[ThickHead]

The IOcell NDAS units work very well as a simple NAS, and they have both a Gb Ethernet (highly recommended for video) and a USB 2.0 interface, but you can only use one at a time.

http://www.iocellnetworks.com/netdisk-so...fast/#Spec

A few yrs ago I bought the 352ND which is a 2 bay enclosure for $99, the drives can be kept separate or config'd together as a RAID 0 or 1 array. The NDAS driver makes them appear as a local drive even though they are actually network attached.

The single bay model at the link above goes for $64 on Newegg, but it looks like they revamped the 2 bay model since I bought mine.

Last summer I migrated to a conventional NAS by building a Debian Linux server with (4) 1TB drives configured as RAID5.

[eskro]

This the the absolute cheapest decent option in my opinion:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

have to agree again
but bear in mind that i've seen NAS custom builds for as low as $235!!

[poofyhairguy]

but bear in mind that i've seen NAS custom builds for as low as $235!!

Exactly. Nothing beats a home-built NAS for value. Just like with HTPCs...

[ToxicAnt]

So what you guys are saying is that there is absolutely no way to use my 2TB External drive (WD Essentials) as NAS without buying (or building) a $200+ NAS?

[xecutionx]

If you need to upgrade your router, you can get one with gigabit ports and a usb or two. It'll work like a NAS.

This will be my next purchase: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-N16-Wirele...B002SISM5W

[Harro]

Best idea I can think of is that assuming that your computer is connect to the router and the router has wireless available, since you use the laptop in another room, also assuming the laptop is connect to router through wireless, would be to connect the WD to your computer and share that drive with all. Only problem then is that the computer needs to be on when you need to get at the media on the WD. But the laptop then if XBMC is installed on it could use your media from WD and display it then on your TV through the HDMI you have hooked up.

[ToxicAnt]

Best idea I can think of is that assuming that your computer is connect to the router and the router has wireless available, since you use the laptop in another room, also assuming the laptop is connect to router through wireless, would be to connect the WD to your computer and share that drive with all. Only problem then is that the computer needs to be on when you need to get at the media on the WD. But the laptop then if XBMC is installed on it could use your media from WD and display it then on your TV through the HDMI you have hooked up.

That is how I have been using so far, but I don't want to keep the Laptop turned on all the time.

[eskro]

This the absolute cheapest decent option in my opinion:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

do as Poofy suggested....

[ToxicAnt]

it seems like there is no other way so I'll go with what poofyhairguy suggested and save up for the Netgear ReadyNAS. Thank you everyone for the help. ^_^

[eskro]

right on!!