[SOLVED] NAS / Backup solution used by Slackware users

gargamel · 01-07-2014, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grischuna

You don't have to be sorry, I asked on this forum to get different ideas and this is the goal of my thread. Another point to consider is also the acceptance of the family to be willing to accept that during the 'learning phase' thinks can 'break' or not be accessible for a specific time. It's like in the office where the people only realize what the IT department is doing when thinks go wrong or change without proper training.

Yep, too true, unfortunately. Many people don't know (that there is) an admin, until something goes wrong. Admin is the most underrated job profile in the IT industry, IMHO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grischuna

For now I prefer a 'server' solution build on Slackware because I am familiar with it. All the NAS that I checked (QNAP, Synology, LenovoEMC (Iomega)) have some points not fitting my needs like cameras not supported, not running the same media server, etc. A workstation/server can be upgraded or parts replaced in an easier way. For backup a simple external hard drive can be used because speed is not important for this task. 'The cloud' can be used for some less personal parts of the backup but I like to have the rest at home with accepting the risk of fire, water, etc.

I recall that there were some articles in German computer magazines about different configurations of a nice little box called the Jetway PC. Apart from some issues with lacking support for display resolutions greater than 800 x 600 pixels in some Linux distributions all the reviews agreed, that this is a very capable computer, more powerful and more flexible than the typical NAS box, but still emitting no noise, and with excellent heat dissipation. You can get it with different configurations and different cases from various sources. Of course, depending on the case, you can equip the pc with fewer or more hard disks.

One of the reviews compared the Jetway PC above with a home-made pc with similar components. Result: The Jetway PC was slightly cheaper (!), and emitted less (no!) noise. According to the articles I've seen, the Jetway PC is more capable than an arbitrary ARM box like the (very nice and, of course, much cheaper!) Raspberry PI or anything you could build based on a barebone pc, e.g. from Shuttle, for a similar price.

BTW, if you need a lot of storage, you could combine something like the Jetway PC with a disk array, such as this nice device from Fantec. Of course, the Fantec isn't cooled passively, so the team wouldn't be a no-noise solution, but still not loud (depending heavily on the hard disks you insert, and on the load you create on them). Maybe you could place the Jetway in your living room next to your tv set, and the Fantec in another room, and connect it to your home network via powerline-LAN plugs.

Lots of options, it seems --- have fun!

gargamel

Grischuna · 01-07-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gargamel

I recall that there were some articles in German computer magazines about different configurations of a nice little box called the Jetway PC. Apart from some issues with lacking support for display resolutions greater than 800 x 600 pixels in some Linux distributions all the reviews agreed, that this is a very capable computer, more powerful and more flexible than the typical NAS box, but still emitting no noise, and with excellent heat dissipation. You can get it with different configurations and different cases from various sources. Of course, depending on the case, you can equip the pc with fewer or more hard disks.

One of the reviews compared the Jetway PC above with a home-made pc with similar components. Result: The Jetway PC was slightly cheaper (!), and emitted less (no!) noise. According to the articles I've seen, the Jetway PC is more capable than an arbitrary ARM box like the (very nice and, of course, much cheaper!) Raspberry PI or anything you could build based on a barebone pc, e.g. from Shuttle, for a similar price.

BTW, if you need a lot of storage, you could combine something like the Jetway PC with a disk array, such as this nice device from Fantec. Of course, the Fantec isn't cooled passively, so the team wouldn't be a no-noise solution, but still not loud (depending heavily on the hard disks you insert, and on the load you create on them). Maybe you could place the Jetway in your living room next to your tv set, and the Fantec in another room, and connect it to your home network via powerline-LAN plugs.

Very good reading. The minus points 'Linux-Community' is mentioning are not important for my project because I would not need any X window per se. Actually my server is in the basement and the new solution is going to the same place. I have wire connection from my home office to the server.

I mark this thread as resolved because I decided to build a new server with common hardware and put a couple of disk into it. Formerly my NAS was the place for my media, drive shares and the server for the web page, Squid, SQL, video surveillance, etc.and in the future the server will do all of it. Of course it will again run Slackware because this I know best. This gives me also the possibility to install Slack 14.1 and once everything ready to switch 'gracefully' so the family can agree as well ;-) As backup I will use normal external hard disk.

Thanks to all for your great feedback!