Cheapest NAS for 30+ users network

[chupacabra]

I'm looking for a NAS for a network of 30+ computers (both Macs and PCs). NAS would be used for storing, accessing and editing data on it. It would be mainly MS Office documents and .pdf files. In total there is around 500GB of data. There is no need for streaming. My main concern is compatibility with Macs, fast access without lags and cost.
Could you recommend me:
1. Cheapest available NAS that meets above criteria
2. Cheapest available NAS that meets above criteria and with active directory integration
Also if I buy just an enclosure, what sort of HDD can I buy to fit NAS? Does any HDD will be compatible?

 

[stevech]

Avoid the mass-marketed NASes, IMO: Seagate, Western Digital, LaCie, etc. You will be disappointed as posts here and reviews on Newegg and others tell. It's an issue of NAS software ease of use, features, and quality. For 30+ users, you can't cheap out at Walmart.

Go with a top-tier NAS from Synology or QNAP. A two-bay will do. Try their on-line demos.

HDDs: most any good quality (Seagate, Western Digital) drive, 7200RPM, will do. No need to pay a premium for NAS-rated.

 

[kanewolf]

For 30 people, is one NAS the best answer? What is the cost of a failure? I would get two units so that you can back up one to the other. You could save a few $$$ by getting one NAS and using multiple volumes on it to do backups, but you still have a single point of failure (chassis). Does your network have Active Directory? If so, then you should get a small business oriented model which can join your domain and get the login credentials from the domain.

 

[L&LD]

If the 30 users are using the NAS concurrently every day, I would suggest a 4, or 6 bay QNAP in RAID5 with the option to enable and test an SSD cache with the intended workflow.

I also agree that 2 or more NAS' for backup/redundancy is highly recommended for a business setting.

 

[stevech]

If cheap means you don't have a budget of $700 or so, and no one wants to protect their precious data, I'd skip using a NAS and just buy everyone a nice USB3 drive, tell them how to backup, and you don't blamed if they don't backup.

But it's not common for 30 people to hit the NAS in great rushes. It's all about usage statistics.

 

[Technical_crawler]

N5550

For well priced NAS servers, look at the Thecus N5550. Link aggregation, LCM display, USB 3.0, multi RAID functions and so on. Impressive technologies have been used to develop the new N5550 NAS to serve one single purpose: improve user experience and satisfaction. Learn more. http://www.intellistor.co.za/nas-storage-server/66-thecus-n5550-nas-storage.html

 

[stevech]

For well priced NAS servers, look at the Thecus N5550. Link aggregation, LCM display, USB 3.0, multi RAID functions and so on. Impressive technologies have been used to develop the new N5550 NAS to serve one single purpose: improve user experience and satisfaction. Learn more. http://www.intellistor.co.za/nas-storage-server/66-thecus-n5550-nas-storage.html

For the budget minded, this may be an overkill.

 

[chupacabra]

I was thinking about getting 1 NAS and connect USB external drive to it for a backup of a whole content.

At the moment I use Sony Vaio laptop as a server which works fine with PCs but not with iMacs. Someone recommended me to install different operating system on it that will be compatible with both.

What would be better solution NAS or laptop running OS like that?

 

[stevech]

Apple always does things differently than mainstream. To get you to buy their stuff. Your PC sharing can be made to work if you have help or patience to learn.

NAS is nice to have for data safety.
A 2 bay from Synology or QNAP is a good way to go. You choose and buy the drives. I run mine as non-RAID.

The USB3 can plug in to the NAS for backup. That's what I do. It's all automated. Also backup file versions (Time Machine kind of thing), standard in the NASes above.

 

[chupacabra]

I think I will go for something like this Stevech. Just not sure what would be safer, to connect USB external drive to NAS or to one of the network computers so original data would be backed up rather then a copy from NAS

 

[stevech]

With a NAS, you try to not store data on PCs at all, unless you have software like Centered Systems' SecondCopy on each PC to automatically copy selected folders to the NAS.

If not, the NAS isn't useful.

 

[chupacabra]

Makes sense. Thanks a lot for your help Stevech