Building a NAS

[djs134]

Recently got a spyware/malware/virus infestation that left my NSTF file system reading as a RAW file system and my XP is very unstable. I had an old PC setting around, so I hooked it up to the home network and started to transfer files with the hope that in my attempts to repair the damage, I won't loose all of my music/pics/files and banking data....

Seemed to work pretty well which got me to thinking about making the old pc a NAS. My old pc is a Gateway 2000 with a P4 processor and an Ultra ATA HD. I plan on upgrading the HD with 2 of these and this. As far as the OS is concerned, I'll either use FreeNAS or NasLite.

Being only moderately computer hardware literate, I'd like some info if possible. Going from an old P4 MB to a new SATA PCI card, what else do I need? A power cord adapter (old 5 pin to new 4 pin)? It looks like the PCI card comes with 2 SATA cords, but do I need a cord for the MB to the PCI card? If so, what would it be called and or what is the configuration?

Anyone else built a NAS here?

 

[sportsmedjosh]

Do you want a NAS or a server? I would also look into getting a raid card.

 

[djs134]

I'm really just looking for a network storage device. FreeNAS doesn't support "real" RAID, nor does any of the hardware that I've listed. I'm toying with the idea of setting this up as an FTP server as well, but haven't decided yet. We haven't found the need so far for one. In lieu of RAID, I might think about mirrored backups, but I only plan on having 3 drives (the original 80 Gb ultra ATA and the 2 new 1 Tb SATA drives).

Not familiar enough with the pros and cons of RAID.

EDIT:

I should also add that I'd like to designate 2 separate drives for my wife and I. That way she can save her music/pics/files and I can do the same. As I understand it, this isn't possible with a RAID system.

 

[joshua]

I would use software raid over a cheapo card like that any day.

RAID is to protect against drive failure. You can still do 2 partitions, 2 on each disk and mirror the data (RAID-1) so that if a drive dies you still have the other one. The mirroring is automatic once its set up, so you don't have to worry about running backups. But if you delete a file or a filesystem gets corrupted it just gets mirrored to both drives so you still want your important data in more than one location.

If you just want a file server, you could set up any Linux with RAID and then use samba. If you don't want to get that technical than you might want something like windows home server. I don't know the spec requirements on that though.

Or just run regular windows, make two directories and have 2 network shared. You could use windows software RAID to mirror the drives even. Plenty of options for an older machine, just depends on how involved you want to get.

 

[djs134]

Just so I'm clear...

I can plant 2 1 Tb SATA drives into my old pc (either with a PCI SATA controller or directly to my MB if it has SATA ports), partition each to split them into 2 500 Gb drives each. Then one drive would be used to store our data (me on one partition, she on the other) and the second drive would mirror the 1st.

The only issue I have to find out would be if my present MB (if it even has SATA ports) supports large (> 200 Gb) HDDs.

 

[joshua]

If you have a machine with SATA there shouldn't be any issue with the large drive size. If its using a SATA card then you definitely don't have to worry since the card does all the work and not the motherboard.

If you decide you want to do a linux based project I would find a decent SATA card that has good support, and just skip the ones that mention RAID. If you go the windows route then you can find one that requires windows.

One of the comments on the Syba card mentioned the chipset has good linux support, so that might be a good choice after all. I would still go with software RAID with that card if you went with Linux. If the card dies you would be able to get your data off using any old sata port and a linux livecd (and a little knowhow). Otherwise you are stuck getting the same card again. We use software RAID on a lot of our servers are it works very well. Sometimes outperforms the $800 RAID cards even and is really easy to rebuild once you learn.

Ok I am rambling now. I have to get some sleep. hah

 

[djs134]

As far as the SATA compatability, I'll probably get a card to be sure. The MB is at least 8.5 yrs old now and SATA came out shortly after that. But I doubt that the current 1 Tb drives were anticipated in '01.

You've got me thinking of going with software RAID rather than via hardware. Still not sure I want to loose 1/2 of my capacity (if using only 2 drives). I'm not backing up organizational data, just home stuff. I suppose I could go with 4 500 Gb drives and set them in a RAID array, but then, can I partition them off?

 

[joshua]

If you get 4 500GB drives and choose to do RAID-5 you will have 1.5TB (roughly) worth of space because one drive worth gets used for rebuild data. If one drive dies you can replace it and rebuild. But the syba card doesn't list RAID-5 unfortunately.

With hardware raid you create the RAID array in the BIOS, and it creates a virtual disk. Then you format it any way you see fit, with as many partitions as you want.

With Linux software raid you create matching raid partitions on both disks and then create the RAID partitions which you format.

 

[rabbgp]

Obviously you need to fine tune the osilating defibulator to sinc with the doomaflatchie, therein aligning the thing amajig with the dual thingie!

That should fix it! :clap:

 

[blooz4u]

Hey Rabb -

You forgot the flux capacitor!! It ABSOLUTELY won't work without it!

 

[CWS]

Obviously you need to fine tune the osilating defibulator to sinc with the doomaflatchie, therein aligning the thing amajig with the dual thingie!

That should fix it! :clap:

Now we are talking...Get er done.