Need advice on a backup solution

[thedon1]

Right now in my house I have a macbook and iMac. I want a backup solution because there's a lot of family pictures, music etc on the computers. I also want to use that as an NAS drive to store and stream videos and pics to other devices in my house (HTPC, Ipad etc)

I initially thought of a time capsule, I'm guessing I can backup 2 computers to it. I also want to use that as an NAS drive to store and stream videos and pics to other devices in my house (HTPC, Ipad etc)

I recently got lucky and got a 2TB external hard drive for £20 due to a mis-price. Can I pull out the drive and use that in an NAS enclosure to get wireless backup with storage capability?

What would be best in this situation for me?

 

[kuebby]

There's a few options, but your best bet is probably going to be:
Buy an Airport Extreme (or other router with a USB port that supports an external hard drive) and just use that as a makeshift Time Capsule.

You could put the drive in a different enclosure but if you want wireless access then it's going to have to be something similar to what I proposed anyway, since most NAS drives just have ethernet ports (which would let you access it over a network if it's connected to a wireless router, but in that case you may as well just use the enclosure you already bought).

 

[Lagmonster]

If you can afford it, one of the nas solutions offers so much utility for the money. I like the readynas. Great support and tons of features.

 

[thedon1]

I currently have a broadband via Sky and I have their wireless router (Netgear).

The Airport extreme is £139 in the UK. If I use that, would that mean I would connect my router to the airport extreme which will be connected to an external hard drive?

If so, I might just consider getting a small NAS enclosure, I think it would be cheaper than an airport extreme.

 

[nebo1ss]

There's a few options, but your best bet is probably going to be:
Buy an Airport Extreme (or other router with a USB port that supports an external hard drive) and just use that as a makeshift Time Capsule.

You could put the drive in a different enclosure but if you want wireless access then it's going to have to be something similar to what I proposed anyway, since most NAS drives just have ethernet ports (which would let you access it over a network if it's connected to a wireless router, but in that case you may as well just use the enclosure you already bought).

Are you actually using this solution that you recommended and have you been using it for any length of time. I am, and can tell you I am extremely disappointed with it. While the printer sharing is rock solid the shared disc drive is very flaky.

It frequently drops off the network and time machine cannot find it. Even when it is working it is extremely slow like watching a kettle boil.

 

[louwrentius]

Are you actually using this solution that you recommended and have you been using it for any length of time. I am, and can tell you I am extremely disappointed with it. While the printer sharing is rock solid the shared disc drive is very flaky.

It frequently drops off the network and time machine cannot find it. Even when it is working it is extremely slow like watching a kettle boil.

I don't recommend using an Airport Extreme or Time Capsule since they are just freakin' slow. You are better of either using a NAS from Q-NAP or Synology (which often have Time Machine support) or periodically connecting USB/FW disks.