NAS/Torrent downloader box - recommendations?

randal

randal

randal

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As I've made the move from a desktop to a laptop, I rarely use the HTPC for anything these days other than Fallout 3 so I'm toying with changing the way I download and store my data.

Currently I've got a Seagate Freeagent Pro 500gb for backups, which has been brilliant but is a bit of a faff now I'm on a laptop as it's rigged up to the HTPC. Plus it's nearly at capacity...

So I'm considering a 1TB NAS to take care of backups and storage, that way the other half can back up her laptop over wireless to a share on the NAS. If it was just storage then it's be a pretty clear choice of something like WD MyBook NAS but as I want to move my downloading onto this box too it makes it a little trickier.

I see Buffalo have just released a new range of Linkstations that go up to 1.5tb and support BT downloads, plus they've got their enthusiast range which run Linux so putting something like rtorrent on there wouldn't be too taxing.

Any other recommendations? I remember Thecus used to be Linux based, if a little pricey - other takers?
 
You could buy a nice cheap computer, or use an old computer and install FreeNAS.

FreeNAS takes very little RAM (~40MB in my experience) and has all the services you require :)

Runs on pretty much anything quite well. It has Transmission BT client pre-installed (you'll just need to check the "enable" button. It's an excellent web-based BT client). It can also run SABnzbd+ if you ever use Usenet.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17992172

http://www.freenas.org/

You can always check out OpenFiler as well. Not tried it myself, but it looks quite good: http://www.openfiler.com/
 
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Hmm, not a bad idea.

I was leaning towards the all in one box like the Buffalo for simplicity and ease of use (Mrs friendly!) but I'll have a look into those. Cheers. :)
 
It's pretty easy to use, and most of it's simply checking a box and the OS sets the rest of the service up (e.g. Transmission - BT).

It might require some time to get it set up and working how you want it, but it'll be worth it if you like the software.

It all runs on a nice web-browser interface as well so it can be configured easily over the network.
 
Digging this one up again as I might have another use for a potential NAS box...

I'd like a NAS that's small, appliance/peripheral type size that runs Linux. Kinda like the Kuro Box, or the earlier Linkstations. I need it to be able to run as a torrent downloader and a web proxy.

Anyone had any experience with the Kuro boxes, or alternative embedded linux NASs?
 
Going to be mini itx and very small box for me I think, once exams conclude. I think that's probably the most sensible option
 
Aye.
There's the Intel D945GCLF2. Gigabit ethernet, dual core atom, two sata one pata port. Retails around 70. I'd be looking at using a pata to sata adapter to let me connect four sata hard drives, these are difficult to find information on.
In the near future there will be one by point of view Ion + Atom based one (what names). This will be rather better at multimedia, but critically has four sata ports and a pci-e x16 onboard.

Couple of others out there, I'm basically looking for atom 330, gigabit ethernet and four sata ports. Don't much care about anything beyond that. I'll run an OS off a usb stick (internal, using a motherboard header in order to free up a sata port), almost certainly ubuntu server or debian. Ram will be whatever is cheapest at the time, power supply will probably be one of the pico psu ones, external power brick. Might end up going with a normal one instead, but would make the box lots bigger.

Mini itx cases that hold four hard drives and no power supply don't really exist, so good odds I'll make one. Be an interesting project for a couple of weeks, design stage is getting there now.
 
Nice, just found those boards for not much bucks and the rest of the components needed are nice and cheap too. It's not massively more than the £170~ for the Buffalo Live device once you tot it all up.

Like you say though, the big stumbling point is the case. I'd probably only be using one drive, but if it's going to be in my front room I want it to look fairly presentable - which leaves the choice of cases rather pricey. Making one though... or better yet integrating it into something in the lounge. Hmm.
 
One drive simplifies things considerably. A mini itx board with one drive takes up very little space (172x172x50ish for the board, 146 +/- 0.6 by 101.6 +/- 0.4 by 25.4 +/- 0.4 for the hard drive)
So could fit it into almost anything

I'm going for manufacture because I change home fairly often, so building things into furniture is something I'd regret. Plus I've been itching to have a go at milling for a while now
 
territt said:
drobo and drobo share?
Click to expand...

