New Buisness: Network Attached storage

[deepakgang]

Thinking about it more, ideally an HTPC would need an IR sensor and a remote/keyboard etc. Not sure if these can be easily added on to the Media Server/NAS for convergence purpose or keeping it separate is the way to go.

 

[naviworks]

Greate example ... cars, and computers ..... seriously no argument here. Let the audience decide. Ans I seriously do wonder if you at all got what I am trying to explain here

as you said, its an example, an example can be anything which can make you understand the crux, but even then if you dont understand...pity you...

Ever wonder why a branded computer is expensive than the assembled one. Do branded ones loot us ...... ??

if 15k is the maximum one should spend for a NAS (as per you), these branded NASes are costing atleast thrice... A middle income group (like me) would definitely go for an alternative and would be satisfied with a similar performance in an assembled NAS with atleast branded parts. when we say a similar performance we anyway deviating from a hardcore actual NAS, then there is no harm in modding it as per our requirement right? i donno how to make you understand anymore...

Yes those are for people like you and other laymans for whom a NAS is a device that do bitstream, or use it just as a share drive ..... and it looks "cool" in the signature (mmm so he own a NAS), even though most of them would use it as a general PC share drive.

of course for a layman like me if a NAS does something extra than what it suppose to do, i would be more than happy...only the 'more knowledgeable' like you would want a NAS to do exactly as per its definition...do you have a mobile phone? and does it have atleast features like fm radio or games then you should dump it because mobile phone by definition, are meant for talking only....hyeah:

BTW the computer still does computes even when it plays movies and games ...... not a satisfying logic here..

similarly vaibhavs NAS does the job of NAS even though it does a lil more or less...

And your sarcasm with the thread title doesn't state a thing, a NAS is a NAS and an HTPC is an HTPC. If the title states HTPC, you cant expect to recomend Xeon, even though a Xeon can also be used for an HTPC ....... ....... if this simple logic does not goes in to you, your loss.

but I do feel that the correct information atleast technically should be shared and the terminologies should be correct.

we got your logic

vaibhav is not assembling a NAS
vaibhav is not assembling a NAS
vaibhav is not assembling a NAS

vaibhav please admit it...lets make sam9s happy...

 

[sarge_in]

You need either an HTPC or a media server, not a NAS ..... and since I do not want ot give an impression that I am highjacking the thread or demoralizing the model that has been proposed here, I will let vaibhavyagnik to do the rest of the suggestion ..........

Sammy, while I agree with a lot you have said, even the branded higher-end (but still consumer domain, not corporate) NAS's have gone the way that they satisfy every single one of requirements (except 1) that deepakgang mentioned in post #64. Yes they have gone past the traditional definition of NAS, but that's just the way things are these days. The only one that current NAS's does not do is #4. You need media players, like popcorn hour / dune / neotv etc to do that.

Of course, a true NAS still needs to provide all kinds of access, FTP, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, RAID (does not matter if one actually uses it) etc that you mentioned.

My line for NAS vs HTPC (assuming most functionalities are there) is that I should not need a keyboard or a monitor specifically for it..I should be able to access and configure whatever I want from any of the attached computers. NAS is the perfect solution for tucking huge storage in a corner that just works to store and provide access to data.

 

[sam9s]

Thinking about it more, ideally an HTPC would need an IR sensor and a remote/keyboard etc. Not sure if these can be easily added on to the Media Server/NAS for convergence purpose or keeping it separate is the way to go.

ideally speaking, yea a NAS would not need a keyboard or mouse, coz you access it over network (Networked.A.S), but then people are not using it as a NAS, are they??????so you might as well add it along with a display as well ...... adding a remote does not at all make sense to NAS but hey!! as per few people's logic here we dont use phones for just talking, do we ..... so we might as well add an IR remote to our NAS. How about throwing in a Xonar Essence, so that we can use it as a DAC as well, (why not....... convergence..right).....

anyway apologies for my sarcasm here deepak, but for you I'd say go for an HTPC and make it your media server as well. That would suit all of your requirements .......

 

[deepakgang]

Thanks Sam. When I put forward my opinion, I present it based on my knowledge, experience, expertise etc. So if it is challenged I can easily get offended as its not just my single line which was being rejected, it was all that I projected. Therefore everyones opinion has its own credits and keeping in mind that the other can get offended for something which I might not have intended, lets move forward.

Vaibhav - You still can offer the solution but after satisfying all my requirements, you might also not want to call it as a NAS but nevertheless its the outcome what matters.

P.S : England is all out. So we are back guys!

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

Ok. Everyone needs best bang for the buck. Lets not take things personally and constructive criticism is always good

I will try to tell what my requirements would be - it might fall into NAS or it might fall into HTPC with a big hard disk. I do not mind what it is called and these are in layman terms.


1. A storage space which can be turned on 24*7 primarily to use in my home network. I intend to copy all the FLAC files and Blu Ray rips on to it.

2. This needs to be expandable as I add more data, say I start with 3 TB and can go upto 12 TB in a couple of years time. I should be able to use my external hard drives as well.

3. My father who do not have much idea about booting up the PC and all should be able to play music from the shared location via my Squeezebox (when I buy ). So the squeezebox server should run on this.

