How should I best set up my microserver

[Fantom]

Hi,

Im looking for some help/advice on how to set up a microserver Im contemplating buying.

Firstly my current situation is I have a VIA A2000 box which runs as my nas box containing 2x 2tb WD green drives set up in the most simple way running windows 7 sharing out the data. it also uses an external 2tb usb drive so a total of 6tb at the moment. At present the data is approx as follows: Films 2tb, Music 1tb, TV Episodes 2tb and documents/photos 1tb.

Im wanting to upgrade to a HP N54L so I can get all my drives in one unit and still have a bit of space to expansion.

My Films/Music/Tv Episodes aren't that important so Im thinking I can have these stored on a stripe of some sort to boost performance, however my documents and photos I need to keep safe - I just wanted to open up a discussion on how this can be achieved?

Thanks in advance, James

 

[Fantom]

Ok, not a lot of uptake.

Can I set up the hardware raid on the n54l to use 2x2tb and 1x3tb drives as a raid 0 stripe while keeping a 2tb non raided drive in the 4th slot which I can use as a backup drive for storing a copy of any important data?

 

[Fantom]

There is a massive thread in the server section on the Microserver.

You don't need RAID 0 as a modern HD will max out a gigabit connection so it will be waste and puts added strain on a already weak CPU, plus you would lose 1TB from the 3TB drive.

What OS are you gonna run?

If I use hardware raid id lose a 1tb but if I use windows storage spaces to make a pool Ill get to keep all the capacity and im thinking performance wouldnt be too bad.

Im thinking windows 8 or server 2012, any idea which would be best?

 

[Fantom]

I'm not 100% sure on compatibility of W8 in terms of drivers so you might be better of asking in the dedicated thread as i run Windows Home Server 2011 with Stablebit Drivepool.

I will, however how do you find drivepool as that is something I had considered, the license is definitely cheap, how do you find transfer speeds?