Continue using my NAS or use spare desktop as NAS?

[Scruffy90]

I currently own a WD MyCloud NAS. I am considering getting rid of it and moving the drives from there into my spare desktop. This NAS is being used for network shares and a Plex Server

 

I have a spare desktop that has not seen use for the better part of the year and I have had trouble selling. If I decide to use it, it would be used for file sharing, a Plex Server, game streaming (maybe), and a parsec gaming server. Of course, not all of this would happen simultaneously.

 

The reasons i'm considering this is that WD doesn't put out timely updates for security flaws, updates to the apps in their app store, flaws simply don't get patched, and I need more power for plex. The only real downside to moving away from the WD NAS is the increase in power draw. The WD NAS on load hits 15W, while my spare desktop is near 100W.

 

Any suggestions as to whether or not this is a good idea or how I could improve on said situation? Thanks

[AnonymousGuy]

My NAS is just a Windows 7 box running raid cards and a dual core Pentium.  Works great, far more versatile than a Synology or WD nas.

[paddy-stone]

I have recently moved the drives from my main NAS into my desktop, and have plex and a network share set up. So currently, my desktop pulls duty simultaneously as my main PC/plex server/NAS and a mining rig and does it no problems whatsoever... I'm running a ryzen 1700 Oced to 3.85Ghz all cores, but even doing all this it sits idle a LOT of time 1-2% CPU usage, and pulls (upto) 140W, but most times is usually around 20-30W. If I'm going to be out most of the day I just turn my backup server on instead if I think I might want to pull some files while out via openVPN. - just to clarify, the 20-30 watts is for the cpu package (cpu-SOC) only. Total syste, draw is probably around 100W maybe, I haven't tested since the change-over.

My main server had an i7 6700K and even though idle most of the time, showed around 70-150W usage when running freenas, so has saved me a TON of electric use by moving to my main desktop instead. I now have that machine set up as an HTPC for if my nvidia shield TV goes bonkers or soemthing... just in case, or until I find a more suitable use for it... or change my mind about my storage situation again. Have to say though this is much less complicated how I have it now, just turn it on when I wake up, and power off if I am done for the day... and just backup my stuff as usual to my backup server a few times per week for the media, other storage gets backed up to another place several times per day as they are my most important files and stuff.

[Scruffy90]

56 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

-snip-

What OS is your main rig running? 

 

1 hour ago, AnonymousGuy said:

My NAS is just a Windows 7 box running raid cards and a dual core Pentium.  Works great, far more versatile than a Synology or WD nas.

Would you recommend the use of a RAID controller vs software RAID within Windows? How are you configuring your network shares so that other computers can access it?

[AnonymousGuy]

5 minutes ago, Scruffy90 said:

What OS is your main rig running? 

 

Would you recommend the use of a RAID controller vs software RAID within Windows? How are you configuring your network shares so that other computers can access it?

I'm not an expert, but I would guess software raid is fine.  Hardware is better for loads of drives and features that probably don't matter so much in a home environment with a single array + a few drives.

 

Network shares are 3 clicks to set up.  Clients have to log in with a dedicated "shared" user account that I created on the server.  The router has DNS lookup for local machines so it knows that \\SERVER translates to my server's fixed IP address.

[Scruffy90]

3 minutes ago, AnonymousGuy said:

I'm not an expert, but I would guess software raid is fine.  Hardware is better for loads of drives and features that probably don't matter so much in a home environment with a single array + a few drives.

 

Network shares are 3 clicks to set up.  Clients have to log in with a dedicated "shared" user account that I created on the server.  The router has DNS lookup for local machines so it knows that \\SERVER translates to my server's fixed IP address.

Interesting. I need to look into this more. Any place you recommend so I could see how to set this up within Windows?

Also trying to figure out if its worth using my main machine over my spare desktop.

[paddy-stone]

18 hours ago, Scruffy90 said:

What OS is your main rig running? 

 

Windows 10 pro, latest version.

[aezakmi]

I think a desktop is more versatile (and cheap) than a prebuilt. It's also more safe imo since you can install av/antimalware stuff and control remote connections and files.

 

Mine is W7 and has a 160GB drive for the OS + 2 2TB WD purple drives, no RAID, the drives are fast enough and gave me no trouble so far, it has a gigabit pci card.

