4 x 3TB HDD to play with - FreeNAS or Windows server 2016?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Soldato
Joined
31 May 2005
Posts
15,640
Location
Nottingham
I need a file server/backup system.

Am just not sure if to go FreeNAS or Windows Server 2016 using parity storage.

I know technically, FreeNAS is not a "file server" but for the most part, it would do what I need it to.

Multiple users/systems in the house, I want to give each use their own "home" area for storage and offload personal storage to a server to free up space on clients with the ability of somehow running a system image for each system once every week or so with minimal user intervention so if anything borks, reinstall image, job done (Saying that, I am not expecting FreeNAS or Windows Server to do that, if it did, even better).

I would generally say (excluding the automated backup part) FreeNAS would suffice but I really want to have a play with active directory stuff so now would be a good time to fix that up. The AD stuff is just a personal jolly, not a specific requirement but I would like to setup roaming profiles for users in the house.

My thoughts are, two options.

1.
FreeNAS build for now then add a seperate Windows 2016 server down the line for the AD stuff.

2.
Go for a Windows server 2016 build out the gate and let that run everything. I assume this will need a beefier system than a standalone FreeNAS build?

Would a seperate Freenas box and then a Windows server box play nice? I assume it would but generally, is it is considered "good practice" to have your storage pool and file server in the same box so to speak or does it not really matter?

If a Windows Server box is doing none of the "heavy lifting" so to speak if just using for backups commands, AD etc, is it resource hungry?

Hope this makes sense, if not, apologies :D
 
Get an Office 365 subscription for £80 per year which will give you 5x1TB storage on OneDrive. Files will be hosted properly in the cloud and you won’t have to worry about a backup.
 
As in cloud based rather than locally at home on a server which may cost you more than you think to run 24/7. A server which won’t have an off-site backup unless you look into that too.

For pure file storage I see no reason not to use an online solution.
 
Having tried to use Onedrive as you describe it is too flaky for anything other than "casual" use with over the top restrictions and niggly design flaws here and there.

As for downloading "larger" backups, it is a pain in the butt.

Cloud backup SHOULD be the answer, I agree, but right now, not quiet there for primary backup tool in my opinion.

There are other cloud providers but when you start pricing for anything over a few TB, prices being to rack up.

For enthusiasts running over the top CPU's with power hungry GPU's, do we think about "cost of ownership" when speccing a new rig?

Mentioning offsite backup, that is taken care of.
 
Unraid can run lots of docker containers that would support the automated backup solution you want. You could also virtualise a Windows server VM to play round with AD as well as a whole host more if you like to tinker with stuff.
 
Have a look at XigmaNAS - used to be NAS4Free which was forked from the original version of FreeNAS when the current owners took over. Most reviews put it well ahead of FreeNAS.
 
I use unraid and its pretty awesome, got 12tb storage available with a mix of 4tb and 2tb drives.

Dockers are great. I use it for sonar and sabnzbd
 
I’d recommend EaseUS ToDo for backup. It’s absolutely brilliant imo.

You can backup to NAS, ftp, local, and with the home version you can use OnEvent to backup to a specific USB every time it’s plugged in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom