Message to small buisnesses, GET YOURSELF A FUCKING SERVER! It dosen't matter if its just an older PC running windows XP because it will be far more versatile and expandable that these. Build a cheap PC, stick even Linux on it to keep costs down and put 4x 1TB drives in it. Will cost slightly more but guess what, see when that fills up, you can ANOTHER 1TB drive it! Also, say you want a website? No need to pay for hosting, run it off your shiny server at no extra cost.
as much as i agree with you, you going about it wrong.
this is tailored more for people who don't want to fuss with installing a operating system and getting everything working. and this is more aesthetically appealing than an ugly server or an old desktop case.
if you operate a business that has even one server rack, then i am sure you know that one of these wouldn't be suitable.
$1000 is nuts ... i have a 6+ TB HP Mediasmart server (4 1tb drives inside + External drives) and its almost filled w/Media .. for less then that or about the same
To most people a server means Windows, which will be a lot more expensive. Most people don't get Linux, and by the time you hire someone to build it for you, you're well over $1000.
To me, and presumably you, an inexpensive motherboard with 1GB RAM with at least 1 ePCI port + cheap 4 port sata card + 4 1TB drives + Ubuntu = all kinds of win, and for probably less than $1000. Plus it's a fully functional LAMP server.
Grow up... and be realistic.. NAS is so much more practical, safer and more economical for virtually any environment of 1-user to 25-plus. Full fledged servers have their place.. but not in an environment of few users and minimal or no IT support.
When was the last time you heard of a NAS being infected by a Virus or problematic Windows Service Pack or Stupid User.. Let alone the licensing issues of a Windows Server.
Message to small businesses: Please also consider TCO. If you end up having to hire a technician, pay for higher power consumption, warranty or parts replacement hassles, or deal with any other kind of unforseen headache, you might not save very much money in the end doing it yourself.
Also, please don't run your own web server on a paltry DSL connection. Pay the measly $3/mo to have it hosted on a proper T1+ connection, that is among other things, also properly secured. The last thing you need is to put sensitive company docs on an unsecured web server, or leave your customers looking at a "Server Not Found" page when the PSU dies while the replacement is caught in UPS for an eternity.
This NAS has a RAID controller to support RAID 5. So if you have a small office, I don't think that you are going to try and built that same box on your own to try and save $50. 4TB with RAID 5 for $999 and it works out of the box. That's a pretty good deal.
I think you're wrong on all counts. I'm going the opposite direction; considering going NAS from server.
I've currently got a Mac Pro with 2x320gb striped, and am now running out of space. Every time I upgrade I'll have to buy another pair of drives; 4 drives if I want to be able to have the capacity for mirrored backups. The striping is great for speed, but I don't need speed for my movie archives, only for apps. I need to have the system running whenever I watch movies streamed to my XBox hooked up to the TV, which sounds fine except when it's too warm in my room (most of the year) and I'd really rather not have my computer pumping out heat that will make my room too warm to sleep at night.
It doesn't really make sense to have a whole computer running when all you need is access to data, and it doesn't make sense to tie your data store to system files, where you'll have to do an OS reinstall to increase the size of your media storage.
We use a ReadyNAS and I absolutely love the thing. It's completely headache free, just sits there and works. You couldn't pay me to trade it for a server. Not interested.
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Why?, Why why why?
Message to small buisnesses, GET YOURSELF A FUCKING SERVER! It dosen't matter if its just an older PC running windows XP because it will be far more versatile and expandable that these. Build a cheap PC, stick even Linux on it to keep costs down and put 4x 1TB drives in it. Will cost slightly more but guess what, see when that fills up, you can ANOTHER 1TB drive it! Also, say you want a website? No need to pay for hosting, run it off your shiny server at no extra cost.
as much as i agree with you, you going about it wrong.
this is tailored more for people who don't want to fuss with installing a operating system and getting everything working. and this is more aesthetically appealing than an ugly server or an old desktop case.
if you operate a business that has even one server rack, then i am sure you know that one of these wouldn't be suitable.
$1000 is nuts ... i have a 6+ TB HP Mediasmart server (4 1tb drives inside + External drives) and its almost filled w/Media .. for less then that or about the same
Agreed, to a point.
To most people a server means Windows, which will be a lot more expensive. Most people don't get Linux, and by the time you hire someone to build it for you, you're well over $1000.
To me, and presumably you, an inexpensive motherboard with 1GB RAM with at least 1 ePCI port + cheap 4 port sata card + 4 1TB drives + Ubuntu = all kinds of win, and for probably less than $1000. Plus it's a fully functional LAMP server.
Grow up... and be realistic.. NAS is so much more practical, safer and more economical for virtually any environment of 1-user to 25-plus. Full fledged servers have their place.. but not in an environment of few users and minimal or no IT support.
When was the last time you heard of a NAS being infected by a Virus or problematic Windows Service Pack or Stupid User.. Let alone the licensing issues of a Windows Server.
Message to small businesses: Please also consider TCO. If you end up having to hire a technician, pay for higher power consumption, warranty or parts replacement hassles, or deal with any other kind of unforseen headache, you might not save very much money in the end doing it yourself.
Also, please don't run your own web server on a paltry DSL connection. Pay the measly $3/mo to have it hosted on a proper T1+ connection, that is among other things, also properly secured. The last thing you need is to put sensitive company docs on an unsecured web server, or leave your customers looking at a "Server Not Found" page when the PSU dies while the replacement is caught in UPS for an eternity.
This NAS has a RAID controller to support RAID 5. So if you have a small office, I don't think that you are going to try and built that same box on your own to try and save $50. 4TB with RAID 5 for $999 and it works out of the box. That's a pretty good deal.
Skyride,
I think you're wrong on all counts. I'm going the opposite direction; considering going NAS from server.
I've currently got a Mac Pro with 2x320gb striped, and am now running out of space. Every time I upgrade I'll have to buy another pair of drives; 4 drives if I want to be able to have the capacity for mirrored backups. The striping is great for speed, but I don't need speed for my movie archives, only for apps. I need to have the system running whenever I watch movies streamed to my XBox hooked up to the TV, which sounds fine except when it's too warm in my room (most of the year) and I'd really rather not have my computer pumping out heat that will make my room too warm to sleep at night.
It doesn't really make sense to have a whole computer running when all you need is access to data, and it doesn't make sense to tie your data store to system files, where you'll have to do an OS reinstall to increase the size of your media storage.
We use a ReadyNAS and I absolutely love the thing. It's completely headache free, just sits there and works. You couldn't pay me to trade it for a server. Not interested.