I had to build this because using my main rig to download stuff was just too expensive (electricity is really expensive) that's why it uses 5400 drives and a 200W SFF power supply and the max power saving options were set.

a regular windows share worked for me (sharing both 2TB drives) just to copypaste files but full control is done via remote utilities host + clients

 

[Mikensan]

"more power for plex" is going to be actually literal in terms of wattage - but 15watts is probably only costing $1/m and 60watts would cost $4/m - so it isn't all that bad. (assuming .12-.13 per kw)

 

Unless it's just 2 disks mirrored, you aren't going to be able to just plop them in a desktop. You may need somewhere to move the files temporarily.

 

Personally I wouldn't throw the WD cloud away - put some disks in it and use it for backup. Couple cheap used 1TBs would even work. Mainly just backup important data (family photos, favorite porn - that sort of thing lol). Turn it on once a week or month, run backups, turn it back off - if you're worried about power draw.

 

Using a desktop is neat, since you can run Docker and go crazy with running things like Nextcloud / Plex / Sonarr / whatever - will feel almost like downloading Apps from WD.

[Scruffy90]

On 6/14/2018 at 6:15 PM, Mikensan said:

"more power for plex" is going to be actually literal in terms of wattage - but 15watts is probably only costing $1/m and 60watts would cost $4/m - so it isn't all that bad. (assuming .12-.13 per kw)

 

Unless it's just 2 disks mirrored, you aren't going to be able to just plop them in a desktop. You may need somewhere to move the files temporarily.

 

Personally I wouldn't throw the WD cloud away - put some disks in it and use it for backup. Couple cheap used 1TBs would even work. Mainly just backup important data (family photos, favorite porn - that sort of thing lol). Turn it on once a week or month, run backups, turn it back off - if you're worried about power draw.

 

Using a desktop is neat, since you can run Docker and go crazy with running things like Nextcloud / Plex / Sonarr / whatever - will feel almost like downloading Apps from WD.

Unfortunatey, I live in an expensive city. My electricity is $0.32/Kwh.  Im expecting my electric costs to go up.

 

I will probably be reformatting the disks. I have all of my stuff already backed up. Running them in raid 5 depending on what OS I go with. Currently each disk is formatted as EXT4.

 

Good idea on using the WD as a local back up. I have some drives I could use as back up. 

 

[Mikensan]

On 6/16/2018 at 2:15 PM, Scruffy90 said:

Unfortunatey, I live in an expensive city. My electricity is $0.32/Kwh.  Im expecting my electric costs to go up.

 

I will probably be reformatting the disks. I have all of my stuff already backed up. Running them in raid 5 depending on what OS I go with. Currently each disk is formatted as EXT4.

 

Good idea on using the WD as a local back up. I have some drives I could use as back up. 

 

That is a steep price to pay for electricity, ouch! DC metro area, I've never heard of anything over .24 - and that's from those stupid companies that resell electricity (promise cheaper prices, raise them a year later).

 

 

[Scruffy90]

On 6/18/2018 at 9:46 AM, Mikensan said:

That is a steep price to pay for electricity, ouch! DC metro area, I've never heard of anything over .24 - and that's from those stupid companies that resell electricity (promise cheaper prices, raise them a year later).

 

 

Im in NYC. Con Ed is allowed to price gouge without any interference from the city. Its ridiculous.

[Pixel5]

On 16.6.2018 at 8:15 PM, Scruffy90 said:

Unfortunatey, I live in an expensive city. My electricity is $0.32/Kwh.  Im expecting my electric costs to go up.

 

I will probably be reformatting the disks. I have all of my stuff already backed up. Running them in raid 5 depending on what OS I go with. Currently each disk is formatted as EXT4.

 

Good idea on using the WD as a local back up. I have some drives I could use as back up. 

 

with a price this high you can easily check for yourself what makes the most sense, a prebuilt NAS that has all the power you need for Plex and supports hardware transcoding will consume well below 40W if you got for example with the 918+ from Synology you can even get below 30W and even less while its on idle.

 

now consuming one Watt of power 24/7 all year around will cost you $2.80 per year.

 

If your system consumes 70W more than a  compare able prebuilt NAS that will cost you $196 extra per year, so buying for example a 918+ will pay for itself after 2.5 years and will easily last you 4-5 years.

Additionally you could still sell the old system and recover some more money that way.

 

I would say if you need more power for Plex go with a low power draw prebuilt NAS that has hardware transcoding built in, it literally pay for itself.