Raid0/2tb Raid1 NAS drive, connects directly to your router via Cat5/6 Runs less than 400 USD. NTFS is pretty universal for accessibility. (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate+-+BlackArmor+4TB+Network-Attached+Storage+Server/9548206.p?id=1218122575888&skuId=9548206) It's its own server. (It's my Xmas pressie this year. VBG)

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ffutures Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-19 06:00 pm (UTC)

I think they're available here - maybe not that cheap though. I'll check it out.

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murphys_lawyer Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-19 07:37 pm (UTC)

http://www.serversdirect.co.uk/Hewlett_Packard_HP_ProLiant_N40L_1P_2GB-U_Emb_SATA_NHP_250GB_LFF_150W_PS_Mi_658553-421/version.asp gives you a barebones server for around £120 after you go through the cashback dance. Add discs to taste.

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ffutures Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-19 09:18 pm (UTC)

Any idea what the max drive capacity per drive is? They don't seem to say it very clearly! later Never mind, 8TB. Looks interesting, have to see what my funds are like after Xmas. Edited at 2012-12-19 09:20 pm (UTC)

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armb Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-23 10:38 am (UTC)

Is this just for storage, or a general purpose server? I've currently got a ReadyNAS Duo V1, but it's showing its age a bit (based on Debian Sarge). (The current V2 is ARM based rather than SPARC - http://www.reghardware.com/2012/04/28/ten_two_bay_nas_drives_storage/page3.html)

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ffutures Link: (Link) Time: 2012-12-25 09:53 am (UTC)

Thanks - I'll take a look.

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