Network storage

[ChrisF]

Anyone using any Network Attached Storage devices?

Currently got my eyes on the Maxtor Shared Storage II (1TB model) and was wondering if anyone had any experience of it, or any other similar devices?

I have read though that the devices are sometimes limited to a maximum of 2GB filesize (due to Linux formatting?). This always the case?

Any help really appreciated

[ascender]

I tried a Buffalo NAS recently but it was very, very slow and I found the admin software to be quite clunky so I returned it. I've read some good things about the Maxtor, but I've also read quite a few tales of poor reliability and customer service.

In the end I just bought another external firewire drive and have shared it via the machine its connected to, but I'd really like to get some sort of dedicated network storage.

The other popular option seems to be to buy an old machine which can take a few internal drives and set it up as a file server which is something else I'm looking in to.

I'd also be interested to see what other people are doing as regards this.

Oh, I think the file size thing is just a limitation of the formatting, so surely you could just re-format the device to the native file system you're using? I know that's what I did with the MyBooks.

[kernow]

I just use my linux fileserver with a couple big drives in, shared up as SMB and NFS.

[ChrisF]

Ascender, How'd you get on with the MyBooks? Those were another that I had looked at.

I don't really want to venture down the seperate file server route really. If I were, then I'd use Windows Home Server, and not Linux (personal preference).

I'm going to be having one machine hosting several VMWare (possibly Virtual Server, not sure yet) environments, so these kind of network drives sound ideal for that. And the benefit is that obviously my 360 and PS3 will be able to access the music/videos too.. That's the theory anyway!

[ascender]

I've been very impressed with the MyBook drives. I bought one ages ago when it first came out but have since bought two more of the premium drives. They've all worked flawlessly with Windows and Mac machines. Nice and fast with FW too.

Only downside is that each one requires a separate PSU. Hardly a big issue, but it would be nice to be able to daisy-chain the power like you can do with their connecting cables.

[ChrisF]

Ascender, sorry to ask so many questions, but do you use the MyBook with your 360, or PS3 (if you have them!). I'm reading that they don't support UPnP, so I was wondering if my consoles would still be able to see them?

[ascender]

I've not tried that to be honest as I stream stuff to my 360 from my computer.

You're probably right though which rules them out then.

[djjimbob]

My mate did it this way:

http://www.thecus.com/index.php

Using a Thecus NAS. Shoved 4x 750Bb disks inside and set it to RAID 5.

Bit expensive though.

[ChrisF]

Aye that's the kinda thing. Did see those, but like you say, tad expensive... £350 ish, without drives.

Think I might plump for the D-Link device, which is bring your own drives, but only takes 2 of 'em and is half the price of the Thecus one.

Decided that the Maxtor one is ropey quality (according to a LOT of user comments on various sites like Amazon etc...) and the MyBook ones don't support UPnP unfortunately

Cheers for the help guys!