HTPC vs Nas storage?

lixxus

lixxus

lixxus

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I have a question, i need some help

Atm i have a nas storage(freenas) with 2TB storage, includes my music,films,documents.

I also have a mini itx ion system, but no hard drive installed, just CF card with xmbc installed that fetches the files from the server.

Is this overkill ?

Do people usually store files on the HTPC itself ?

Which solution is the best?
 
Storing files on the HTPC starts to get unrealistic at some point, more so if you're aiming for a cool and quiet system. You can't keep adding drives to them really. Storage elsewhere is the way to go.
 
thanks guys.

I thought it was the right way. As you explained upgrading storage and cards etc is not practically for all in one solution.
 
Sounds like you're doing it right to me :).

I'm very close to taking the plunge and getting it all done at home soon. Current plan is a Mac Mini (2.66GHz C2D) in the lounge with an SSD in and a Blu-ray burner (yes, opening up a Mac!). It'll be ripping stuff to and then playing them from a NAS, which'll probably be a Drobo FS.
 
Another thing im confused on is what type of system to use.

Atm i got a zotac itx ion system running xmbc for streaming,

the nas atm is running a bog standard n230 atom, should I opt for a micro atx with a core 2 duo for the nas.

will i see a performance gain from transferring files/streaming content.

I am trying to keep the running costs down, obviously a n230 only runs between 3-10watts , which is very low compared to a c2d at 65watts.
 
Eclectic said:
I keep toying wityh the idea of NAS sotrage. Is there I should particularly look out for?
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Not really its pretty basic. just make sure you get a case that will allow you to install a lot of hard drives for potential future upgrades.

Other than that its really what operating system your comfortable using,

ie windows server, openfiler(linux), freenas(bsd)

some have advantages over others such as freenas which i use at the moment has a media server, torrent downloader.
 
Well, Im pretty clued up on Linux, and havent used bsd since I was running IRCd's. Which was 10 years ago atleast. So Ithink it would be an excuse to tinker with BSD. Cheers for the info.

Any cheap cases ideal for the job?

Edit:

Never mind. The coolermaster Elite looks like its fit for the job.
 
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Eclectic said:
Well, Im pretty clued up on Linux, and havent used bsd since I was running IRCd's. Which was 10 years ago atleast. So Ithink it would be an excuse to tinker with BSD. Cheers for the info.
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend you also look at unRAID as the OS. It works a little different to how other systems work but brings a lot of benefits and is perfectly suited to mass home storage of films/music etc.
 
At the moment just using a NAS and the inbuilt streaming feature of the TV.

But want to get a WDTV so I get a better choice of formats to play.
 
I dont know why people want to re-create the wheel

there are plenty of off the shelf NAS's, so no real need to build your own - there are now plenty of different units in different price ranges but for me it will always be QNAP , they are just so easy to setup/use - even if they are slightly more expensive and imo always likely to be more reliable than any htpc option (and less pricey)
 
FrankJH said:
I dont know why people want to re-create the wheel

there are plenty of off the shelf NAS's, so no real need to build your own
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Because building your own is cheaper, and you end up with a far more powerful and flexible system? Also surely any self respecting geek should find pleasure in making something themselves rather than buying it off the shelf.
 
ive got a synology DS1010+ and its not exactly lacking in features ;)

the revo bolted to the back of the TV then picks up streaming from a mapped network drive.
 
Messiah Khan said:
Because building your own is cheaper, and you end up with a far more powerful and flexible system? Also surely any self respecting geek should find pleasure in making something themselves rather than buying it off the shelf.
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a proper pc I would agree with the above entirely, a NAS is something else entirely - its more a relatively stupid box which does one thing very well

Rarely if ever is building your own cheaper (unless you already have some parts, which isnt really a fair comparison) - whether its a pc, a car or a house :)

Not really sure how "power" or "flexible" comes into it - a nas is there just to serve up files to a remote unit - its the remote unit(s) if anything that needs flexibility and power - as long as the network is fast enough to handle the files necessary
 
a custom nas, allows you to update the OS, when new development/release is made.

With a custom nas/htpc. i get to choose the components

A nas just isn't a box serving files, a lot now do much more than that, and performance is essential in transferring files over a network. you failing to realise as well that some file systems are not supported by proprietary system such as zfs.

A proprietary system you have limited option in firmware/os development. I dont feel to keep buying a new qnap/synology every time a new feature comes out.
 
sandman06 said:
a custom nas, allows you to update the OS, when new development/release is made.

With a custom nas/htpc. i get to choose the components

A nas just isn't a box serving files, a lot now do much more than that, and performance is essential in transferring files over a network. you failing to realise as well that some file systems are not supported by proprietary system such as zfs.

A proprietary system you have limited option in firmware/os development. I dont feel to keep buying a new qnap/synology every time a new feature comes out.
Click to expand...

well to be fair I would suggest that you are looking at something more like a nettop with huge amounts of storage rather than a nas

a NAS IS there just to supply files to a n other device - yes a certain spec is required for hd media, but I would still say any reasonablely recent hard disc attached to a well configured gigabit network and its all much of a muchness

in regards to handling different file formats - again I would say its the remote device thats "playing" the file thats more essential rather than the nas

If you spec the right device/pair of devices to start with - you dont have to buy a new device every time so its a bit of a moot point imo

Personally always thought that if you need to manage an O/S constantly (or f/w updates) then its either not a mature product - so you are risking future dev either way - then the box isnt doing what its meant to

NAS should be "configure and forget" :)
 
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