Old Vaio as a NAS server? Possible?

[xp0z3d]

I have recently got a Macbook Pro and won`t be using my old Vaio anymore. But I dun wanna trash it either. So was thinking rather than spending money on a NAS server, is there a possibility of making old Vaio as NAS?

I am not very good technically in these things but I can read and follow instructions really well. What I so far plan is have Vaio sit in corner attached to Router with Ethernet cable. Have a external disk plugged to Vaio through USB.

Then Vaio can serve as backup storage, media server etc. Vaio has Vista on it. ready to change to it something better if needed. Everything will be connected to same router using wifi. Please tell me what I need to do so I can make it work. So far I experimented with Plex media server and Itunes server which both work. I can access my Mac from Vaio but somehow Mac can not access Vaio over network.

 

[stevech]

Do you need more than file/folder sharing that's built into windows? If no, then go ahead, as long as you have a good automated backup strategy.

If you want nice multimedia, DLNA, Internet access to stored data, time machine, then I know of no DIY software that does all that, and has the simple graphical user interface (no command lines). IMO the best for this is a low end Synology or QNAP NAS.

 

[thiggins]

Sure it will work. The File and Printer sharing built into Windows will work just fine. Google should help you solve the Mac-Windows connection issue.

If your media players can browse to a network share, you don't need a DLNA server.

 

[xp0z3d]

Do you need more than file/folder sharing that's built into windows? If no, then go ahead, as long as you have a good automated backup strategy.

If you want nice multimedia, DLNA, Internet access to stored data, time machine, then I know of no DIY software that does all that, and has the simple graphical user interface (no command lines). IMO the best for this is a low end Synology or QNAP NAS.

I will manage backup somehow. But I want a way to save files into Vaio folders (external drive attached to it) but so far not able to even access it from Mac

Sure it will work. The File and Printer sharing built into Windows will work just fine. Google should help you solve the Mac-Windows connection issue.

If your media players can browse to a network share, you don't need a DLNA server.

DLNA is there already in Vaio , and I use WDTV to access it and playback files , most of them anyway from Vaio. I use plex as a media server.

 

[tipstir]

Windows 7 can be use as NOS still the only concern is how much power it going to use to keep-up and running 24/7 non-stop. I've done this for years, but the cost of electric is not going raise up here. Hopefully it doesn't get past this year. In the main time I had gone with another NAS using my existing HDD I have here. But like you I need DLNA support so my 6x SONY SMP-N100 and SONY SMP-N200 network media players can read the data as they did on Windows 7 Shared devices. Windows 8 test platform didn't get seen by those devices.

 

[xp0z3d]

So having a Cisco e1200 Router is good enough? or I need to get a better one? Even if say I get a Synology Nas server like 212J will e1200 be a sufficient router?

 

[tipstir]

So having a Cisco e1200 Router is good enough? or I need to get a better one? Even if say I get a Synology Nas server like 212J will e1200 be a sufficient router?

I've you looked into ZyXEL NSA325, NSA320, NSA310. I am using NSA325 that's up and running. Got it paired to my Android Smartphone and Android Tablet. More than a NAS it can be used as Media Servers, FTP Server, File Server etc. Media Server works nice with my SONY SMP-N100/N200 network player. Also all tablets, netbook, laptop and desktop. I might buy NSA320 is around $110 then I can use my old server HDD as they were being using without the high cost. Keep the NSA325 as full 2TB system. Until the cost of 3TB comes down I can go to 6TB later.

Setup was so easy and the Jumbo Frames support feature which for me 9K on 1GB NIC along with USB3 on WD 500MB with USB3 support ran perfect. I had installed a huge 2GB file on wired and wireless no issues and it was quick.

Anyway NSA325 has 1.6GHz 512MB this one you asking about is 1.2GHz 256MB and your router e1200, you might want to get ea3500 to support Gigabit switch since your model is Gigabit supported.

 

[stevech]

I've you looked into ZyXEL NSA325, NSA320, NSA310. I am using NSA325 that's up and running.

Is it a better performer, better UI, better NAS operating system, better feature set, better price/value, etc., vs. Synology or QNAP? Subjectively and objectively, how do the ZyXel's compare?

It is pretty.

Here's one good review
http://www.trustedreviews.com/zyxel...nterface-and-verdict_Page-2#tr-review-summary

The 1.6GHz model 325 got 3.5/5 stars (20 reviews) on Amazon's web site reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JLDTRY/?tag=snbforums-20

 

[tipstir]

Is it a better performer, better UI, better NAS operating system, better feature set, better price/value, etc., vs. Synology or QNAP? Subjectively and objectively, how do the ZyXel's compare?

It is pretty.

Here's one good review
http://www.trustedreviews.com/zyxel...nterface-and-verdict_Page-2#tr-review-summary

The 1.6GHz model 325 got 3.5/5 stars (20 reviews) on Amazon's web site reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JLDTRY/?tag=snbforums-20

Coming from NOS 7 then to WD MY BOOK LIVE 3TB (worst on Writes) to this NSA325 very quick access. I am still working on my media server side on the NSA325. So I'll have to report back later. But moving data from the slow poke NOS 7 to NSA325 seems smooth and of course I was on new HP with AMD Quad-core 3.2GHz with Turbo Boost to 3.4GHz on 32GB DDR3 PC3 1280 RAM remote into to my old NOS AMD Black Edition Quad-core 2.5GHz 8GB of DDR2 RAM. Both have PC-E Gig NIC. NSA325 does come with an app to move data around ZPCxx I haven't used it yet..

Yes I've seen those reviews. Wait for my review on Amazon. Most users don't know how to take advantage of their devices. I had no issues getting my two WD TB SATA III 6.0 GB/s in there.

Here's another positive review
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/network-wifi/3336346/zyxel-nsa325-review/?tab=verdictTab#top

Like I said those who own and those who don't still if you know what your talking about then I can understand. But to me setup was very easy. Now that all WiFi Gear sees it now. There is also Web Server feature along with DLNA Server support (I need that feature)

Supports 9K Jumbo Frames it's set to 1GB/s on the port on my JetStream the port is set to 1000m Flow Control enabled. Seems very quick to me. I was shock how tiny the box was inside the huge box it came in. I can fit about two of these on the rack I am using. I going to get NSA320 to house the two SATA II have have with my main files on it. 1.2GHz with 512MB. NSA310 single bay is only $96. Best to get the two bay.