ReadyNAS or build your own?

emjayem · **7th February 2007, 04:27 PM**

Anyone here on this forum have used or own a ReadyNAS http://www.primedigitalsystems.com.a...ady-nas-nv.php ? If so how good or bad is it ?

I'm still deciding between building my own server in a RAID 5 configuration or to buy a ready made box like a ReadyNAS or Thecus. Can you build your own equivalent for less than $1000 ?

db · **15th February 2007, 11:45 AM**

Hi emjayem,

I have used FreeNAS (http://www.freenas.org) on an old PC (rescued from a dumpster!) - needed memory and a new HD - so all up cost me about $120. Seems to work ok, I haven't tried RAID yet (0, 1, 5 are supported), but I have used Rsync to copy to a USBHD drive every night. No problem connecting to it from Windows - just looks like a network share.

So far I am quite happy with it.

db

emjayem · **16th February 2007, 10:16 AM**

I've seen freeNAS and that could be the way to go. Others I've checked out are OpenFiler and NasLite.

I was just checking out some preview info about Windows Home Server and that looks very promising as well.

Another option could be Linux...

Anyhow the problem is I need to find an old PC, otherwise I need to purchase some new hardware to build a new PC. Maybe a visit to a dumpster like you have...