First time NAS buyer - Questions.

[bodean]

Background: Home Windows 8 pc (3TB space), Macbook Air, 3 Ipads, 3 Iphones, Boxee Box, ASUS AC66U router.

I want to unload all my MP3's and MKV movies that I have on my Hard Drive, and move them to a NAS. This will free up my Hard Drives and help better organize my files. I want my MP3's on a NAS, which my Home PC Itunes can access and stream. I want my MKV files on a NAS, so I can stream them to my Boxee (opposed to SMB share off my Windows 8 box). Does it sound like a NAS is the best solution for me?

If so, I see a lot of positive feedback on Synology products. Seems like no local stores here in Chicago carry these. I looked at Microcenter, and see a D-Link DNS-325. Would this be a major downgrade over a Synology (DS212j 2200)?

I'm trying to find one that already has HD's in it, but those seem tough to find.

Opinions please.

 

[bodean]

No takers here?

 

[stevech]

Synology (and QNAP) would do what you want. IMO, better than mass produced consumer NASes.

A good US source for Synology is newegg.com, or less so, TigerDirect.com.

Watch for specials/sales.

 

[bodean]

Given my needs you don't feel the WD My Live Book is a good choice?

 

[Astrix]

Given my needs you don't feel the WD My Live Book is a good choice?

I'm running MBL 2TB:
- Transmission
- IP Cams video/images recording.
- etc with no issue and at my satisfaction.

Others too expensive for me and MBL just within my budget and need

TapaTalking from Republic™ Of Android

 

[stevech]

Given my needs you don't feel the WD My Live Book is a good choice?

I suggest avoiding mass market NASes. A two bay QNAP or Synology (such as the DS212j) will give much greater ease of use and better software on the NAS.

IMO, this goes for WD, Seagate, Netgear, Buffalo, IOmega and a few less known. Again, IMO.

I wouldn't buy a single-drive NAS.. you put your family's life in photos and videos on there, get lazy about backups, and one day, for sure, poof, all gone.
Compare prices of dual drive (diskless, buy your own drives), for WD et al and Synology/QNAP dual drive.

The user reviews of WD NASes have these common complaints: Poor software, slow drives (green or 5400RPM, plus inefficient software/LAN I/O).
read reviews of candidate products on Newegg.com.

 

[webdevii]

Background: Home Windows 8 pc (3TB space), Macbook Air, 3 Ipads, 3 Iphones, Boxee Box, ASUS AC66U router.

I want to unload all my MP3's and MKV movies that I have on my Hard Drive, and move them to a NAS. This will free up my Hard Drives and help better organize my files. I want my MP3's on a NAS, which my Home PC Itunes can access and stream. I want my MKV files on a NAS, so I can stream them to my Boxee (opposed to SMB share off my Windows 8 box). Does it sound like a NAS is the best solution for me?

Here is the NAS link to Excaliber PC Just select QNap in the left menu when you get to the site
http://www.excaliberpc.com/featured-storage/cg-83/network-storage.html

If so, I see a lot of positive feedback on Synology products. Seems like no local stores here in Chicago carry these. I looked at Microcenter, and see a D-Link DNS-325. Would this be a major downgrade over a Synology (DS212j 2200)?

I'm trying to find one that already has HD's in it, but those seem tough to find.

Opinions please.

Synology or Qnap
I would recommend going to a reseller like Excalaber PC, as they will build, configure and setup your basic settings for your particular RAID type you want.

I own the Qnap 659 Pro II Turbo Nas, have had it now 3 years without one hickup, I have 6 2 tb drives for a total of 12 TB in a Raid 05. (JBOD)

Glad to see your asking instead of just doing what I see so many do, run out to the local computer store and buy an el-cheapo. As you get what you pay for in the NAS business. Granted the one I own cost upwards of $3,000.00 but I love it...

Good luck
Dev

 

[canuckle]

Agreed, I have a Synology 1512+, which I decided on after much research. You definitely do get what you pay for.

 

[xrecar]

You can actually load the synology system on a homebuilt server. There are forums dedicated to this objective for DIYers.

For example' it works on an Asus c60m1-I motherboard (70bucks) and 5x3tb WD red drives (so far).

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
It all depends on your budget, right? I'd consider at least two bay 2x4TB HDD Synology or QNAP. It may be only me but I like Synology being easier to use. Synology has good user forum with good helpful people with excellent knowledge.
That is when you ask good questions, LOL! Have fun and good luck.

 

[stevech]

Hi,
It all depends on your budget, right? I'd consider at least two bay 2x4TB HDD Synology or QNAP. It may be only me but I like Synology being easier to use. Synology has good user forum with good helpful people with excellent knowledge.
That is when you ask good questions, LOL! Have fun and good luck.

Agree on Synology. It was my choice; happy with it. Just a DS212 but that's more than I need (2x2TB).

I'd not go with 4TB drives- too new, more risk.

It will be a long time, as a home user who doesn't rip videos, before I fill up my drives.

 

[bodean]

So I would want someone to set this up for me? Opposed to buying a NAS at microcenter, with 2 hds, and putting it together myself? I build computers, never built or played with a NAS or RAID configuration

I'm debating between synology ds212 vs ds213