[lug] NAS - OpenNAS, FreeNAS, NAS4Free, or COTS?

Orion Poplawski orion at cora.nwra.com
Mon Dec 8 09:16:43 MST 2014


On 12/05/2014 08:26 PM, Jed S. Baer wrote:
> Hi Folks.
> 
> The boss has decided to look at getting a NAS box, primarily for use as a
> target for backups. I'll probably use some sort of rsync-ish or rdiff-ish
> software to do the backups, but that's not a big deal.
> 
> I don't have a specific budget number, but it isn't going to be high-end
> enterprise-class stuff. More like low-mid 2-bay SOHO.
> 
> Unless I'm wrong about budget, this will be a RAID-1 config. If it ends
> up being a 4-bay, then RAID10 (1+0) is likely. Not sure about the RAID
> part, as I'm reading that RAID5 can be problematic, and who knows about
> various vendor-specific RAID extensions? Hey, I'm not a big SA type.

I would avoid RAID5.  For 5+ disks I would suggest RAID6.  I would avoid
vendor specific things.

> 
> Needs to have a simple web-based interface, so the boss can manage it if
> I'm not around. This isn't going to be a complex setup anyway. Probably
> just 1 big share. But there is a requirement for some data protection,
> e.g. for the accounting files.


> 
> Or, just get a COTS machine. Lots of choices here, so any particular
> thoughts? Thecus, Synology, Qnap, other? Initially, looking around, and
> reading reviews, I think I want to avoid Buffalo.

I've only setup one of these, but it was pretty easy.  Handed it off so no
idea how it's held up.


-- 
Orion Poplawski
Technical Manager                     303-415-9701 x222
NWRA, Boulder/CoRA Office             FAX: 303-415-9702
3380 Mitchell Lane                       orion at nwra.com
Boulder, CO 80301                   http://www.nwra.com


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