Home NAS Media/File Storage

Ncble · 30 Sep 2017 at 10:40

Hi, Wondering if i could get some advise, currently got a DNS-320L ShareCenter which i have
music/videos stored on, Ive got fibre network with the NAS ran direct to router with CAT6,
Its okay but its not great, buffering videos and general slow access speeds,
So my question is, i have an old Sony Vaio (2.2GHz Intel Core i7-2670QM, 8GB, 1,333MHz DDR3)
+ A few External hard drives. Would it be worth converting the laptop to a NAS/Server.
If so what is the best way to do it ??

Thanks.

PiKe · 30 Sep 2017 at 10:47

Could try xpenology on it.

Ncble · 30 Sep 2017 at 11:47

Thanks for suggestion will look into it

neodude · 30 Sep 2017 at 21:20

UnRaid would also work but I don't think I could recommend a Laptop as a server/NAS solution for anything long term.

Ncble · 1 Oct 2017 at 00:41

What is the main reason, they use more energy? Less reliable ?

PiKe · 1 Oct 2017 at 09:28

Not designed to be used 24/7, cooling is not great therefore component life is reduced.

neodude · 1 Oct 2017 at 14:24

^ yep, that.

PiKe · 1 Oct 2017 at 14:25

Just build a cheap 1155 socket machine and pick a case with a few 3.5 inch bays for expansion.

Ncble · 1 Oct 2017 at 19:40

hmmm yeah will have to think of another way round it. Don't want to spend fortunes but i have a 9u data cabinet with space, wanted to try and get something to do the job that would go in there but everything rack mounted seems very expensive, guessing the cheapest way to do that is to
strip some of the components like the processor from the laptop and build a NAS Server

Snapshot · 3 Oct 2017 at 08:35

Stripping out a soldered CPU to go in a socketed mobo is going to be a bit of a challenge but good luck with it and keep us updated with your progress.

mikedigitales · 3 Oct 2017 at 08:47

You don't need much power cpu power etc, find a case that works for you space, then a motherboard, then fill in the blanks with a small gold psu, ram, drives etc. I've always used FreeNas, but it's not for everyone, so one of the suggestions above for software.

Ncble · 3 Oct 2017 at 09:46

Im gonna scrap the idea of building to be honest, seems like its gonna be too much agro. Think im just gonna have to lump it on a Synogogy Rackstation RS816. Anyone had any hands on with one? Just mainly gonna be used for storing and playing Movies and music, which will be accessed though a Mac. Hoping this will be a good solution.

PiKe · 3 Oct 2017 at 09:59

You can build something way better for £400, just go on ebay and look for old HP Proliant or Dell servers.

Ncble · 3 Oct 2017 at 11:24

Would be open to doing that as long as i could get one that would physically fit in my cabinet as its only 300mm deep, only thing is i wouldnt have a clue where to start, you no of any decent step by step guides or anything ??

Ncble · 3 Oct 2017 at 15:56

okay this is a struggle trying to find a server that will fit in a 300mm cabinet..

PiKe · 3 Oct 2017 at 16:02

HP Microserver Gen 8? (23.24x 23 x 24.5 cm)

Ncble · 6 Oct 2017 at 14:34

was looking for something rack mounted really, if i go for something desktop spose i might aswell get a ds416play :S

skyripper · 6 Oct 2017 at 14:41

Glad you scrapped the idea of using the laptop for a NAS. Hosting drives over a (presumably) USB2 would have driven you to madness.

A DS416play is 400 notes. A HP Gen8 Microserver is 150, with 50quid cashback normally depending on where you get it from.

Ncble · 6 Oct 2017 at 16:05

okay so how about a DS216play with 2 decent drives, thats more around the price of the 150, would you still go with the 150 over that ?

PiKe · 6 Oct 2017 at 16:07

But why? A microserver gives you way more flexibility.