NAS Solution: Recommendations Welcome

medialinx

medialinx

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Graham
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Hi folks.

I am looking for a new backup system that works over the network in our office.

We have two computers in the office, one for me and one for my studio manager (my other half). We are transitioning her over to the business full time so she is getting much more involved with the organisation and using her computer a lot more. For the last few years I have had a backup system that has worked great for one computer, but now I am looking to expand the system to backup both computers in the office.

Currently she stores files on the network drive (as do I), but the backup itself is done by our main workstation and duplicated every night on to another external drive. The studio management system is Lightblue so it stores everything in the cloud too. Accessing files externally isn't a biggie, just quickly across the internal network.

I am looking a new solution that takes the load of the main workstation and just works away by itself. So my question is, has anyone experience with any devices (Drobo, Synogy etc.) and what works for you?

Currently the office is networked so she has access to my files (for blogging etc.) over the network but I want to move everything (apart from LR catalogs) over to the network.

I am looking for a RAID solution that backs up as it goes too, as currently we run daily backups (of the main workstation and network drive) and weekly mirrors of the main workstation (as there isn't anything stored locally on the other machine).

I have thought of...
- Something like a Netgear NAS Raid system/Drobo etc. or
- Running a dedicated PC running NAS server software with multiple drives

I should mention we run Windows in the office and the network is an MS Network.

Many thanks,
Graham.
 
Avoid Drobo and Netgear; go for Synology, Asustor or Qnap. If you have a suitable PC, you could run something like FreeNAS or NAS4free but there's more setting up/learning curve than with a dedicated NAS so it's a matter of balancing cost against time. You want either two drives for RAID1, each equal to the maximum size you want, or four drives for RAID5, each a third of your maximum capacity. You could go for six or eight drives but the costs get silly.

Another alternative which might provide the backups you want could be Windows Home Server 2011. Apart from acting as a file server, something WHS2011 does well is backing up client PCs to itself then backing itself up to external drives. It's getting harder to find now as MS has dropped it but it's still available for £40-£45. I use this on a home-brew micro-server with four 3GB drives. As it happens I might have a second similar unit available soon. If you're interested, put a wanted ad in the sales section.
 
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definitely one of the SMB synology models, such as https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS1513 . and stick in 3 or more 4tb drives in RAID5 depending on budget and space requirement.

multiple gigabit lan for throughput, usb3 ports on the rear to connect external drives for backup which it can do on schedule, can bolt on more 5 drive bays.

might cost a bit but worth it, especially for business.

personally id avoid netgear, too many bad experiences with their products and support. drobo ive heard too many horror stories about propriety file systems and poor support. synology support has been fantastic when ive contacted them.
 
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Been looking at this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/QNAP-TS-231.../B00O4DK9R8/ref=dp_ob_title_ce#productDetails

Im really looking into all this for home but its a little confusing. I assume once files are loaded onto the NAS you can access them via tablet/mobile?

But whats the difference between WD RED HDD and Seagate NAS HDD? is it the make of the HD? Which is better?

Also is there a cheaper system that's still not bad or is it a case of you get what you pay for?
Thanks.
 
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Raptor Mike said:
Been looking at this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/QNAP-TS-231.../B00O4DK9R8/ref=dp_ob_title_ce#productDetails

Im really looking into all this for home but its a little confusing. I assume once files are loaded onto the NAS you can access them via tablet/mobile?

But whats the difference between WD RED HDD and Seagate NAS HDD? is it the make of the HD? Which is better?

Also is there a cheaper system that's still not bad or is it a case of you get what you pay for?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
£180? ouch. ebuyer have it for £125.. edit: removed, wrong device.

re difference in those 2 drives, very little. both have longer warranty periods. personally i dont subscribe to so called "NAS" drives (they can still fail on day 1) so the extra warranty is probably the only benefit.
 
A
neil_g said:
do you need specific features of that QNAP, it is pretty expensive for a 2 bay unit.

synology 2 bays are 120-150 for example.
Click to expand...
I just want to be able to access music, videos, and photos from my tablet to send music via BT to my home theater and photos/videos to my tele via HDMI cable.

Edit: Without my PC being on
 
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I use my Synology for this purpose and am now comfortably using the Synology Apps to send music and video from the NAS to my chromecast, the bonus being no battery-drain of my tablet or phone being the middle-man.

Very pleased with the Synology and Chromecast solution :)
 
Neilc28 said:
I use my Synology for this purpose and am now comfortably using the Synology Apps to send music and video from the NAS to my chromecast, the bonus being no battery-drain of my tablet or phone being the middle-man.

Very pleased with the Synology and Chromecast solution :)
Click to expand...
That's given me an idea, although my solution will be the Freeview recorder replacing the chromecast and the 2012R2 server replacing the Synology.
 
another vote for the synology range here, I have a DS214play which to date has been rock solid, allowing remote access to pics, music, vids etc via the ipad/iphone apps, and a personal cloud for syncronised working across devices. CAn also be used as a dropbox clone (share folders), can host wordpress websites and can act as a DVR for security cams
 
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