NAS/Torrent downloader box - recommendations?

[randal]

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?

 

[randal]

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.

 

[randal]

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?

 

[randal]

What you looking at? Got any specs in mind?

 

[randal]

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.

 

[randal]

drobo and drobo share?

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...

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

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

 

[randal]

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...

 

[randal]

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.