Server or NAS or Both?

[leftheaded]

Long story, short - my Win7 "server" is failing and I have about 9TB of data on it. This is in RAID5 on an Areca 1231ML with 12 x 1TB Samsung F1's. Client machines are Mac OS Leopard and Lion, Win7, WinXP and an Xbox 360. Also mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, Blackberries etc...

Now I'm trying to decide if I need a server, a NAS or both. Here are the high level options I'm stuck on:

1. Mac Mini with Lion Server and NAS
   
   DIY NAS based on existing Areca 1231ML or​
   Synology DS1511+​
2. Upgrade Win7 box to WHS 2011 (already own the OS)
   
   Requires upgrades to cpu/mobo/ram​
   Stick with direct storage using Areca 1231ML or​
   Synology DS1511+​
3. Buy HP SmartMedia Server and NAS
   
   DIY NAS based on existing Areca 1231ML or​
   Synology DS1511+​
4. Buy Synology DS1511+ without a server

Time is more important that money at the moment, so I'm trying to get my data shared on the network as quick as possible. That said, I'm leaning towards the Mac Mini Server and Synology NAS. What's preventing me from doing that are the leftover parts I have from the failing Win7 machine - namely the Areca 1231ML. Should I repurpose or ebay it? This is where I get stuck... any feedback or opinions appreciated.

Questions and factors:

• My Areca is bootable. Does that mean I can go OS-free and configure/access my data from the client machines?
• I've never setup a NAS before (as probably evident by the question above)
• Main uses are streaming movies, audio and file storage. Availability over the internet (away from home) is huge plus.
• Backups to the NAS from clients using Time Machine on the Macs, Acronis on Windows. Or managed with the server if I go that route.

 

[00Roush]

Questions and factors:

• My Areca is bootable. Does that mean I can go OS-free and configure/access my data from the client machines?
• I've never setup a NAS before (as probably evident by the question above)
• Main uses are streaming movies, audio and file storage. Availability over the internet (away from home) is huge plus.
• Backups to the NAS from clients using Time Machine on the Macs, Acronis on Windows. Or managed with the server if I go that route.

I think bootable means that you could boot from the hard drives that are attached to the Areca if one of them had an OS on it. So either way I think you still need some sort of OS to access the data. It might be possible to physically move the Areca card and drives to one of the client computers and get access to the data that way. But if you go this route be very careful if you are trying not to loose your data.

It sounds like you might not know exactly what an NAS is... Basically it is a server that specializes in file sharing. So for your question about needing a server, NAS or both I think the answer would be just an NAS or server based on your last two bullets. The Synology DS1511+ should be able to do everything you listed. So basically it depends on if you want to build your own server or just buy an NAS. I am a do it yourself kind of person so my suggestion is to utilize what you have and upgrade to WHS since you are already familiar with it. If you prefer the set it and forget it route the Synology DS1511+ looks to be a solid unit. Another option might be one of the QNAP 559 PRO units.

On a side note I am wondering how your Win 7 server is failing... hardware failure?

00Roush

 

[leftheaded]

On a side note I am wondering how your Win 7 server is failing... hardware failure?

yeah, mobo is on life support. it's p35 and served me well for 4+ years, but time to upgrade or migrate.

i think i'm going to get the synology 1511+ and some new disks this week. then start migrating my data there. perhaps i'll repurpose the win7 parts after i see what i'm missing