4. My AVR can access movies over DLNA but might not support or play most of the formats. So if I can save some money to to access these files and output to my AVR (assuming the device sit near to my AVR) it will be awesome. All digital outputs and audio pass-through upto 7.1

5. I should be able to play music in my room while someone is watching a movie.

6. As this is going to be the only place the files are saved (only music and movies .. I do not intend to copy my docs .. for that I can use google docs free of cost and I do not work for RAW )


7. Can I access my music files over internet while I am abroad? It will be great!

8. Looks are not very important but the size if kept the minimum would suite me fine.



I have another question - if I have a Router and powerline network at home, will his setup work just at home if I do not have broadband enabled? I might have asked some silly questions - bear with my ignorance.

No you do not need broadband for networking all your devices. A simple Wifi N150/300 with Gigabit LAN ports router is sufficient. However Internet connection is recommended as XBMC uses scrapers to get all the movie posters, info and fan art. For all your requirements, i recommend Config 2, with a cabinet of your choice (should have minimum 5 3.5" bays to make full use of available SATA ports on ASUS E350M Pro/Delux, any less then consider MSI E350 which has 4 SATA ports). For the software part, i recommend Fedora 14 + Amahi + XBMC. If you want to go the windows home server way, thats even more easily possible. For the remote part some quick googling resulted in several success stories of being able to run generic IR remotes on their Fedora + XBMC machines, so yeah, that should be possible too. One kind gentleman has even written a driver for XBMC and generic remote on linux. Also if you have a android based phone, that too can be used to control XBMC as well. its pretty neat actually. You get fan arts and other movie details on your phone screen. Full navigation supported. I have been using it since October 2010 (when i got my samsung galaxy 3) and i have been pretty impressed:clapping: Your call.

As far as pricing of my configs is concerned, if anyone wants less or no hard disks, deduct 4,600 for each 2 TB hard disk opted less. The price will go down further as i wont be paying shipping to my place on those hard disks as well. Final pricing will be based on ordered hardware and software solution based on mutual agreement.

As a part of proving my capability and ingenuity, i will help the first few people to install and setup Freenas/Fedora+amahi+XBMC+remote/WHS2011+XBMC+Remote through teamviewer. The list of software to be downloaded will be provided by me. The responsibility of procuring hardware, getting it assembled, physically hooking up to network, burning ISOs to disk, installing software till the point teamviewer can be installed shall be responsibility of the user. I will provide support till this point also on phone (7PM to 12 PM)/PM/Email. In this case, user does not pay me anything, all hardware and assembling shall be done by user.

 

[naviworks]

As a part of proving my capability and ingenuity, i will help the first few people to install and setup Freenas/Fedora+amahi+XBMC+remote/WHS2011+XBMC+Remote through teamviewer. The list of software to be downloaded will be provided by me. The responsibility of procuring hardware, getting it assembled, physically hooking up to network, burning ISOs to disk, installing software till the point teamviewer can be installed shall be responsibility of the user. I will provide support till this point also on phone (7PM to 12 PM)/PM/Email. In this case, user does not pay me anything, all hardware and assembling shall be done by user.

:clapping::clapping::clapping:
a very laudable venture..

it reminds me of srinis signature
"What man is a man who does not make the world better?"

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

No you do not need broadband for networking all your devices. A simple Wifi N150/300 with Gigabit LAN ports router is sufficient. However Internet connection is recommended as XBMC uses scrapers to get all the movie posters, info and fan art. For all your requirements, i recommend Config 2, with a cabinet of your choice (should have minimum 5 3.5" bays to make full use of available SATA ports on ASUS E350M Pro/Delux, any less then consider MSI E350 which has 4 SATA ports). For the software part, i recommend Fedora 14 + Amahi + XBMC. If you want to go the windows home server way, thats even more easily possible. For the remote part some quick googling resulted in several success stories of being able to run generic IR remotes on their Fedora + XBMC machines, so yeah, that should be possible too. One kind gentleman has even written a driver for XBMC and generic remote on linux. Also if you have a android based phone, that too can be used to control XBMC as well. its pretty neat actually. You get fan arts and other movie details on your phone screen. Full navigation supported. I have been using it since October 2010 (when i got my samsung galaxy 3) and i have been pretty impressed:clapping: Your call.

As far as pricing of my configs is concerned, if anyone wants less or no hard disks, deduct 4,600 for each 2 TB hard disk opted less. The price will go down further as i wont be paying shipping to my place on those hard disks as well. Final pricing will be based on ordered hardware and software solution based on mutual agreement.

As a part of proving my capability and ingenuity, i will help the first few people to install and setup Freenas/Fedora+amahi+XBMC+remote/WHS2011+XBMC+Remote through teamviewer. The list of software to be downloaded will be provided by me. The responsibility of procuring hardware, getting it assembled, physically hooking up to network, burning ISOs to disk, installing software till the point teamviewer can be installed shall be responsibility of the user. I will provide support till this point also on phone (7PM to 12 PM)/PM/Email. In this case, user does not pay me anything, all hardware and assembling shall be done by user.

Please also note that anybody who is looking to buy hardware themselves should first PM me the exact make and model of all the hardware that is going to be used so that there are no hardware conflicts or driver issues after the hardware is bought. Hardware is particularly important when the choice of OS is Fedora and Freenas. Once i get to know the exact model, i will confirm the availability of drivers for Fedora and freenas. windows should not be a problem though