How do I select a NAS drive for Multi User Home?

[dhiraj100]

I would like to purchase a NAS drive for home use.
- We have 4 computers at home, that want to share the NAS drive, also have a Squeezebox server
- 1-2TB of storage
- RAID (but not sure what RAID is needed ... want to be able to recover from hard disk failure)
- I am thinking 2 bay ... (what is the advantage of 4 bay)
- should be on home wireless network
- store files on it, use it for storage and backup
- share files between users (4 computers)
- keep music and Squeezebox server on NAS drive
- In future serve up movies
- Currently using Desktop PC for storage and squeezebox 24/7. Don't want this. Want to turn off the PC.
- Remotely access data from NAS drive
- Care about performance when accessing files
- Streaming video/music
- Want to post/host large photo collection and share with friends
- Price is a factor
- Lower power consumption than my Desktop 24/7.

Do I want 2 bay or 4 bay? What is the benefit for 4 bay?

Do I want an eSATA port and if so, why?

I am currently looking at Synology 209+II or Synology 209 or ReadyNAS NV+. What would you recommend? I hear Synology has very good performance, and reasonably low power compared with ReadyNAS NV+. Is there a big difference between Synology 209 and 209+II? Would you recommend anything else?

 

[claykin]

See here:

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=2373

And its only necessary to post once. Thanks.