Awesome performing and looking bits of kit, but serious wedge. The Buffalo box does is for £170~, just spec'd up a built NAS Atom powered solution for £210 with a nice aluminium enclosure and the Drobo is at least twice that. If money grew on trees though... :)

JonJ678 said:
One drive simplifies things considerably. A mini itx board with one drive takes up very little space (172x172x50ish for the board, 146 +/- 0.6 by 101.6 +/- 0.4 by 25.4 +/- 0.4 for the hard drive)
So could fit it into almost anything

I'm going for manufacture because I change home fairly often, so building things into furniture is something I'd regret. Plus I've been itching to have a go at milling for a while now
Click to expand...

Thinking about it the only thing I could build into would be the TV stand, which would send her indoors into a near critical/meltdown state... hmmm. Shell an old DVD/VHS player and use that... much safer :D
 
Aye, getting a broken DVD player and fitting it inside that would work rather well. It occurs that a NAS/torrent box doesn't have to be by the tv, you could put it anywhere. Would it fit inside your normal computer case for example?
 
I've got an Antec Fusion for the PC downstairs, it probably would fit but would be pretty snug. It just about copes with the heat from an e8400 and a GTS512 so sticking another board in there might be a little too much.

I'm really liking the idea of using one of those Atom boards and a linux distro now, just need to find a way to make it compact and quiet like the Buffalo NAS appliance...
 
I have thought about getting a Shuttle KPC K45 Barebone System putting 2 sata drives in it and using freenas, would this work as a download box and a server?
 
why i want to build one is...

its getting more expensive to leave your pc on 24hrs a day (electricity) so you buy a NAS or build one, they done use as much electricity to run 24hr and also they can be used for streaming your films, saves on disks (not that i condone downloading films)
 
Exactly that Woody, the price per kw justifies the expenditure in my mind! Typically a PC is going to be around 200w idle, that Buffalo is something like 17w, trying to get the specs on that Atom board etc.

The other big things for me are backups and noise. I want to run a Time Machine esque syncer for Vista (and Time Machine in OSX86) over wireless on me lappy, and as the box is going to be living in the Lounge close to the network router it has to be as quiet as possible.
 
Its basically a low wattage computer. Doesn't need mental speeds, as all it does is sit and run utorrent / samba / firewall all day. Firewall is dependent on finding one with two lan ports though, which is proving tricky. I might do some more research into this, starting to think matx is the way forwards. Especially as I have a matx board spare.

Entire plan may be shot down as it looks like I get electricity paid for next year. Foolish university, my computer must burn through 400W or so continuously.

Couple of calculations. 10p an hour is about right for a kW/hr (this is about 4 years out of date, been a while since I worked with electicals). 0.4 W x 0.1 kW/hr x 24hr x 365 days = 350 quid.
400W is pretty light, it's only got an 8800gt in it at present. To my amusement that's £7 a week. Assuming I earn some money this summer I reckon I can take 24/7 power draw up to 800W comfortably (going back to two boxes). That's 13 50 a week in electricity just by my computer. The accomodation with bills paid is 20 quid more than the one I have to pay bills for, and much nicer. I think I'm laughing :)


Wattage draw is going to be more than 17W when in use, hard drives use 10-15W ish each when spinning. The atom dual core is 8W, the chipset about 20W. Pico psu is almost 100% efficient, the block it fixes to is unknown. Say 85% is fair, as it's difficult to make a really crap transformer these days. Should be comfortably under 50, so it's less than a lightbulb. Which gives a sobering thought, those very pretty 50W halogen lighbulbs the missus wants 10 of around the edge of the kitchen will burn though 150 quid a year if used 8 hours a day. Also means my house should stop using our cooker for central heating. 90 pw + bills has never looked scarier
 
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