Is there such a thing as a networked external HDD?

Circuitous · 03-17-2010, 12:01 AM

Something I've been wanting to do around the home network here is setting up a server kind of as a storage dump, to share music and videos between all the eight or so computers in the house without having to soak up hard drive space on anyone's actual computer.

Plan 1 was to just build a server. Little bit out of my price range right now.

Plan 2 was to just share an external hard drive, but that's a little inconvenient, and streaming off of it would worry me to no end if it's not able to handle the constant demand.

So plan 3 is to find something that is basically a hard drive with LAN access, accessible from any computer and comfortable being used on a near-constant basis to stream data from and to, without wearing out in a couple months or a year.

So! Anyone got any ideas?

GenghisTron · 03-17-2010, 12:45 AM

I've been using Amazon's S3 storage, it's cheaper than building your own server and maintaining it, and it's also more reliable than an external hard-drive.

http://aws.amazon.com/s3/

I'm not a huge tech-savvy person, so S3 was an easy decision for me. If you have your own domain you can also hook-up your S3 service and use it that way, as well. It's kind of like webhosting, but this service is a bit different, same concept but you don't get screwed over ($$$) by hosting companies.

I've been using it to backup data, costs me like $3/month, which is pretty cheap considering.

Here's a good blog about it, with a pretty good cost/benefit analysis.

Circuitous · 03-17-2010, 01:53 AM

Well, the primary use of this would be storing data constantly being accessed by all of the computers, as well as storing videos/music that we would stream directly from the disk. So I don't see S3 working very well for that.

**mervaka** · 03-17-2010, 02:24 AM

the general term is NAS (Network Attached Storage)

Mooga · 03-17-2010, 07:05 AM

(Larger networks are also known as SAN - Storage Area Network. A SAN is basically a ton of hard drives working as storage for a network. Just thought I would throw that out there.)

GenghisTron · 03-17-2010, 07:05 AM

It probably is possible with S3, but it is kinda of impractical. Good luck, though.

**Dexter** · 03-17-2010, 08:43 AM

I don't know how much space you need, but this one has a lot of bells and whistles. You plug it in, setup username and password for shit and go.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136307

oh yea, if you already have drives - you can just plug them into something like this, tho if they're small/older its probably cheaper to go with a new NAS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822155009

Innoc · 03-18-2010, 12:53 AM

You can do it both wired and wifi. You can either get someone's pre-packaged NAS or you can get a NAS enclosure and then put the drives you want in it. Pay attention to how you intend to read and write the files and how the NAS makes them available. Not all enclosures will provide the same services or service level. Also pay attention to cooling...

Circuitous · 03-18-2010, 12:55 AM

That first NAS you linked looks like exactly what I'm after, Dexter. Very awesome.

stray kitten · 03-18-2010, 05:51 PM

Wow That is a pretty good deal for a 2 TB NAS. Plus it has 2 extra bay and supports raid.

03-17-2010, 12:01 AM	#1
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Is there such a thing as a networked external HDD? Something I've been wanting to do around the home network here is setting up a server kind of as a storage dump, to share music and videos between all the eight or so computers in the house without having to soak up hard drive space on anyone's actual computer. Plan 1 was to just build a server. Little bit out of my price range right now. Plan 2 was to just share an external hard drive, but that's a little inconvenient, and streaming off of it would worry me to no end if it's not able to handle the constant demand. So plan 3 is to find something that is basically a hard drive with LAN access, accessible from any computer and comfortable being used on a near-constant basis to stream data from and to, without wearing out in a couple months or a year. So! Anyone got any ideas? __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-17-2010, 12:45 AM	#2
GenghisTron AKA LittleAndroidMan D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dystopia Class/Position: Demo/Medic Gametype: CTF Affiliations: [TALOS] [SR] Posts Rated Helpful 11 Times	I've been using Amazon's S3 storage, it's cheaper than building your own server and maintaining it, and it's also more reliable than an external hard-drive. http://aws.amazon.com/s3/ I'm not a huge tech-savvy person, so S3 was an easy decision for me. If you have your own domain you can also hook-up your S3 service and use it that way, as well. It's kind of like webhosting, but this service is a bit different, same concept but you don't get screwed over ($$$) by hosting companies. I've been using it to backup data, costs me like $3/month, which is pretty cheap considering. Here's a good blog about it, with a pretty good cost/benefit analysis. __________________ The Catacombs Steam Last.fm

03-17-2010, 01:53 AM	#3
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Well, the primary use of this would be storing data constantly being accessed by all of the computers, as well as storing videos/music that we would stream directly from the disk. So I don't see S3 working very well for that. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-17-2010, 07:05 AM	#5
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	(Larger networks are also known as SAN - Storage Area Network. A SAN is basically a ton of hard drives working as storage for a network. Just thought I would throw that out there.) __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter Last edited by Mooga; 03-17-2010 at 07:07 AM.

03-17-2010, 07:05 AM	#6
GenghisTron AKA LittleAndroidMan D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dystopia Class/Position: Demo/Medic Gametype: CTF Affiliations: [TALOS] [SR] Posts Rated Helpful 11 Times	It probably is possible with S3, but it is kinda of impractical. Good luck, though. __________________ The Catacombs Steam Last.fm

03-17-2010, 02:24 AM	#4
mervaka A Very Sound Guy! Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Posts Rated Helpful 15 Times	the general term is NAS (Network Attached Storage)

03-17-2010, 08:43 AM	#7
Dexter internet user Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 42 Times	I don't know how much space you need, but this one has a lot of bells and whistles. You plug it in, setup username and password for shit and go. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136307 oh yea, if you already have drives - you can just plug them into something like this, tho if they're small/older its probably cheaper to go with a new NAS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822155009 Last edited by Dexter; 03-17-2010 at 08:44 AM.

03-18-2010, 12:53 AM	#8
Innoc Hitman 2 1 Actual Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: "Oscar Mike" Gametype: FPS or RTS (just say NO to MMO) Affiliations: Your Mom Posts Rated Helpful 8 Times	You can do it both wired and wifi. You can either get someone's pre-packaged NAS or you can get a NAS enclosure and then put the drives you want in it. Pay attention to how you intend to read and write the files and how the NAS makes them available. Not all enclosures will provide the same services or service level. Also pay attention to cooling... __________________ Mooga on Obama: He can cut taxes. Actually do something useful. Punch Nancy Pelosi in the face. Just to name a few. You eventually run out of other people's money to spend.

03-18-2010, 12:55 AM	#9
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	That first NAS you linked looks like exactly what I'm after, Dexter. Very awesome. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-18-2010, 05:51 PM	#10
stray kitten mjau D&A Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Class/Position: kittens are sneaky, spy Gametype: Capture the mouse Posts Rated Helpful 2 Times	Wow That is a pretty good deal for a 2 TB NAS. Plus it has 2 extra bay and supports raid. __________________ 6 of the 10 richest counties in America now surround Washington D.C. Our "capitol" edged out Silicon Valley as the nation's richest metro area. Reality Distortion Field = 1. Stream the distractions: One percent, hoodies, and kony oh my. Last edited by stray kitten; 03-18-2010 at 06:00 PM.

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