I Wanna: Wireless NAS... I think?

jo3uk

Hi,

I am thinking about setting up a wireless network and as I would like to move from a server style case (which is left on 24x7) to a Shuttle or similar shortly (to only be switched on as needed) and I have decided that it would be best to attach the bulk of my storage directly to the network.

I believe the cheapest way to do this would be to get a wireless router which supports USB storage devices and connect external 3.5" USB 2.0 external hard drives directly to the router. The desired effect is that the data stored on the drive(s) is always available when required without the unnecessary waste of electricity incurred by leaving a computer on 24x7.

As I would ideally like to have about 400 - 500Gb of storage space available, I believe that it would probably be more economical to chose a router which allows 2 drives to be connected, I have found one such device so far, the D-Link DI-624S. Unfortunately this router does have a built in ADSL modem so I will need to connect an ADSL ethernet modem to the router in order to connect my network to the Internet. This would result in 4 devices needing power adaptors, hardly the clutter free effect I was hoping for... and probaby negating any electricity savings made by not leaving any computers switched on 24x7.

If anybody has any suggestions about alternative solutions I would be interested to hear them...

Cheers,

Joe

P.S. Final desired config details:

1 x main computer
1 x HTPC (wouldn't like to increase the volume of this by stuffing it full of more hard drives)
1 x laptop.
ADSL internet connection
As few wires and as little power draw as possible

Tongy

jo3uk wrote:

Hi,

I am thinking about setting up a wireless network and as I would like to move from a server style case (which is left on 24x7) to a Shuttle or similar shortly (to only be switched on as needed) and I have decided that it would be best to attach the bulk of my storage directly to the network.

I believe the cheapest way to do this would be to get a wireless router which supports USB storage devices and connect external 3.5" USB 2.0 external hard drives directly to the router. The desired effect is that the data stored on the drive(s) is always available when required without the unnecessary waste of electricity incurred by leaving a computer on 24x7.

As I would ideally like to have about 400 - 500Gb of storage space available, I believe that it would probably be more economical to chose a router which allows 2 drives to be connected, I have found one such device so far, the D-Link DI-624S. Unfortunately this router does have a built in ADSL modem so I will need to connect an ADSL ethernet modem to the router in order to connect my network to the Internet. This would result in 4 devices needing power adaptors, hardly the clutter free effect I was hoping for... and probaby negating any electricity savings made by not leaving any computers switched on 24x7.

If anybody has any suggestions about alternative solutions I would be interested to hear them...

Cheers,

Joe

P.S. Final desired config details:

1 x main computer
1 x HTPC (wouldn't like to increase the volume of this by stuffing it full of more hard drives)
1 x laptop.
ADSL internet connection
As few wires and as little power draw as possible

I use a Linksys WAG54G (router/modem/firewall/switch) and the Linksys NSLU2 Network attached storage device, and it works very well. It's a box you plug into your router that allows the connection of 2 USB2.0 harddrives (or 1 flash memory) to the network.

There is also the Buffalo Linkstation, have a browse on Ebuyer that comes in 120gb, 160gb and 250gb varieties. There is only one drive per box however..... but it does have a print server.

A complete basic NAS solution will cost in the region of £150, and either way will require a power socket of its own (not forgetting that the 3.5" USB drives need power too).

Cheers
Tongy