G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Thinking of buying a NAS? Consider a server instead. For example, Stallard Tech (www.stikc.com) currently has Dell R510 8 bay servers available. A decent config.. 2x L5520 CPU, 32GB ECC RAM, non-RAID storage controller card, and 4 1TB HDD is going for $599. With 8 1TB HDD $843. The enterprise class HDD normally go for about that price alone. When I was looking for a new NAS box to store backups, a server ended up costing less. I know you can get even better deals from ebay, but with companies like Stallard Tech and xByte Technologies you get at least a year of warranty included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Scott Snodgrass Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Server that stores backups with no RAID? That's a paddling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 It's called software RAID, you know, like everyone but Microsoft does things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Derek Holmes Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Hardware RAID has less chance of errors doesn't it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jon Paul Bubendorfer Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I tried that, didn't like it. Too much heat, energy usage and maintenance. And noise, my Dell server had noisy fans. For me, NAS is far superior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 Derek Holmes? Only when using software RAID from Microsoft. Software RAID everywhere else is preferable, some more reading for you: http://www.smbitjournal.com/2012/11/hardware-and-software-raid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 22, 2017 Author Share Posted March 22, 2017 Jon Paul Bubendorfer? yeah, it's not all that great if you don't have a place to keep the thing outside of earshot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steven Wrightman Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 In certain cases I definitely agree server over NAS. When it comes to my PLEX server I want something with some processing power (for transcoding) and I don’t need raid so in that case I agree with the poster. If I lose a 4TB drive with downloaded content I’ll just re download the content to a new drive (with 120mbit/sec unlimited connection it doesn’t take very long to rebuild using sonarr vs. the cost of a NAS setup). To even keep costs down even further I use a used Dell Precision T5500 desktop (200$CDN) + 3x4TB (Got a deal at 125$Cdn each, WD Red) + 2x120GB SSD for Ubuntu server (150$Cdn those are mirrored) in a server U4 case Rosewill RSV-L4000(https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=11-147-155) which can support up to 8x3.5 drives + 8x2.5 drives (with adaptors) in the 5.25 bays… So if you can find me a NAS that can do what my rig can for under 700$cdn I will absolutely look into NAS… PS: 4U case noise level is very close to that of a standard desktop… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Keith Mallett Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Gee I want +1 this ten times but I'm only allowed one... I moved this way a while back. You can pick up hardware raid cards for cheap now. Raid 10 is the fastest most effecting for small/office applications if you ask me. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Tyger Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 To me a NAS is a storage server. A NAS just has limited processing power in exchange for better power efficiency and less noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Tyger Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Keith Mallett No. Real hardware raid cards haven't really gotten cheaper. There are just a new breed of RAID cards. These 'cheap' hardware raid cards are just hybrid raid cards. An OS driver for the logic with a bit of hardware acceleration on top of a HBA host. Anyone who's had to use them with Linux or *BSD knows the anger they usually induce. Also RAID doesn't deal with the issue of silent corruption. This is where ZFS and BtrFS prove to be superior. ZFS is better suited for the enterprise and BtrFS is better suited for home and SMB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 Ben Tyger Real RAID cards really aren't that bad if you don't mind used. See www.xybte.com and stikc.com - Used Dell Servers, Dell Servers, Used Servers I agree, the FakeRAID cards are terrible. Yes, IT people actually have a term for those.... things. FakeRAID sums them up so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Tyger Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Travis Hershberger? I use used high quality (enterprise) parts all the time for home use. Just because we have more accessibility to them because of sites like eBay and Craigslist doesn't mean they've really gone down in price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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