Ok,
I currently run a file server on an old PC with 2 drivers in RAID1 configuration and an external drive doing the backups. The old computer is dying out (one of the fans in the motherboard), and I thinking of going towards a more simplified solution for shared network storage. I have a wired gigabit LAN at home and would like a simple box that will perform the function of holding network storage that is safe, i.e. RAID1 shared pictures, movies, etc.

Does anyone have recommendations as to a simple solution, like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822155003
Thanks!

If you want to simplify... AND you are behind a firewalled router, you can get just about any external drive that has a network port on it. You attach it to your router with a network cable, configure it a little, and you're all set. DO make sure that the the drives ethernet port is 1Gb/s.

You should be able to get 1TB for under 300$.

If you want redudancy (RAID-1), you'll need a SAN with a bit more brains. I've used the Netgear SC101 without any problems. The only drawback is that it's not Linux compatible.

I'm sure there's a way to use 2 networked external drives and let one be the other's backup, but that's not "as simple as possible".

HTSC

You might want to peruse these two recent threads re

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...?highlight=NAS

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...?highlight=NAS

There ya go. 1TB (RAID-1). 319$.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1186003682658

HTSC

These things:
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/...e/terastation/

ROCK!

I have two in my office, one backing up the main data on all workstatons, and the other backing up the backup. Had one of the RAID disks go bad, it told me so, I replaced it, and it rebuilt the array in about 12 hours (that's with about 1.3 TB of data).

I also have an external USB HDD that I backup the REALLY critical stuff to (email PSTs, My Docs, digital photos, MP3s) that always leaves with me when I go out of town. In fact, it stays in my pickup except for when I am updating the backups.

Offsite (like, on the Internet) would be an option but not for massive amounts of stuff. For example, I don't want to back up my 100 gigs of MP3s via the web. But also not for sensitive items - depending on the laws of the country where the backup server is hosted, you might be opening yourself up to any number of identity theft issues and etc.

I'd recommend a ReadyNAS without hesitation. They've got good hardware and software, but more importantly their online forum is full of helpful users and support representatives.

I bought 1.5TB disks the moment they were released, and they had a beta firmware to me that week that supported the drives.

and

seem nice, they are quiet a bit expensive. I presume the DLink that I mentioned above is the only one that is in my price range, however I am a bit concerned with the speed as I read on the forums and reliability.

I will also look into a FREENas solution.

Thanks!

Have you considered a Drobo?

Unless I can't read (which is quite possible) the Drobo is not offered with an Ethernet adapter... so you're stuck withe FireWire800 (or USB 2.0).

HTSC

I run Airlink NAS 250 (ANAS 250) at home, and love it. It has these benefits: cheap (I got mine for around $30 - $40 each), robust (runs Samba, very stable), reliable (the aluminum casing keeps the drive nice and cool), economical to run (standby is silent and drive shut down is very efficient).

The only down side is that it is older, so it uses IDE HDDs, and max storage is 500GB, and uses 10/100 ethernet instead of the gigabyte protocol. But I run several of these and storage is never a problem. Highly recommended for home back up.

The plain vanilla Drobo does not have an Ethernet adaptor, but the DroboShare add-on will provide network access. A number of freeware apps are also available for Drobo administration and other tasks over the network.