[andyr]

I'm looking for a small NAS device which will only be attached to 1 PC (a Dell Mini 9 which uses SS disk and is fanless).  This needs to be able to take 2 x 1TB 3.5" Western Digital low-power (ie. "green") disks and attach via Ethernet to the PC.

I haven't so far been able to find a fan-less NAS.  Anybody know of one?

Thanks,

Andy

[richidoo]

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=509

I built one for a client. It worked well and it's cheap. Seagate Barracuda drives are known to work well with it, or read Newegg user comments for other drives known to work well.

[andyr]

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=509

I built one for a client. It worked well and it's cheap. Seagate Barracuda drives are known to work well with it, or read Newegg user comments for other drives known to work well.

But richidoo ... it has a fan! 

This is what I cut from the description on the link you posted:

D-Link DNS-323 Special Features:

SATA Drive Support
Internet Access via FTP
UPnP AV for Storing and Streaming Media Files
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Port
USB Print Server Port
Built-In Fan Included


Regards,

Andy

[JohnR]

One of the points of having a NAS is that it doesn't need to be anywhere near the computer. Put it in the next room, for instance.

[andyr]

One of the points of having a NAS is that it doesn't need to be anywhere near the computer. Put it in the next room, for instance.

I agree John that it would be nice'n'easy if I could do that! 

But I can't, due to:
a) the construction of my house (solid brick), and
b) WAF issues.

And as for "One of the points of having a NAS is that it doesn't need to be anywhere near the computer" ... certainly, that is certainly true when one uses a NAS as the central storage device for a house-full of PCs.  But as I am not going to do this (this NAS is simply for ripped LP files) and because of the issues mentioned above, the NAS needs to be next to the PC ... and the PC needs to be with the rest of my stereo gear.

Actually, I may not need a NAS?  Essentially, all I want is 2 x 1TB disk drives in a RAID 1 (mirrored) situation for backup reasons.

Regards,

Andy

[H2K]

How about this one:

http://www.buffalotech.com/products/network-storage/linkstation/linkstation-mini

[richidoo]

HA! I didn't know it had a fan. Thanks.

With the Dlink 323 sitting on the desk right next to me during setup, all I could hear was disk activity while it formatted. Once disk was done, it was silent from only ~3 feet away. I never noticed any fan noise from it, and I am hyper sensitive to that kind of noise because I own a ReadyNAS NV - now that's a really LOUD FAN! I'm sure you will find the 323 to be quiet enough to place in the audio system. You could return it to NewEgg if you don't like it.
Good luck

[andyr]

HA! I didn't know it had a fan. Thanks.

With the Dlink 323 sitting on the desk right next to me during setup, all I could hear was disk activity while it formatted. Once disk was done, it was silent from only ~3 feet away. I never noticed any fan noise from it, and I am hyper sensitive to that kind of noise because I own a ReadyNAS NV - now that's a really LOUD FAN! I'm sure you will find the 323 to be quiet enough to place in the audio system. You could return it to NewEgg if you don't like it.
Good luck

Thanks, richidoo - nothing like real live experience to get the right picture!  I'll be sitting about 8' away - so there shouldn't be any problem! 

Regards,

Andy

[JohnR]

Actually, I may not need a NAS?  Essentially, all I want is 2 x 1TB disk drives in a RAID 1 (mirrored) situation for backup reasons.

You could look at the WD Studio Edition II. I have the 1 TB version and so far it's fine. Haven't actually tried to see what happens if I kill one of the drives... but for backup I'm not entirely sure that you need RAID - ? Anyway I use it with firewire, but I think it has a USB interface as well. I think there might be a cheaper USB-only version.

[JoshK]

Just an FYI.  If you leave your backup running all the time, not having fans will dramatically increase the likelihood of a HD failure.  Heat is one of the top reasons for failures iirc.

While fanless might be good for one aspect it might undermine another.

[JEaton]

Do a google search for "raid is not a backup" and you'll (hopefully) come to the conclusion that you don't need or even want RAID.

What you really should be looking at is two external drives in enclosures.  One for your library and one for a backup.  Keep the library drive attached.  Backup occasionally and put the backup drive some place safe.  There are many enclosures that are fanless, most of them close-fitting metal cases that are able to radiate heat.  The 5400 RPM Western Digital green drives don't get very warm at all, so will be safe.

[andyr]

Do a google search for "raid is not a backup" and you'll (hopefully) come to the conclusion that you don't need or even want RAID.

What you really should be looking at is two external drives in enclosures.  One for your library and one for a backup.  Keep the library drive attached.  Backup occasionally and put the backup drive some place safe.  There are many enclosures that are fanless, most of them close-fitting metal cases that are able to radiate heat.  The 5400 RPM Western Digital green drives don't get very warm at all, so will be safe.

Ah, thanks JE.

I was thinking of those WD "Green" drives but I thought they had to fit inside an enclosure ... are you saying they are enclosed so they can just sit on the desktop, next to the PC?   

So how would I connect the individual disks to the PC - USB connection?  If so, is this fast enough?

And yes, as long as I backup every week, say (assuming I'm ripping LPs to disk quite often), I will have a redundant store of ripped LPs. 

Thanks,

Andy

[JEaton]

I was thinking of those WD "Green" drives but I thought they had to fit inside an enclosure ... are you saying they are enclosed so they can just sit on the desktop, next to the PC?

If you buy bare drives, they'll need to be placed in enclosures.

So how would I connect the individual disks to the PC - USB connection?  If so, is this fast enough?

Yes, USB.  If your computer had eSATA (external SATA) ports (I don't think the Dell Mini 9 does) you could use those, which would be faster for file transfers, but USB is more than fast enough for music playback.

And yes, as long as I backup every week, say (assuming I'm ripping LPs to disk quite often), I will have a redundant store of ripped LPs.

Exactly.  Backup as often as you feel comfortable.  Just keep in mind that if the library drive crashes you'll lose everything you did since your last backup.

[andyr]

If you buy bare drives, they'll need to be placed in enclosures.

OK, so I should be able to buy the WD 'Green' drives with enclosures?  I'll research this.

Exactly.  Backup as often as you feel comfortable.  Just keep in mind that if the library drive crashes you'll lose everything you did since your last backup.

Yes, understood.

Thanks, JE.

Regards,

Andy

[JEaton]

OK, so I should be able to buy the WD 'Green' drives with enclosures?  I'll research this.

I have no idea.  If you can find out whether the drives are 5400 or 7200 RPM, that would tell you.  The 5400 RPM drives are the 'green' ones.  If fan noise is a concern then you should also make sure they're fanless.  A more certain route (although probably a few bucks more expensive) is to buy the bare OEM drive, then find a high quality enclosure that you know is fanless.

For example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817106097