Consumer NAS

[Slyskel]

Is there any way to use network storage without spending hundreds of dollars on a NAS device?

[bomerr]

get an old pc and use it as a network server. 

[Kyuubixchidori]

http://store.westerndigital.com/store/wdus/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/ThemeID.21986300/categoryID.67754400/subCategory.67767800/parid.56796900/catid.67754200/My_Cloud

 

4tb for 200$, IHMO not bad. the feature set blows away any NAS software I worked with before. 

 

and cheaper then a old PC+storage, less work, plug and play, and has apps for everything. 

[Textosterone]

Get a WD my cloud! mine is on its way from amazon

[rtpb5642]

Get an SOC

[d3sl91]

Is there any way to use network storage without spending hundreds of dollars on a NAS device?

 

If you do not need your data to be safe, you can very cheaply use a MyCloud or similar device. Depending on size, they can be cheap. 

 

But, if you plan on storing all your stuff on there and need it to be safe from drive failure - you will need to spend a bit more on RAID0 capable setup. You can do this for ~ $350 for 2TB storage. 

[Blake]

Is there any way to use network storage without spending hundreds of dollars on a NAS device?

Even diskless NAS's are going to cost a couple of hundreds, Using old computer parts is the only way. If you want a cheaper option then Bomerr's response:

 

1. Connect your current PC to network,

2. make a network share for each HDD in you system.

3. connect/map everything by pointing to \\<localcomputername>\<Share> or \\<localcomputername>\<driveletter>$

 

There you have it, technically network attached storage, that you access via the network share.

 

Or if your want to go even cheaper and not connect to the network,

1. Make a network share for each local drive.

2. Connect/map drives by pointing to \\127.x.x.x\<share> or \\127.x.x.x\<dirveletter>$

[Captain_WD]

Is there any way to use network storage without spending hundreds of dollars on a NAS device?

 

Hey Slyskel,

 

Provided your router has a USB port, attaching a drive to it a configuring it would basically result in a NAS and this should be the most inexpensive option. It really depends on what you need from the NAS. As the guys suggested, WD My Cloud is a good option and has everything you would need from a simple NAS. Here are some details on it: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=EMZ6Cu

You can check the other NAS products from WD and see if any of them fits your budget and needs: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=dvTIKW

 

Captain_WD.