Network Attached Storage / P33 Streaming

[OnOff]

Mate wants to put a NAS enclosure in his loft or similar for bulk storage of his data, films etc. Wants to then be able to access wireless from various different devices - pcs, macs, i-phones and also his PS3. BUT.......the PS3 struggles to read some video files so he needs to stream the "image" rather than the file.

Any thoughts? I suggested building a media server from an old pc (Linux based maybe?) but he "doesn't want a pc on all the time up there". Can't see it's any different from having a NAS enclosure on all the time myself.

 

[OnOff]

Looking at Synology NAS units now.

 

[Sidewinder]

Synology NAS is the route I am going down as soon as I can!

 

[OnOff]

Synology NAS is the route I am going down as soon as I can!

Been looking at the various ones on dabs:

http://www.dabs.com/search?q=synology

Do you have any better/cheaper source? 

Seems the Synology supports on the fly MKV conversion so the PS3 can handle it without much trouble.

 

[steptoe]

arent synology linux based anyway, no different [in principle] from running ubuntu server edition really, apart from the actual hardware etc etc etc,,,,

 

[Sidewinder]

Been looking at the various ones on dabs:

http://www.dabs.com/search?q=synology

Do you have any better/cheaper source? 

Seems the Synology supports on the fly MKV conversion so the PS3 can handle it without much trouble.

Depends which one you want!

I'm looking at the DS2413+ this is just short of £1k without disks.

To fill it to capacity with proper disks is another £1k9 ish

 

[OnOff]

Depends which one you want!

I'm looking at the DS2413+ this is just short of £1k without disks.

To fill it to capacity with proper disks is another £1k9 ish

Yes, you pays your money etc. Seems the transcoding feature is supported only on x86 cpu based models not the ARM ones. There's even a FORUM for them:

http://forum.synology.com/enu/

arent synology linux based anyway, no different [in principle] from running ubuntu server edition really, apart from the actual hardware etc etc etc,,,,

"They are running a stripped version of Linux with less kernel modules, but we can overcome this by compiling and adding modules " whatever that means!

 

[Sidewinder]

Thing is I don't want it for video streaming, I want if for bulk data storage across our wired network.

Looking for a micro server after the NAS.

I think that to learn Linux Server will be too much, so it will be Windows Server & MS Exchange which I have "done" before, and I'm hoping will help distribute some of my workload across to others (i.e. Mrs SW!)

 

[steptoe]

is there really much learning to do?

its really only a big box for putting stuff in, is it not,?

I always thought of servers as rather than have lots of shoeboxes full of paper you had a big filing cabinet,,,,,

maybe I look at some things in too simplistic a way.?  :C

 

[Sidewinder]

No mate the server would be there to control the domain log in's external access, as a firewall etc.

A Linux server would be better for a firewall admittedly.

I have no interest whatsoever in using the server for data storage.

Will use a NAS RAID for that.

The Linux learning bit, is I have never installed & set up Linux server.

I HAVE done MS server.

Also, I have no idea about Linux mail servers, I do know something about MS Exchange, and Exchange will work with our existing "production" environment.

 

[steptoe]

ah, with you now,

I just use a 'normal' ubuntu box as a 'server' ,  keep meaning to actually do it properly and use 'server edition' , but, always seems too much hassle to change something that works,

I only use mine for storage so I can access it from other PCs etc or my phone etc when not at home.

I know nothing of email ports, domains  etc or anything of that ilk.

 

[OnOff]

ah, with you now,

I just use a 'normal' ubuntu box as a 'server' ,  keep meaning to actually do it properly and use 'server edition' , but, always seems too much hassle to change something that works,

I only use mine for storage so I can access it from other PCs etc or my phone etc when not at home.

I know nothing of email ports, domains  etc or anything of that ilk.

There is the "learning curve" to consider. I'm struggling getting to grips with the basics of Linux as you know and my mates into his gadgets anyway. Early adopter of stuff who pre-orders all his Apple kit etc! Reckon he'll just shell out and be done with it.

EDIT: He's just emailed me:

"Looking at XBMCbuntu - based on a light weight version of your favourite... Ubuntu!"

