2011-01-19, 11:47
SwissElite Wrote:they add "hot swappable" bays.... its it an advantage to have that?
Its just easier to take out the drives. Not worth it to me so far.
Its just easier to take out the drives. Not worth it to me so far.
2011-01-19, 11:47
do i understand correctly but there is no other way than a hardware RAID if i want to use Windows 7 on the same computer (at the same time, accessing the raided storage?), as a software RAID need a seperately running OS (such as FreeNAS) - thus, WIN7 cannot run at the same time, making 2 separate computers necessary?
2011-01-19, 11:48
eskro Wrote:totally.... pawns all....
but lets take alook at this mobo --> http://fwd4.me/u4l
if it says --> SATA RAID 0/1/0+1
then, im screwed if i want to use RAID5??
thx
if you use software RAID 5 you will be fine.
2011-01-19, 11:49
SwissElite Wrote:do those kind of software raids need any hardware requirements (exepct for performance and SATA plugs?) or can i just take *any* mb?
No Gigabyte mobos. Anything otherwise.
2011-01-19, 12:15
SwissElite Wrote:do i understand correctly but there is no other way than a hardware RAID if i want to use Windows 7 on the same computer (at the same time, accessing the raided storage?), as a software RAID need a seperately running OS (such as FreeNAS) - thus, WIN7 cannot run at the same time, making 2 separate computers necessary?
Windows 7 can build software raid (as can most linux distros and mac os)
http://www.softwaresecretweapons.com/jsp...text-menus
FreeNas/Unraid (et al) is just a specialised OSes for dedicated NAS/File servers, but by no means the only solution.
2011-01-19, 12:40
hmmmm seems as if win7 only supports raid 0 and raid 1...
and i think i should at least make a raid 5? ... im lost again :S does that mean i better install win2008 server? (first i'd have to get that :S)
maybe its wiser to build a dedicated nas rather than starting to "patchwork" a raid.... on the other hand... i everytime would need the "dedictated NAS" when i use the MediaPc... but the dedicated nas alone only very rarely.... so... its kind of *stupid* (in lack of a more euphemistic word) investing into 2 computers and then running them both at the sasme time.... :S
and i think i should at least make a raid 5? ... im lost again :S does that mean i better install win2008 server? (first i'd have to get that :S)
maybe its wiser to build a dedicated nas rather than starting to "patchwork" a raid.... on the other hand... i everytime would need the "dedictated NAS" when i use the MediaPc... but the dedicated nas alone only very rarely.... so... its kind of *stupid* (in lack of a more euphemistic word) investing into 2 computers and then running them both at the sasme time.... :S
2011-01-19, 13:29
SwissElite Wrote:its kind of *stupid* (in lack of a more euphemistic word) investing into 2 computers and then running them both at the sasme time.... :S
I have two mediaservers running full time, and two HTPCs.
2011-01-19, 13:33
but i guess your situation is different - you need to be able to access your mediaserver more often from different computers (as you say, for instance, you have 2 HTPCs) - in my case i need maybe once every two weeks to access my MediaServer from ohter computers, for the rest of the time, i uniquely need it directly as a HTPC - thus, it would make sense to include the MediaServer directly in the HTPC - only, i have not figured out yet with what raid system. You convinced me that Hardware Raid isnt the best way - but software i would have to use Win7, which doesnt support Raid5... im in the dilemma (or i just dont see the light at the horizon)
2011-01-19, 13:39
Probably easy to think about the NAS as a really big and expandable external drive which you can switch on and off as you would normally do with a USb drive for example.
The justification for a separate NAS comes when the library size exceeds a certain size and easy solutions like RAID 1 or 5 become too costly.
If your library has 2TB in size, it is a lot easier and cheaper to use 2 x 2TB hdd in software RAID 1. Easy, power efficient and very cheap.
If you get to 8, 10, 20TB in size, a separate, proper NAS would make a lot more sense and offers the flexibility you need to manage this amount of data.
The justification for a separate NAS comes when the library size exceeds a certain size and easy solutions like RAID 1 or 5 become too costly.
If your library has 2TB in size, it is a lot easier and cheaper to use 2 x 2TB hdd in software RAID 1. Easy, power efficient and very cheap.
If you get to 8, 10, 20TB in size, a separate, proper NAS would make a lot more sense and offers the flexibility you need to manage this amount of data.
2011-01-19, 13:45
6TB (3*2TB) fall between the two options 
Would you then suggest a Win7 Raid1?
Would you then suggest a Win7 Raid1?
2011-01-19, 13:50
For 6TB I would personally still go with a separate box.
2011-01-19, 13:58
k thx 
will look at it tonight and come up with a suggestion
will look at it tonight and come up with a suggestion
2011-01-19, 19:20
For the OP & others interested in NAS / RAID etc, you might find the following interesting: http://breden.org.uk/2008/03/02/a-home-f...using-zfs/
Those articles are 3 years old now, OpenSolaris is no longer supported, but there are other alternatives like OpenIndiana / Illumos etc, and Solaris of course.
Those articles are 3 years old now, OpenSolaris is no longer supported, but there are other alternatives like OpenIndiana / Illumos etc, and Solaris of course.
2011-01-19, 20:07
SwissElite Wrote:6TB (3*2TB) fall between the two options
Would you then suggest a Win7 Raid1?
Look into Flexraid, it may be what you need when you want storage on a Win 7 system.
2011-01-19, 23:38
Honestly, after making some reading,
Poofy and maxinc are right...
the cheapest NAS solution one can get is by doing a custom build!
i've checked the prices, Best i could do is create a 4TB NAS for $300...
and its a Hardware NAS that doesn't do RAID5 which i want!!
So if i take that $300,
i can build myself an extremely cheap NAS PC,
then run FreeNAS on it using a usb stick,
create and enjoy my RAID5,
and the rest is history!!!
who's with me?
Poofy and maxinc are right...
the cheapest NAS solution one can get is by doing a custom build!
i've checked the prices, Best i could do is create a 4TB NAS for $300...
and its a Hardware NAS that doesn't do RAID5 which i want!!
So if i take that $300,
i can build myself an extremely cheap NAS PC,
then run FreeNAS on it using a usb stick,
create and enjoy my RAID5,
and the rest is history!!!
who's with me?
