NAS for movies only

[pdxrealtor]

I'm looking for a NAS with these requirements

1) Expandability - Want to add one drive (main and backup) now with the option to add several more in the future
2)The ability to back up automatically but not raid. I read about a backup feature that is like a mirror type where if one or all of your files get screwed you just pop the drive into the bad drives slot and add another back up drive.
3)Some kind of media server on it.

I have the WD Live My Book World Edition II (white light) and it's honestly just fine for my needs. I'd keep it and buy more if they were expandable, but they are not.

I'm using a dune media player and it will be connected via gigabit Ethernet. I have two WD lives that are connected to no big deal systems/TVs and they get the data via wi-fi.

Here's the catch. The dune player uses juke box software (Zappiti) and all the movies must be stored in one directory for the juke box to work correctly.

I just built a home theater so movie storage will be going from rips to full .ISOs. Storage will fill up quick now, and in the future as time goes by.

Again . I just built a theater so funds are gone and spending 1k on a NAS right now is not an option.

If it would get things started for much cheaper I could buy a drive that allows USB 3.0 backups to an external drive and skip the auto back up/mirroring type feature I mentioned above. This type of backup would have an advantage of allowing me to store the backup disks in a firebox/safe. It's just remembering to do the backups after you put a few movies on the box.

Any suggestions?

 

[thiggins]

The single directory and expandability requirements will push your starting price point up. You need to either pay more for an expansion cabinet solution like Synology offers with the DS713+, or buy a NAS with enough bays to cover your total needs.

You don't need a media server if your media player can browse network shares.

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
713+ is what I got with 2 bay exp. box but I can expand more when needed. I have full featured HT at home. I don't care much but for better half, all is working very well. She knows how to use the set up.

 

[pdxrealtor]

Thanks for your replies. I've been on another forum, audio/video, and starting discussing a four bay hard drive case directly attached to my media box.

A couple of guys told me I could get a used computer for about 100.00 (the price of a 4 bay hard drive box) and if it had an Intel gigabit network card and windows 7 that all I would need is a my drives.

This would of course be no RAID setup, but that's fine. I'd rather copy my drives via my main computer over the network using usb 3.0 and then stick them in my fire safe.

Is this as easy as it sounds?

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
NAS is usually powered on all the time. It is active when busy or goes to sleep spinning down the HDDs. Power consumption, heat, noise can become an issue. In my house One main Desk top PC , cable modem/router, NAS(4x3TB), wireless printer stay on always, really 24/7 on UPS.(in last 20 so years we had total power outage of couple hours) Our power rate is @8 cents per KWh. We are empty nester. Big house, just two of us and a dog.

 

[stevech]

Mine is programmed to shut off during sleeping hours. Not for saving pennies, just reduce hours on the drives.

Though... my RAID1 in the garage, with two old 500GB WD drives, has run 24/7 for 6 years or so without problem. My newer NAS is setup for two drives, independent volumes for more robust backup than RAID1.

 

[pdxrealtor]

Just an update- I ended up building an 8 TB NAS box, with 8 on board SATA ports to expand, for just over 500.00 complete.

Using unraid as the OS.

Tons of room for expansion by just adding 4TB at a time. Thanks for all your input!