NAS for my HTPC

HTPConvert · **22nd August 2008, 03:17 PM**

hi guys,

I'm looking for an NAS box that I can keep in my room in order to have more storage but not fill my HTPC with HDDs! I want to keep the NAS box in my room as well.

can anyone recommend a brand that:

a) is silent (i.e. build so well that the HDD don't need fans + casing prevents HDD noise)
b) can be see as a drive in windows explorer so that it can be seen in vista media centre

Cheers

ox · **22nd August 2008, 05:13 PM**

I run a Netgear SC101. I don't think there's a fan. The only noise I hear from it is from the disk clicking away. I appears as a drive but requires s/w to be installed on each PC that needs access. Generally it's been pretty reliable. You may wish to consider the new model (SC101T) or higher models (ReadyNAS). I can't report back on those but I would love to get my hands on a ReadyNAS.
-Ox.

itr2401 · **23rd August 2008, 10:18 AM**

The only issue with buying a NAS is that once you get close to running out of space you need to buy another one.

The Netgear SC101 as mentioned supports you putting the HDD's in there, however from memory the largest IDE interface (non SATA) is 500GB - so you would have at most around 1GB of space without any redundancy - so if a drive did fail, goodbye to all that data.

If you do have a network, consider putting the NAS elsewhere and build up a system to use - then at least your data will have some redundancy if you use RAID. Consider using the NAS not just for the HTPC as well - I am sure that you have other PC's with files that should be backed up too - thats the justification I used for major WAF - all her digital artwork is safe.

If your familier with Windows, then Windows Home Server can be good, otherwise have a look at the Linux solutions that are very simple to install such as OpenFiler - either will just give you a network share which MCE can access without any issues once configured to do so.

andczo · **25th August 2008, 03:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTPConvert

hi guys,

I'm looking for an NAS box that I can keep in my room in order to have more storage but not fill my HTPC with HDDs! I want to keep the NAS box in my room as well.

can anyone recommend a brand that:

a) is silent (i.e. build so well that the HDD don't need fans + casing prevents HDD noise)
b) can be see as a drive in windows explorer so that it can be seen in vista media centre

Cheers

I use a Dlink DNS323. Yes there is a bit of noise, but i don't live in the cupboard with it so i really don't hear it! You can use NetworkMagic to set it all up and then just map the drive locations in VMC and presto... all movies on the NAS and can be easily played from there!

BladeRoNNeR · **29th August 2008, 01:25 PM**

The other one I was looking at was the Drobo.

Plus:
Easy to use and setup, good redundancy.
Would imagine quiet, just one large low rpm fan (only turns on when needed)

Minus:
Expensive and hard to find in Aust.
Need Network Adaptor to turn into true NAS, if not can use Firewire800 or USB2.0.

Cheers,

merovingian · **29th August 2008, 04:27 PM**

The ReadyNAS's are great. They are noisy though. I don't have one at home, but have played with one at work. Great features, very configurable. And you can attach a USB portable drive to make backups to take off-site - the absence of this feature is a deal breaker for me for any NAS. I would love to have a ReadyNAS for home, and stick it far away from my theatre, but the catch is the price.

matt_h1 · **30th August 2008, 12:55 PM**

cheapest option, buy a D945GCLF, Its $80, the fan does nothing so its easily removeable. Then just add as many HDD's as you want, it has two Sata ports, and 8 USB ports, and a PCI expansion slot. If you want a bit more power, or gigabit lan, wait a week and the D945GCLF2 will be out.