I'm looking to build an NAS and am waffling about whether to go the Power Mac G4 route or the old PC bits route. I have an early 2008 MacBook Pro running 10.8.5 and an early 2011 MacBook Pro running 10.9.1, plus iPad and iPhone. This is what I want the NAS to do:
1. Wireless, scheduled backups (I forget to to do them manually)
2. Create bootable backups (so I need to use something like Carbon Copy Cloner rather than Time Machine)
3. Store media I don't keep on my internal drives (TV, movies, music, photos)
4. Act as a media server (so I can watch media on my HDTV via my PS3)
Redundancy would be great, but I really don't want/need a RAID. My primary need is for a backup solution and I keep reading that RAID is not a backup. I can make additional backups of the really important files. I'd also like the ability to expand in the future, by adding drives and/or swapping in larger ones. So, I think I'd be good with JBOD rather than RAID.
Cash is an issue, of course. I haven't found any pre-built NAS boxes that are highly-recommended in my price range, or much in any price range for that matter. Ideally, I'd like to start with 4TB of storage but not sure if I'll be able to swing it.
On the G4 side- It's been years since I've worked with PCs so I'm more comfortable with Macs. Seems like File Sharing is a very easy way to go. However, Mac stuff is pricey and harder to find with fewer options. I don't have access to a PC to flash a SATA card or a monitor to set the system up...
On the PC side- The components are SO much cheaper, easier to find, easier to replace in future, etc. I can probably find one that already has SATA ports on the motherboard, thus ruling out the need for a SATA card. FreeNAS is a very attractive option as it seems to have more versatility than File Sharing, but I've never used so I maybe I'm wrong. As long as I don't have to run Windows, I'll be ok.
I'm also getting contradicting recommendations regarding going RAID vs JBOD. My budget is really limited right now, so maybe I start with JBOD and turn it into a RAID array down the road if needed?
I'm not a computer idiot and I have a little home network, but I've never set up an NAS. I'd greatly appreciate feedback! So many variables...
I started an earlier thread focusing on the G4/G5, which I haven't ruled out. I just felt like I should probably start a separate thread for a discussion including non-Power Mac options.
If you want to contribute to that thread (and please do), you can find it here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=18642685#poststop
Maybe this is less effective, but I'm trying to keep threads appropriate to topic.
People are making good arguments for both options. The prebuilt HP ProLiant Microserver has been suggested as well. It looks like an easier and cleaner way to go. I just don't think I can afford to go that route at this point.
I have enough knowledge to be dangerous, but not yet enough to feel confident in knowing what is best for my needs. I want the NAS to do the things I listed above. I want it to be reliable, effective, adjustable/expandable in the future, and cost effective.
It doesn't have be lightening fast (though I'd prefer it, of course). It just needs to connect to my wireless router via ethernet so I can do everything over WiFi, and it CANNOT slow down my internet access. Most of my work is online so I need constant access.
My original budget was $300 (the cost of the 2 TB Time Capsule), which now seems totally unrealistic. I could probably go up to $400 but that would be the absolute max I could manage, including cables, knick knacks, tax, whatever.
Please help! (Now I feel like Leeloo from Fifth Element) Thanks!
1. Wireless, scheduled backups (I forget to to do them manually)
2. Create bootable backups (so I need to use something like Carbon Copy Cloner rather than Time Machine)
3. Store media I don't keep on my internal drives (TV, movies, music, photos)
4. Act as a media server (so I can watch media on my HDTV via my PS3)
Redundancy would be great, but I really don't want/need a RAID. My primary need is for a backup solution and I keep reading that RAID is not a backup. I can make additional backups of the really important files. I'd also like the ability to expand in the future, by adding drives and/or swapping in larger ones. So, I think I'd be good with JBOD rather than RAID.
Cash is an issue, of course. I haven't found any pre-built NAS boxes that are highly-recommended in my price range, or much in any price range for that matter. Ideally, I'd like to start with 4TB of storage but not sure if I'll be able to swing it.
On the G4 side- It's been years since I've worked with PCs so I'm more comfortable with Macs. Seems like File Sharing is a very easy way to go. However, Mac stuff is pricey and harder to find with fewer options. I don't have access to a PC to flash a SATA card or a monitor to set the system up...
On the PC side- The components are SO much cheaper, easier to find, easier to replace in future, etc. I can probably find one that already has SATA ports on the motherboard, thus ruling out the need for a SATA card. FreeNAS is a very attractive option as it seems to have more versatility than File Sharing, but I've never used so I maybe I'm wrong. As long as I don't have to run Windows, I'll be ok.
I'm also getting contradicting recommendations regarding going RAID vs JBOD. My budget is really limited right now, so maybe I start with JBOD and turn it into a RAID array down the road if needed?
I'm not a computer idiot and I have a little home network, but I've never set up an NAS. I'd greatly appreciate feedback! So many variables...
I started an earlier thread focusing on the G4/G5, which I haven't ruled out. I just felt like I should probably start a separate thread for a discussion including non-Power Mac options.
If you want to contribute to that thread (and please do), you can find it here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=18642685#poststop
Maybe this is less effective, but I'm trying to keep threads appropriate to topic.
People are making good arguments for both options. The prebuilt HP ProLiant Microserver has been suggested as well. It looks like an easier and cleaner way to go. I just don't think I can afford to go that route at this point.
I have enough knowledge to be dangerous, but not yet enough to feel confident in knowing what is best for my needs. I want the NAS to do the things I listed above. I want it to be reliable, effective, adjustable/expandable in the future, and cost effective.
It doesn't have be lightening fast (though I'd prefer it, of course). It just needs to connect to my wireless router via ethernet so I can do everything over WiFi, and it CANNOT slow down my internet access. Most of my work is online so I need constant access.
My original budget was $300 (the cost of the 2 TB Time Capsule), which now seems totally unrealistic. I could probably go up to $400 but that would be the absolute max I could manage, including cables, knick knacks, tax, whatever.
Please help! (Now I feel like Leeloo from Fifth Element) Thanks!