OK, I'm new to streaming... I've got a media player and would like to put the media storage on the network in one way or another.
Now, considerations are:-
1) Cost - cheaper the better
2) Backups would be nice, but not uber important
3) Reliability - I don't want stuttering etc
4) Green - I don't want devices sitting there unused just eating power 99% of the time.
5) Must be quiet. If the device ends up in the lounge it must be silent.
Current hardware:-
1) I have a Shuttle SN45G (IDE only) which is in effect a server. I have it on a lot of the time, and it feeds the music to my squeeze box.
2) I have a standard ethernet network, and 200mbps homeplugs to a 4 point ethernet router in my lounge, where the main media player is.
3) I have a 500GB WD passport drive lying around.
So my options would appear to be:-
1) Put a second 500GB drive in my Shuttle, and use it to stream from. I could back up this drive to the WD passport drive as/when I like.
2) Put a USB raid 1 box into the Shuttle to store media onto. eg: 2x1tb drives. As long as I could share the USB device over the network (I assume I could) then it could also turn off when the Shuttle is turned off, saving power.
3) Put a NAS drive somewhere on the network. eg: At the Shuttle end (before the homeplugs), or at the lounge end (after the homeplugs) next to the media player. But noise might be an issue if it's in the lounge?
It's entirely possible I might add other media players around the house in the future.
Any suggestions/recommendations?
Now, considerations are:-
1) Cost - cheaper the better
2) Backups would be nice, but not uber important
3) Reliability - I don't want stuttering etc
4) Green - I don't want devices sitting there unused just eating power 99% of the time.
5) Must be quiet. If the device ends up in the lounge it must be silent.
Current hardware:-
1) I have a Shuttle SN45G (IDE only) which is in effect a server. I have it on a lot of the time, and it feeds the music to my squeeze box.
2) I have a standard ethernet network, and 200mbps homeplugs to a 4 point ethernet router in my lounge, where the main media player is.
3) I have a 500GB WD passport drive lying around.
So my options would appear to be:-
1) Put a second 500GB drive in my Shuttle, and use it to stream from. I could back up this drive to the WD passport drive as/when I like.
2) Put a USB raid 1 box into the Shuttle to store media onto. eg: 2x1tb drives. As long as I could share the USB device over the network (I assume I could) then it could also turn off when the Shuttle is turned off, saving power.
3) Put a NAS drive somewhere on the network. eg: At the Shuttle end (before the homeplugs), or at the lounge end (after the homeplugs) next to the media player. But noise might be an issue if it's in the lounge?
It's entirely possible I might add other media players around the house in the future.
Any suggestions/recommendations?