Bruce n Philly
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 Re: Is NAS for me? | |
I have used NASs now for ... oh I dunno... 10-15 years or so. So I am a fan. So here are a few things to know:
1 - They provide a central file storage system where any PC/device on your network can get to them. It looks like another disc drive (or more depending on how you configure it)
2 - In addition to storing backup files (all lightroom pics and catalogs), I use mine to store my vast library of music. With this setup, I have an old PC in my home theater system where, using a wireless keyboard/mouse, I can play music on that system from the NAS, show pictures from the NAS.. as well as surf YouTube etc. PCs are pretty powerful devices and having a NAS as central storage is fabulous. Oh, and I backup all my PCs to this NAS.
3 - I use 4-bay machines filled with 4 drives... you will use them over time... disks are cheap just get them. Buy drives spec'd for NASs although any will work. Using SSDs is very intriguing... but I never tried it. Spinners are so big and cheap... and you really don't need the performance.
4 - NAS vendors (I use old Netgear Ready NAS) are trying to differentiate themselves so they sell you all kinds of crazy features that you most likely won't use. Don't get hung up on them. The biggest advantage is that they are a central storage system. I have tried out their various functions but end up turning it all off. You can get to them via the internet directly, but again, eh... no biggie really... I keep that all turned off due to a potential security risk.
5 - RAID - honestly, after dicking with various configurations, I just use RAID 5 (Netgear has their equivalent RAID X). Raid 5 is slower on writes because it creates redundant data across the drives, but somewhat faster reads. Again, speed is not an issue with a NAS as it is best used as a central, commonly accessed repository. As a working drive, it is lousy. Don't plan on using it for files/catalogs that you are working on. With RAID 5, a drive can fail and you just snap out/in a new one and the system rebuilds... don't read the hype... it will take days and days to rebuild (even on my friends new synology) but that is OK. Newer NASs are fast enough (my oldies are fine) for me to play music to two different PCs at the same time, run backups and other picture accesses all without hickups. Note later here, I don't use them wirelessly, they are interconnected via wired Ethernet (I don't like wireless for much).
6 - Again, my advice is to ignore all the crazy features.... I just create one single volume with one ID and password... keeping it simple makes life easy and you just don't need all the security, volume features, and all the other crazy protocols supported.
7 - You can buy these on eBay fairly cheaply. I just purchased a second Ready NAS... this product is way out of date, but it is exactly like my other one so management is easy for me. I just don't care about all these new features. Again, it is just a common, big drive.
8 - Backing up your NAS.... while the NAS is supposed to not only be your common files, it is also the backup to all my PCs on my home network. Even through it is RAID 5, the main circuit board can fail and all disks are lost... so you still need to back it up. For that, I run monthly (or more if I have big updates) to a few really big disk drives (two 12 TB) drives I keep on a shelf... plug them into an external caddy. I won't go into detail, but I have quadruple redundancy for backups because I am very paranoid. Yes, this costs money but what about the alternative of data loss... backups should be just figured into your IT life.
9 - I have my two NASs in a small closet where I have all my ethernet cable runs terminated, ethernet hubs, my main cable router, and a wireless hub. All of these devices are connected to an APC UPS... I just had a lightning strike at my house and this device protected all this stuff. All these devices in the closet are connected via ethernet cables through an Ethernet hub.
As you go deep into a life supported by IT, you need to back it up, protect it, and leverage your files across your home via a central NAS.... this just costs money, but pays great dividends. I use YouTube TV (yes, cut the cable cord) on all my TVs, and I have the Google Chomecast dongles play my pictures library as TV screen savers... I really like this feature especially when guests are at the house.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
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