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General discussion

Suggestions for Linux compatible Ethernet HDD storage?

Oct 2, 2010 10:05PM PDT

Over the past few years I've been looking for a "set and forget" 1.5 - 2TB storage solution that I can plug into my home network, but for one reason or another I've still not found the right box. The kind of thing I've been looking for includes...

- Ethernet connection. I want to store this in a central comms cabinet and not have to move it around, connecting via USB to individual computers.

- Linux/Windows/Mac compatible. I've got Windows PCs, our Ubuntu server and am likely at some stage to get a Mac, so I'd like a box that plays nice with each of these OSs.

- Simple interface. I'd like something that I can configure once and it will back up automatically, without me having to remember to initiate it.

And my final wish, which would be nice, but unlike the other points, isn't absolutely essential, would be that it mirrors the system it's copying, so if one of them melts down, I can restore everything without having to reinstall the OS and configs for various software programs.

Does anything like this exist? The closest I've come to finding it is a Western Digital My Book World Edition backup HDD, which fits the main criteria except for the fact it doesn't support Linux. Hopefully that will change. In the meantime has anyone else come up with options?

Cheers

PS - I originally posted this on ubuntuforums, but didn't get any response, so have posted here.

Discussion is locked

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Sadly.
Oct 3, 2010 1:56AM PDT

There is no such thing or rather, no such device for a price that most of us will pay.

While the Apple NAS is worth noting you want more than that so we're back to either not made or something we have to configure or build ourselves.

--> But your note about backup is interesting. We've found the usual single external NAS to be far too unreliable (along with USB hard drives) to be considered backup. Maybe we'll give then a passing grade as a "spare copy" but these are not backup until you get 2 or 3 of them with each backing up the others.
Bob

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GODhack
Oct 4, 2010 4:12PM PDT

I suggest to use old PC upgrade its HDD space (2x HDD sth like that) install Linux server edition with ftp server and have fun. It will be cheap probably just old hardware and it will work with everything with web browser no matter Linux windows etc.

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Cheers
Oct 4, 2010 10:40PM PDT

Thanks for the confirmation. Surprised something so useful is so elusive!

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RAID 5
Oct 7, 2010 11:52AM PDT

You can using RAID 5 for storage.
With 3 HDD 1TB for RAID 5 storage solution you will have 2TB. RAID 5 is faster and safely

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While RAID 5 is a nice idea.
Oct 7, 2010 12:32PM PDT

It doesn't remove the need to backup this NAS or machines.

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cloud storage (maybe)
Oct 8, 2010 2:38AM PDT

It sounds like you don't actually want the hassle of running a box and your main objective is backup. If so, a cloud storage option may be worth considering (ubuntu one, jungle disk, amazon a3...). ubuntu one apparently give you a free 2GB.

if you need something local for speed or you're sending over a lot of data, building your own makes sense. there are NAS distros out there (FreeNas)

-Linux/Windows/Mac compatible ... the windows boxes will be the weakest link and you're stuck with something that runs samba (essentially windows native sharing) or if your running a modern version of windows find something that supports WebDav. If you don't care about the Windows box, Linux and Macs play well over NFS, but i doubt you'll find a NAS that supports it out of the box.

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Nice, but an issue in Australia
Oct 24, 2010 8:10AM PDT

Thanks for the suggestion, Jimmy. It's a great potential solution, particularly as it ensures that if there was some substantial calamity, e.g. a fire, you'd be covered. Unfortunately in Australia plans are typically metered, so you pay a monthly amount for up to a certain amount (I was on a plan where 10GB is $70 a month, with some discount as it was with my landline provider). As you can imagine, 3 computers running means this gobbles up the allocation very quickly. Cloud is likely to be the option I'd use if I were in the US, though.

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We used
Oct 8, 2010 6:24AM PDT
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Home-friendly?
Oct 26, 2010 3:10PM PDT

Hmm. Looks interesting but I'm looking for something more home-friendly (in terms of price and ease-of-use).

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How about this?
Oct 25, 2010 1:45PM PDT
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Great
Oct 27, 2010 12:10AM PDT

Finding...!

I use Netgear product for a long time and seems to have excellent quality.

Will love to get one.
A low budget Snap Server Grin

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That said, I might go with something else.
Nov 4, 2010 9:48PM PDT

Have looked at Windows Home Server, as it offers auto backup of my laptops, plus a means of running my Squeezebox music library as an audio server. Am looking at how to go about reconfiguring my Linux box to handle this.