NAS or external?

famous600 · Jan 24, 2013, 01:25 AM

What's everyone's thoughts? Deciding between an external or synology nas set up. The mini will constantly be on just not sure of the true benefits with one over the other besides just a storage standpoint. Is a nas really worth it or start with a thunderbolt 2big LaCie and daisy chain from that if needed. Just looking to do streaming to other devices on and off the network at home. Just beyond confused with what to do!

Che Castro · Jan 24, 2013, 07:07 AM

If the mini is going to be on 24/7 isn't the nas unnecessary ?

costabunny · Jan 24, 2013, 07:15 AM

Well I keep an external 3TB on my Mini and stream from there 24/7.

A NAS would be useful if you have other computers that would access the file share (without disturbing the mac).

I find that external for my needs is fine as it stays on 24/7 and serves content to the household (mum, sister and my nephew). I think with a NAS the overhead of multiple streams being read from network share and then re-transmitted over the same network could potentially have slow down issues.

With my setup I don't really notice when others are streaming from my mini even when I am using it. (only notice if I am doing disk intensive tasks or gaming and both are rare for me).

famous600 · Jan 24, 2013, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Che Castro

If the mini is going to be on 24/7 isn't the nas unnecessary ?

Thats exactly what I wanted to hear. Ive just been reading so much information I think my brain exploded. Between which mini to buy and what storage to get and upgrading ram etc.

FreakinEurekan · Jan 24, 2013, 09:11 AM

Does the data need to be accessed from more than one computer? NAS.

Is the data dedicated to the Mac Mini? External.

famous600 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreakinEurekan

Does the data need to be accessed from more than one computer? NAS.

Is the data dedicated to the Mac Mini? External.

My biggest concern with a NAS is the transfer speeds. The synology has USB 2.0 which can be connected to the mini and that would still be a slow speed and the other option of having the nas plugged in with Ethernet and transferring large files to it over the network would be slow as well I assume. Then if I wanted a synology USB 3.0 nas it's quite a bit more chunk of change.

utekineir · Jan 24, 2013, 10:06 AM

Share the external drive on the mini on your network, run plex server on it,

boom

famous600 · Jan 24, 2013, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utekineir

Share the external drive on the mini on your network, run plex server on it,

boom

I've gone between the two xbmc and plex and honestly unless I haven't really played around much with plex xbmc's UI is hands down on top of plex. Xbmc with the Aeon skin is gorgeous.

utekineir · Jan 24, 2013, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famous600

I've gone between the two xbmc and plex and honestly unless I haven't really played around much with plex xbmc's UI is hands down on top of plex. Xbmc with the Aeon skin is gorgeous.

what has me sold on plex is that the ios app is dumb simple,

even the elderly can use an ios device to stream a library remotely and send to tv with airplay.

you can set up your mini to share everything you want for a lower cost than buying a seperate synology,

famous600 · Jan 24, 2013, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utekineir

what has me sold on plex is that the ios app is dumb simple,

even the elderly can use an ios device to stream a library remotely and send to tv with airplay.

you can set up your mini to share everything you want for a lower cost than buying a seperate synology,

You are correct. Plex is an awesome server and I'll keep it running but during normal viewing xbmc beats ples hands down for their UI.

blueroom · Jan 24, 2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famous600

The synology has USB 2.0 which can be connected to the mini

Not sure I follow, the USB 2.0 on any NAS is a host (won't connect to another host i.e. a Mac Mini's USB port)

famous600 · Jan 24, 2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueroom

Not sure I follow, the USB 2.0 on any NAS is a host (won't connect to another host i.e. a Mac Mini's USB port)

Gotcha. Learn something new everyday!

costabunny · Jan 24, 2013, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famous600

Gotcha. Learn something new everyday!

Blue is correct -most NAS boxes with a usb support a printer (for sharing) and hard disk/lash disk sometimes for haring, u often for backing up data on the NAS.

I don't remember seeing a NAS that supports connecting to a computer via usb.

philipma1957 · Jan 24, 2013, 11:23 PM

nas are nice due to cat 6 wire connection you can stash it in your home out of site and mind. my home is all cat wire. with a wired router and a switch .

I have a lot of computers connected to the net. due to bitcoin mining and it just works better hard wired.

I use a 5 port router to 3 8 port switches it allows a max of 22 pcs/nas attached.

I have 10 pcs 1 nas and 3 minis or 14 out of 22 hooked up.

the minis share the nas the pcs do not.

Jan 24, 2013, 01:25 AM	#1
famous600 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2010	NAS or external? What's everyone's thoughts? Deciding between an external or synology nas set up. The mini will constantly be on just not sure of the true benefits with one over the other besides just a storage standpoint. Is a nas really worth it or start with a thunderbolt 2big LaCie and daisy chain from that if needed. Just looking to do streaming to other devices on and off the network at home. Just beyond confused with what to do!
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 07:15 AM	#3
costabunny macrumors Demi-Goddess Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cancer Free Zone ~ UK	Well I keep an external 3TB on my Mini and stream from there 24/7. A NAS would be useful if you have other computers that would access the file share (without disturbing the mac). I find that external for my needs is fine as it stays on 24/7 and serves content to the household (mum, sister and my nephew). I think with a NAS the overhead of multiple streams being read from network share and then re-transmitted over the same network could potentially have slow down issues. With my setup I don't really notice when others are streaming from my mini even when I am using it. (only notice if I am doing disk intensive tasks or gaming and both are rare for me). __________________ "When two tribes go to war; ONE is all that you can score!"
	0

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Jan 24, 2013, 07:07 AM	#2
Che Castro macrumors 68040 Join Date: May 2009	If the mini is going to be on 24/7 isn't the nas unnecessary ?
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Jan 24, 2013, 09:11 AM	#5
FreakinEurekan macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas	Does the data need to be accessed from more than one computer? NAS. Is the data dedicated to the Mac Mini? External.
	0

Jan 24, 2013, 10:06 AM	#7
utekineir macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	Share the external drive on the mini on your network, run plex server on it, boom
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Jan 24, 2013, 11:23 PM	#14
philipma1957 macrumors 603 Join Date: Apr 2010	nas are nice due to cat 6 wire connection you can stash it in your home out of site and mind. my home is all cat wire. with a wired router and a switch . I have a lot of computers connected to the net. due to bitcoin mining and it just works better hard wired. I use a 5 port router to 3 8 port switches it allows a max of 22 pcs/nas attached. I have 10 pcs 1 nas and 3 minis or 14 out of 22 hooked up. the minis share the nas the pcs do not.
	0