Another convert then!

 

[Sidewinder]

Thing with a NAS, is they are quite easy to set up, and they just "appear" on your network, well so far anyway.

The Synology boxes can have software installed on them to run as cloud servers, so you can have your very own personal "dropbox", "UbuntuOne" etc. storage, accessible from anywhere as long as your network is up & you have an internet connection both ends.

 

[kalross]

I find it's much more cost effective to load a cheap pc with hard drives and install linux on it.   Dell Optiplex desktops on Ebay can be good

A cheap desktop off ebay loaded with a few hard drives is much more cost effect

A cheap pc off Ebay loaded with hard drives and linux is much more cost effective.  Get one with Gigabit network built in

 

[Sidewinder]

That depends on how much storage you want, & how you want the RAID to function, apps, streaming, etc. etc.

Not many PC cases will hold 12x4Tb hard drives!

 

[kalross]

Previous post...Sorry...wierd forum error did that

 

[OnOff]

 Mate's just emailed me with what he's done:

O.K. get ready for a long email.
 
The NAS has been put on hold, for the time being anyway. I’ve connected a 2TB external HDD I had to the USB on the router. Any PC/ Mac on the network can now see this. I’ve mapped it to my PC so it sees it as just another drive from start-up. Also means I can download files direct to the drive, no PC to HDD transfer. I’ll look into a NAS when the drive gets full up.
 
I installed XBMC on my PC using the router attached drive as the source for the media and it works great. The interface is unbelievable, I mean ridiculously good! All artwork, fan art, synopsis, IMDB star rating is all applied automatically. You can sort into genres, setup playlists, be alerted when a TV episode has aired, check email and loads more. Only problem now is the noise from the PC while watching movies etc.
 
So….
 
Went on a bit of a spending spree to build a HTPC. Going for a windows build to add Netflix, Hulu (with help from my VPN showing me in the USA), YouTube, Record Live TV etc. This is what I've ordered so far.
 
Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000......
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774 
ADATA Premier Pro SP900 ASP900S3-64GM-C 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
……
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211601http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211601
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211601 
GIGABYTE GA-H77N-WIFI LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard……
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...128567&Tpk=Gigabyte H77N-WIFI Motherboardhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128567&Tpk=Gigabyte%20H77N-WIFI%20Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...128567&Tpk=Gigabyte H77N-WIFI Motherboard 
Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory……
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173 
Scythe Kozuti SCKZT-1000 Cooler……
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2614http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2614
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2614 
Which will all hopefully fit in here...
 
Realan e.mini E-N3 Aluminium case……
http://www.minicase.net/product_E-N3.htmlhttp://www.minicase.net/product_E-N3.html
http://www.minicase.net/product_E-N3.html 
The build should go something like this……
http://www.minicase.net/article_216.htmlhttp://www.minicase.net/article_216.html
http://www.minicase.net/article_216.html 
So this would give me the following……
FULL 3D 1080P Ready!!
Bitstreams DOLBY TRUE-HD & DTS-HD MASTER!!
Built-in WiFi!!
Built-in Bluetooth!!
1 x HDMI output!!
2 x SATA-III ports!!
1 x Optical (S/PDIF) output!!
4 x USB 3.0 ports!!
2 x USB 2.0 ports!!
 
Might have to get another case if it doesn't all fit. Hard to check, think it should be O.K. Installing on the SSD should make windows boot up super quick with a snappy XBMC interface. Hoping to get the PS3 Bluetooth remote I’ve got but never use to control it all. Looking forward to the build, but not the windows bios settings etc. I’ll have to look for a good guide to follow. Thinking about trying out windows 8. I’ll also have to take some temperatures to see if just the CPU cooler is enough. May have to add a fan otherwise, just trying to keep it as quiet as possible.

 

[OnOff]

msl:

:slap

ROTFWL

And the funny thing is, is he's a die hard Apple fan!

 

[steptoe]

Why doesnt he run a Linux box then?

He could format it for all the other OSs to access, I dont think there is a direct apple / windoze crossover format, is there?