Build cheap NAS

[prongs1982]

I'm in process build a NAS in my friend office mainly for data storage(as for D:\ replacement) and data backup(in case if power failure happen and data loss occured in one of NAS hdd).

For those scenario should I build 2 different NAS(one as D:\ the second as backup for first NAS) or I could build single NAS that could do both function that I mention.

Can I use cheap sata drive then raid it? And common motherboard out there?

My friend just need 500gb for each pc (for now it,s 3pc plan to upgrade up to. 10pc

Thanks

[SaladFingers]

I'm in process build a NAS in my friend office mainly for data storage(as for D:\ replacement) and data backup(in case if power failure happen and data loss occured in one of NAS hdd).

For those scenario should I build 2 different NAS(one as D:\ the second as backup for first NAS) or I could build single NAS that could do both function that I mention.

 

Yup, better do it in one system. Why spend on two different hardware configs when all you need is more drives on the same system? In your power failure scenario, a second NAS machine wouldn't help much if it's plugged on the same power source. You would just maybe add one more PSU to the puzzle that could potentially survive a failure while the other one doesn't.

Can I use cheap sata drive then raid it? And common motherboard out there?

 

Sure. But why would you RAID one drive? Perhaps you mean just create two separate partitions on it? Yes, you can. But then if the disk goes, both of your partitions are gone.

My friend just need 500gb for each pc (for now it,s 3pc plan to upgrade up to. 10pc

Thanks

 

 

All in all I would recommend you to just use one NAS machine with two separate disks (or more in a raid config if you want performance), one for your Data and one to automatically back that up. Then regularly run an off-site backup on some disk that you don't keep inside the machine or even the same house/office.

 

edited to clarify.

[prongs1982]

All in all I would recommend you to just use one NAS machine with two separate disks (or more in a raid config if you want performance), one for your Data and one to automatically back that up. Then regularly run an off-site backup on some disk that you don't keep inside the machine or even the same house/office.

edited to clarify.

Thanks for your answer and by power failure i mean is when blackout happens (this NAS will eqquiped with UPS)

Okay than I Will prepare external storage in case if all fail...

[SaladFingers]

Thanks for your answer and by power failure i mean is when blackout happens (this NAS will eqquiped with UPS)

Okay than I Will prepare external storage in case if all fail...

 

Well then in that case a single machine still makes more sense. Just one UPS to keep it on, less total power needed.

 

Off-site backups are rarely of much use, but they are there for you to sleep at nights It's that worst case scenario that the building catches on fire or whatever. So you got your data, a local backup and an off-site backup. Like many IT pros say, "if your files aren't in 3 different places, they don't exist"

[prongs1982]

Well then in that case a single machine still makes more sense. Just one UPS to keep it on, less total power needed.

Off-site backups are rarely of much use, but they are there for you to sleep at nights It's that worst case scenario that the building catches on fire or whatever. So you got your data, a local backup and an off-site backup. Like many IT pros say, "if your files aren't in 3 different places, they don't exist"

Could you share the diy tips to build nas. Maybe some web or else. And how to replace D:\ with network storage?

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey there prongs1982,

 

For simple data storage, backup and file sharing you might be better off getting a pre-built NAS. 

I could suggest checking out what WD can offer and see if any of the solutions meet your budget and requirements: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=Wc1Zbb

 

Easiest solution would be to get WD My Cloud Mirror with 2TB capacity. You can configure it in RAID1 which would give you 1TB of usable storage space, Mirroring redundancy meaning if either of the drives in the device fail you would still have your data safe and ready for rebuilding or recovering. Here's a link to it: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=VVSCXE

 

Hit me up if you need any info on that

 

Captain_WD.

[prongs1982]

Hey there prongs1982,

For simple data storage, backup and file sharing you might be better off getting a pre-built NAS.

I could suggest checking out what WD can offer and see if any of the solutions meet your budget and requirements: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=Wc1Zbb

Easiest solution would be to get WD My Cloud Mirror with 2TB capacity. You can configure it in RAID1 which would give you 1TB of usable storage space, Mirroring redundancy meaning if either of the drives in the device fail you would still have your data safe and ready for rebuilding or recovering. Here's a link to it: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=VVSCXE

Hit me up if you need any info on that

Captain_WD.

I do want to use wd drives, but i want to build my own NAS.

Is WD black robust enough to use in my build. Or WD blue is more than enough for my build.

Thanks for your advice.

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Although pretty much any storage drive would work, it is recommended to use NAS/RAID-class drives such as WD Red. Such drives have features that enable them to work much safer and smoother with lower chance of dropping out or corrupting the data and thus lowering the chance of data loss. An example of such attribute would be TLER. Here's more info on WD Red and NAS/RAID drives: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=xsLAjh

 

Having said that, I've seen people using WD Green drives in RAID1 for years without complaints, WD Black drives in RAID0 NAS devices without problems and even WD Blue drives connected to a router with enclosures acting like a NAS. It would work, but you are increasing your risk of a drive failure simply because these drives are not designed and thus not recommended for this by us. 

 

To answer your question, WD Black should be the more robust drive as it is designed for extensive and heavier workloads and should be able to sustain more hostile environments and more demanding workloads better compared to WD Blue.

 

Hope this helps! Ask away if you need more info!

 

Captain_WD.