NAS options

[mBox]

Our Apple XServe died.
Had a slew of GTECH XL RAIDs on a fiber hub holding storage.
We're ready to a different route.
Any Enterprise NAS options out there?
I've researched QNAP and Synology but is there any others I should think about?
Of course my IT dept throws HP StoreEasy our way which I have no idea if its overkill.
We just need a file server for a dozen Macs as well as some PCs.

 

[satcomer]

I tend to go toward Synology DS416Play sense it can transcode 4k video as well as act like sever with all it's open source APPs. Also you can use it to create a Time Machine backup and gave complete unfiltered control over it!

 

[grigb]

I've just been mesmerized with the concept of building a NAS from an old PC case and minimal spec (dirt cheap) processing components.

OpenSource NAS software:
www.freenas.org

A blog post on the subject, that initially sparked my interest:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/need-network-storage-heres-how-to-build-your-own-nas-box/

Our Apple XServe died.
Had a slew of GTECH XL RAIDs on a fiber hub holding storage.
We're ready to a different route.
Any Enterprise NAS options out there?
I've researched QNAP and Synology but is there any others I should think about?
Of course my IT dept throws HP StoreEasy our way which I have no idea if its overkill.
We just need a file server for a dozen Macs as well as some PCs.

 

[PhiLLoW]

I'm using a Synology NAS for about 3 years now. Works Great and I can really recommend them. No data-loss, easy to use software, great for streaming video to apple tv ( Plex and VideoStation ) and high read/write speeds(depends on model and used hdds though )

 

[mBox]

Thanks everyone for their input.

Any tips on the drives itself?

Them Enterprise drives are very costly but Im sure worth it.

I thought about re-using the ones from the GTECH XL but none of them are compliant.

Thoughts on decent priced to size ones?

 

[PhiLLoW]

Thanks everyone for their input.

Any tips on the drives itself?

Them Enterprise drives are very costly but Im sure worth it.

I thought about re-using the ones from the GTECH XL but none of them are compliant.

Thoughts on decent priced to size ones?

Bought 3TB WD reds back in 2015. Did some research then and found out that the differences between the hdds are not that big.

Edit: talking about these: https://www.amazon.com/Red-3TB-NAS-Hard-Drive/dp/B008JJLW4M

 

[Gav2k]

Thanks everyone for their input.

Any tips on the drives itself?

Them Enterprise drives are very costly but Im sure worth it.

I thought about re-using the ones from the GTECH XL but none of them are compliant.

Thoughts on decent priced to size ones?

4tb wd reds are they best price point on the market right now.

With that said for home use wd green or blue drives will do just fine.

 

[nagual]

Thanks Gav2k for info on HDD best price point. So I would get 2 4TB WD REDs. I have been using 3TB RED for the past 2.5 years in the USB 3.0 enclosure with no problem whatsoever.

Anyone can advice how to configure Synology DS716+ II with

• Synology Hybrid RAID
• Basic
• JBOD
• RAID 0
• RAID 1

Just want to know my options before I buy.

 

[convergent]

I've used QNAP for a number of years after becoming unhappy with Netgear. They have served me well, but I think that if I was starting off now from scratch I'd probably go with Synology since they seem to have the mindshare. For drives, I've been using the WD Red drives.

 

[Mikael H]

If you go the factory built NAS route, make sure your drives are in the compatibility list for the hardware of your choice, or you're very likely to encounter problems that won't be supported by anyone (don't ask me how I know - that was an expensive thing to learn even though my employer picked up that bill).

Privately I've been running file and Time Machine services for several years from an old HP Microserver packed full of WD Red drives in ZFS striped mirror configuration, and quite a bit of RAM, and I am really happy with it both performance wise and with its general stability. If I were to do it for more users I would probably choose faster drives and a cabinet that could take more of them.

 

[smirk]

Just as another option, my home server is a self-built Windows 10 PC running StableBit DrivePool software for redundancy and pooling. Advantages over a NAS is expandability and horse power; it can run media server software that can transcode on the fly, and can run VMs via the built-in Hyper-V hypervisor. Disadvantages are that it is Windows and that it uses more electricity than a little NAS.

 

[mBox]

Wow, great replies on the drives folks.

Thanks again!!
[doublepost=1497481135][/doublepost]Another question.
Difference between Workgroup and Enterprise NAS?

 

[Mikael H]

Wow, great replies on the drives folks.

Thanks again!!
[doublepost=1497481135][/doublepost]Another question.
Difference between Workgroup and Enterprise NAS?

Horsepower and connectivity options, mainly. Both drive up the price, but the latter may also require investment in your network infrastructure to become useful.

 

[mBox]

Horsepower and connectivity options, mainly. Both drive up the price, but the latter may also require investment in your network infrastructure to become useful.

That makes sense. The GTECH XLs were pricey with the dual power and multi-network ports.
I noticed no 10GBe options with the Synology, anyone see this option for NAS?

Edit: Found them but nothing in the rack options.

 

[Mikael H]

That makes sense. The GTECH XLs were pricey with the dual power and multi-network ports.
I noticed no 10GBe options with the Synology, anyone see this option for NAS?

Edit: Found them but nothing in the rack options.

The rack servers usually have room for regular expansion cards; again, as long as they're on the compatibility list.

 

[belvdr]

That makes sense. The GTECH XLs were pricey with the dual power and multi-network ports.
I noticed no 10GBe options with the Synology, anyone see this option for NAS?

Edit: Found them but nothing in the rack options.

They have 10GE options in rack gear.

Examples:
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RS18017xs+
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RS3617xs+

This one has gigabit connectivity and slots for 10GE expansion:
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RS3617xs

 

[mBox]

Thanks everyone for the help.

Went with the Synology RS815+ and RX415 Expansion NAS.

Loaded with the WD Red 6TBs.

Crossing fingers it will work for us.

 

[convergent]

Good choice... it will serve you well. (and I'm a QNAP guy!)