NAS died, need replacement suggestions

EndersShadow

Looks like my Netgear ReadyNas has finally bit the dust. It wont power on anymore and I replaced the PSU (which was the issue last time) and still nothing.

Looking for suggestions for a 2 or 4 bay NAS, fine with older models as I don't need a ton of storage for this.

Just looking to backup pictures, other type documents, etc.

billbillw

Do you have any older low powered PCs that are not being used? It is very easy to install something like TrueNAS, OpenMediaVault, or Unraid onto hardware and get a fully functioning NAS. I was frustrated by the unreliabilty of those simple off the shelf NAS units. I had a couple different brands and they both were slow and required reboots often. One just died on me resulting in some lost movie files.

EndersShadow

billbillw wrote: »

Do you have any older low powered PCs that are not being used? It is very easy to install something like TrueNAS, OpenMediaVault, or Unraid onto hardware and get a fully functioning NAS. I was frustrated by the unreliabilty of those simple off the shelf NAS units. I had a couple different brands and they both were slow and required reboots often. One just died on me resulting in some lost movie files.

Unfortunately not really. I think I have an old Acer laptop that I converted to a Chromebook but that’s about it.

I’ve been in need of replacement hardware for my HTPC (it took a dump on me last year), my laptop is like 10 years old and close to dying, and we don’t have anything else other than tablets or phones lol.

Any suggestions? Prefer something smallish as so I can stash it in my rack somewhere….

Working now to figure out how to recover what’s on it and out on an external drive.

Emlyn

How much storage space do you need? Sometimes a couple of redundant external drives is a better solution and the capacity, reliability, and low cost of those is impressive. Or cloud storage.

I have a large NAS system but also periodically backup my music files to a couple of external drives I stash elsewhere. I have chosen not to use cloud storage.

If you do want a NAS I have found Synology with Western Digital red drives to be very long-term reliable and quiet.

EndersShadow

Right now I don’t need a ton. I had 2 4TB mirrored and was getting close to max but not there. If I had to guess with 6 or 8 TB I’d be set for a long time (pictures are the big space sucker)

The main thing was not having to pull out drives when I needed access to the files.

I meant to have another external backup offsite but never got around to it.

billbillw

Maybe check your local FB Marketplace, or eBay for a good deal (under $200) on an older HP Microserver. Those have a strong following at Servethehome forums. I'd avoid the Gen 10 v1. It had a very low powered processor. The Gen8 is faster, and of course, the Gen10 Plus (v2) is much better.

Clipdat

I'm not sure I could recommend Synology with it's endless random read/write blips when there's seemingly no activity happening. The enclosure also isn't designed as well as it could/should be for the price, and it transmits vibration directly from the spinning disk into the chassis, which amplifies the HDD noise.

EndersShadow

I do have a raspberry Pi3 B+ I think that I could repurpose……..

billbillw

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196575957944?
This would make a nice build, already has 16GB RAM, 4 drive caddies ready to go. Your choice of OS.

Irrenhaus

Hi,

I have been using TerraMaster 2-bay with two 4TB mirrored drives since 2020 and has been going great.

https://www.terra-master.com/us/products/homesoho-nas/f2-223.html

I do have the older version F2-221

Cheers