Would a NAS be helpful for me?

[Inversion]

Okay I've heard of using a NAS as a backup and as a media server but I'm unsure as to whether or not I need one. For context, I'm moving into uni halls in 2 weeks and I'm trying to figure out the best way to backup my documents, tv shows and movies. I would like to be able to access the movies and tv shows on my main desktop wirelessly but I'm not sure I'll need it outside my halls and I know I can use PLEX when I'm on the same network as my desktop (I've never managed to get remote access to work).

 

My main question is this. Would it be worth investing in a NAS (prebuilt or custom) or just use PLEX to watch my movies and just backup to some hard drives I have lying around anyway?

[Guest]

A NAS can be pretty handy if you use it a lot. If you know some tech stuff, you can try a Raspberry Pi with a USB HDD.

A raspberry pi is only $35.(It's a little USB powered Linux pc, quad core)

If it doesn't work out you still have the HDD you can use and only lost $35 on it.

 

You can even hook it up to a monitor and use it as a media center too.(with e.g. Openelec running kodi)

[SupaKomputa]

I use to have nas running all the time.
But now since i got netflix, i rarely download any movies.

So the nas is just running when i want to make backup of my files.

then i turn it off. waste of energy.

why don't you just get a large hdd and slap an enclosure.

[Inversion]

3 minutes ago, timl132 said:

A NAS can be pretty handy if you use it a lot. If you know some tech stuff, you can try a Raspberry Pi with a USB HDD.

A raspberry pi is only $35.(It's a little USB powered Linux pc, quad core)

If it doesn't work out you still have the HDD you can use and only lost $35 on it.

 

You can even hook it up to a monitor and use it as a media center too.(with e.g. Openelec running kodi)

My main thing is that I'm not sure I will use it a lot. I am familiar with the raspberry pi but I think if I was going to do it I'd probably make a cheap tower probably running an AMD APU or Intel Pentium processor and maybe experiment with RAID. Given the cost I'll probably end up just waiting until I'm at least out of halls if not out of uni. Still not decided though. Networking stuff does interest me quite a bit 

[Inversion]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

I use to have nas running all the time.
But now since i got netflix, i rarely download any movies.

So the nas is just running when i want to make backup of my files.

then i turn it off. waste of energy.

why don't you just get a large hdd and slap an enclosure.

Mainly because a fair amount of the DVDs I have ripped onto my computer aren't available on Netflix or Amazon Prime in the UK is why I was looking at it but my computer does stay on quite a lot and I could probably just use Plex

[SupaKomputa]

meeeh too much power and waste of space.

it defeats the purpose of the nas where it should be low powered for 247 operations.

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Inversion said:

My main thing is that I'm not sure I will use it a lot. I am familiar with the raspberry pi but I think if I was going to do it I'd probably make a cheap tower probably running an AMD APU or Intel Pentium processor and maybe experiment with RAID. Given the cost I'll probably end up just waiting until I'm at least out of halls if not out of uni. Still not decided though. Networking stuff does interest me quite a bit 

Sure you can bult a little tower, but if you use new parts that is easely gonna set you at $200 for the PC without HDD's, the a Pi would be cheaper.(And not cost the world, so if you don't use it it doesn't matter)

 

Personally, the backup part would already be enough reason for me to get a NAS, even though I put most stuff in the cloud kinda things(github). Then there is the fact that I can have it download stuff while I can go and sleep, and have it be done when I wake up.(e.g. a few movies or something).

 

Plus, it practically consumes no power.(only a few Amps at 5v, you can use a phone charger)

[SupaKomputa]

yeah the download while you're sleeping is one of the nice features of a nas.

[Inversion]

15 minutes ago, timl132 said:

Sure you can bult a little tower, but if you use new parts that is easely gonna set you at $200 for the PC without HDD's, the a Pi would be cheaper.(And not cost the world, so if you don't use it it doesn't matter)

 

Personally, the backup part would already be enough reason for me to get a NAS, even though I put most stuff in the cloud kinda things(github). Then there is the fact that I can have it download stuff while I can go and sleep, and have it be done when I wake up.(e.g. a few movies or something).

 

Plus, it practically consumes no power.(only a few Amps at 5v, you can use a phone charger)

Okay I'll take a look into it. I think my main issue is going to be the storage capacity and that I think it might be helpful to have a RAID 1 setup.

 

16 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

meeeh too much power and waste of space.

it defeats the purpose of the nas where it should be low powered for 247 operations.

Yeah I often forget about the power usage.

[SupaKomputa]

use raid 1 if you're concern with security, raid 0 for capacity.

but with raid 0 either one of the drive failed, all the files are gone.

better stay away from raid, just use the drive separately.

[Inversion]

2 hours ago, SupaKomputa said:

use raid 1 if you're concern with security, raid 0 for capacity.

but with raid 0 either one of the drive failed, all the files are gone.

better stay away from raid, just use the drive separately.

I was going for redundancy. That's why I said RAID 1. I've watched the techquickie episode. covered the basics

[Electronics Wizardy]

6 hours ago, Inversion said:

I'm moving into uni halls in 2 weeks and I'm trying to figure out the best way to backup my documents, tv shows and movies.

MOst of the time they don't allow a nas with a network like this.

 

Just get a external hdd for backups.

[Timotheus2]

On 28.8.2018 at 2:11 AM, Electronics Wizardy said:

MOst of the time they don't allow a nas with a network like this.

The nas won't be visible behind a nat (router). If those are allowed (e.g. for wifi), then there is probably no problem.

[russelltorian]

If the NAS is connected to a Router, We can share the data only in the router range How can we share the data when we are beyond the router range.

[Electronics Wizardy]

8 hours ago, Timotheus2 said:

The nas won't be visible behind a nat (router). If those are allowed (e.g. for wifi), then there is probably no problem.

Yea you can connect to it, but in their TOS they normally say no NAS boxes and will go a knocking on your wall. Also somethings things are do so no device can talk to anouther device on the lan.