NAS Video Storage System

[darksoul]

I’m considering building a 800GB NAS (network attached storage) system for my sage system. I was wandering if their are any known issues connecting network storage to a sage system. this will only be used to store ripped DVD's and edited TV shows .. no direct recording to the NAS server from sage. I plan on using Debian Linux with XFS file system and Samba for windows connectivity.

I’m currently looking at using a DUAL 550 MHZ system with 3/4 gig of memory 4 200 GB WD JB (8mb casche) 7200rpm in a striped raid configuration. the only other thing on the system will be a web server that will allow me to view the media library and possibly a FTP server.

any suggestions would be appreciated!

Regards,
Thomas

[Grey_Goose]

i'd definitely recommend Gig-E & a switch that supported jumbos

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by darksoul

I was wandering if their are any known issues connecting network storage to a sage system.

I'd just say, make sure that your Sage box, NAS box, and switch are all on a UPS so the storage doesn't dissapear while you're recording.

And FWIW, I too have been planning a media server, but a new product has cought my eye:
http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/29...gy_terastation

Seems to meet all of my requirements for a NAS (huge, RAID-5, GigE, not overly expensive), just waiting to see some user reports.

[salsbst]

Thanks for that link, stanger89. I have 480GB on my own (software) RAID5 server (Linux/Samba), but it's good to see what's out there. The big thing for me is auto-notify of disk failure and and online capacity expansion. Do you know anything about the Buffalo's capabilities in those dimensions?

As for UPSs, I can recommend the APC Smart-UPS 1500. I know we have brown power conditions in my apt building because I get a warning every day at around 6pm from this box. It powers 4 computers and several peripherals easily and my girlfriend is now free to dry her hair for hours on end without me hovering over her and asking when she'll be finished.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by salsbst

Thanks for that link, stanger89. I have 480GB on my own (software) RAID5 server (Linux/Samba), but it's good to see what's out there. The big thing for me is auto-notify of disk failure and and online capacity expansion. Do you know anything about the Buffalo's capabilities in those dimensions?

No idea, there's not really much info on it yet outside the Japanese page. On the notification, that would be nice, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it did it. As for OCE, I wouldn't expect it, and I don't know why you'd need it, AFIAK, it comes completely full, so you can't add disks to it, and by the time you'd want to upgrade disks I'd just assume get another one, otherwise I'd have 1TB of unused drives laying around.

I'm definitely intersted in more info on it. I've been planning my media server for a while now. I figure I need at least 1TB to start with, just for my DVDs. I require RAID-5 (don't want to re-rip them if a drive fails), and GigE is a definite plus. I had been planning on building a server since there were no cheap NAS solutions that met my requirements.

If I build a server, my plan is to use a 3ware Escalade 9500s-8 or 9500s-12, and load it up with the largest drives that are cost effective (meaning 250 or 300GB, the 400's are just too expensive). Figuring that I already have a home for the storage what I come up with is this (assuming 250GB drives, for comparison to the Terastation):
8506-4LP
Max Capacity - 750GB
Controller Cost - $300
Drive Cost - $600
$/GB - 1.2

9500s-8
Max Capacity - 1.75TB
Controller Cost - $500
Drive Cost - $1200
$/GB - $1

9500s-12
Max Capacity - 2.75TB
Controller Cost - $700
Drive Cost - $1800
$/GB - $.91

If the Terastation ends up available for $900 or less, which seems reasonable since the Lacie bigger disk (RAID-0) is about $850 street, it would be a very nice alternative to a full blown PC.

[mightyt]

I've got the Buffalo LinkStation NAS sitting on my net. I love it from an easy setup perspective and ... well here are my comments posted on CNet ...

See ...

Sold Out On Buffalo on 11-May-2004 11:25:50 PM

and

Sold Out on Buffalo - MAYBE ! on 28-Jun-2004 07:54:26 PM

at

http://reviews.cnet.com/Buffalo_Link...3.html?tag=tab

One other performance point is ... it works great for sharing data and even MP3's. I tried streaming video from it and it's not as smooth as I'd hoped for.

RAID and GigE on the TeraStation will probably fix that ... but be weary about any rebates ...

T.

[turak]

This would look nice hooked up to my sage server. I know it's not a NAS, but it holds 8 IDE drives and has an ultra3 SCSI interface. In a 8x250gb raid5 configuration it would look like one 1.75TB SCSI drive. Too bad I don't have an extra $4000 laying around.


EDIT:
Make that 1.5TB. 1 disk for parity, 1 disk as a hot spare and 6 usable disks.

[stanger89]

It's a tad bit pricey for 0 HDD space. You could just easilly build a box with a 3ware card.

[turak]

Originally Posted by stanger89

It's a tad bit pricey for 0 HDD space. You could just easilly build a box with a 3ware card.

True. $2500 is a bit much for a box with an IDE raid controller and a scsi card, but it is a nice piece of hardware. We had a couple of the rack mount version of that at a place that I used to work at. It performed well and being able to hot swap drives is nice.