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NAS Storage - Drobo or HP MediaSmart Server?

I have a homebuilt WHS, and I will be replacing it soon as I just don't use the features on it (I don't use Windows anymore) and it takes up too much space, uses too much electricity and is too big and noisy. Plus I can't easily use it with TM.

I also looked at the Drobo and Droboshare, but after reading about the problems people were having as well as the fact they provide gigabit ethernet for connectivity but then bottleneck it be using the USB interface to connect to the Drobo was crap. Also didn't like how it worked basically i.e. having to power it off to switch between DAS and NAS mode.

I am going to get the Netgear ReadNAS NV+. Has got Mac software made for it, built-in gigabit ethernet, has a similar RAID technology and working, provides better remote access functionality and although it doesn't look as good as the Drobo, still looks cool IMO. Plus I think it is a bit cheaper and has got built-in TM support
 
Now I'm thinking maybe a Drobo with a PogoPlug or airport extreme instead of a droboshare. The ReadyNAS looks interesting, let us know how it goes after you buy it.
 
Chris.L said:
I have a homebuilt WHS, and I will be replacing it soon as I just don't use the features on it (I don't use Windows anymore) and it takes up too much space, uses too much electricity and is too big and noisy. Plus I can't easily use it with TM.

I also looked at the Drobo and Droboshare, but after reading about the problems people were having as well as the fact they provide gigabit ethernet for connectivity but then bottleneck it be using the USB interface to connect to the Drobo was crap. Also didn't like how it worked basically i.e. having to power it off to switch between DAS and NAS mode.

I am going to get the Netgear ReadNAS NV+. Has got Mac software made for it, built-in gigabit ethernet, has a similar RAID technology and working, provides better remote access functionality and although it doesn't look as good as the Drobo, still looks cool IMO. Plus I think it is a bit cheaper and has got built-in TM support
Click to expand...
You got me all excited for the NV+ until I saw how much it was :(
 
warning9 said:
I want to upgrade my current NAS (Synology 109j) to something that is expandable and redundant. Last weekend I thought a Drobo with DroboShare would be great! Then I remembered that HP makes a MediaSmart server that runs Windows HomeServer (http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/computer/categories/home_servers/1/accessories/FL700AA%2523ABA).

Now I'm stuck. I'm not sure which one I should get. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have a Drobo, and I LOVE it, in fact I'm thinking about buying a second one.
 
Mhaddy said:
You got me all excited for the NV+ until I saw how much it was :(
Click to expand...

It's £20 more expensive that Drobo with a "free droboshare etc" on one site I looked at

warning9 said:
Now I'm thinking maybe a Drobo with a PogoPlug or airport extreme instead of a droboshare. The ReadyNAS looks interesting, let us know how it goes after you buy it.
Click to expand...

There is still the possible bottleneck of the USB interface, but ultimately's its whatever you are happy with. PogoPlug sounds pretty cool. In comparison with Drobo, there is a third party app to allow this functionality. With the ReadyNAS, there is a dashboard for Mac that basically just makes the ReadyNAS appear in Finder as though it was local
 
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