[ToxicAnt]

Hello, I'm new here and just recently started using XBMC (AWESOME!!!) and have been looking into setting up my 2TB external hard drive (WD Essentials) as a network drive. My current router doesn't have a usb port so I can't simply connect the HDD to the router. My primary usage for this will be a source of media files for XBMC. What would be the least expensive solution to getting this 2TB HDD connected to the router? I have looked up USB NAS converters (which seems to be the cheaper solution) and have looked into actual NAS (which seems to be the not so cheap solution).

[eskro]

why not plug the 2tb HDD to your HTPC's USB port directly?

[Laserray]

why not plug the 2tb HDD to your HTPC's USB port directly?

Certainly the cheapest solution.
I use to use a Thermaltake usb unit that took two hard drives.
The unit had a hot swap connection so you could move drives real easy.
Cost about $50.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817153071

I can't seem to find the one that hold s two drives.

It's a cheap stop gap solution, until you build your NAS with 20 hard drives

[Harro]

I went the cheap route also, atleast until I can build my NAS solution I want.

Plugging into a USB is the way to go on the cheap. I got this to hold me over but filling quickly.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817182144

[>>X<<]

He already has a USB hard drive (WD Essentials) that he wants available over a network so how do those two solutions help him ?

[eskro]

i removed my post sorry...

reason here --> http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=740...stcount=12

thanks to Poofy for the heads up on this!!

[Mallet21]

$34.79 USD http://ow.ly/1s6BnY

All its missing is GigE and that little box would b pretty sweet.

[eskro]

-nm- delete plz

[Laserray]

He already has a USB hard drive (WD Essentials) that he wants available over a network so how do those two solutions help him ?

Cheap, and he just shares the usb drive on the network

esko,

I have this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6833122334

[eskro]

very good Gigabit router u got!!

[Laserray]

very good Gigabit router u got!!

Best of all it runs DD-WRT
It sures beats my old Linksys WRT54g

However the NAS portion is clunky at best.

[poofyhairguy]

$34.79 USD http://ow.ly/1s6BnY

I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS!!!!!!!!

Cheap NAS hardware comes with SUPER underpowered CPUs that mean that the transfer rates are WAY lower than simple USB HDs.

In fact, I don't recommend any sub $400 NAS that doesn't have Synology's (or Qnap's) name on it for that reason.

[eskro]

oh my!
thanks for the heads up poofyhairguy!!


what about those NetDisk Enclosures then?
http://www.amazon.com/NetDisk-ENCL-1P-3-...B0032HETIC
same thing?

[poofyhairguy]

what about those NetDisk Enclosures then?
http://www.amazon.com/NetDisk-ENCL-1P-3-...B0032HETIC
same thing?

Yep.

This the the absolute cheapest decent option in my opinion:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

[ToxicAnt]

Thanks for the suggestions. My situation is that I don't own an HTPC, I use my laptop in the living room connected to TV by HDMI (and sometimes my desktop in another room) to run XBMC . I don't keep the laptop in the living room because I also take it to work. The reason I would like to share the 2TB external is so I don't have to be unplugging and plugging between laptops and desktops in the house.