Freenas or alternative?

Zirax · 05-09-2010, 17:20

Lo all, I'm looking at implementing a server/nas solution on my home network and after some advice. I have previously used a standard windows install and used raid 1 for redundancy. I now need to upgrade components so I thought I would take the opportunity to do it properly. I have a backup solution in place, so no issues there.

The file server will be fairly low duty with its main duty being streaming media. I may add a print server on there as well. Ideally I am looking at software raid 5 with expandable storage. To do this I would need to use Suns filesystem (whose name escapes me).

I have looked at FreeNas, but my understanding is that it is a bit of a git to expand due to the core being stripped so much. Amahi has also turned up as an install ontop of a full Linux installation and appears to get good reviews.

One other consideration is say I have a raid 5 install of 4*500gb array. With expandable storage can you rip out a 500gb and replace (and use) say a 1tb disc?

So in summary I guess I am after a server install:-

Raid (5) software
Expandable storage (allowing chopping/changing of hdds).
Print server
Act as a media server
Fairly intuitive. I don't mind some command line actions, but I don't want to spend hours on the command line fighting obscure syntax. (I'm looking at you HP-UX *spits*).
Power management. W.O.L and drive management.

I was originally thinking about WHS but that doesn't support raid and redundancy is supplied by duplication (rubbish basically).

05-09-2010, 17:20	#1
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Freenas or alternative? Lo all, I'm looking at implementing a server/nas solution on my home network and after some advice. I have previously used a standard windows install and used raid 1 for redundancy. I now need to upgrade components so I thought I would take the opportunity to do it properly. I have a backup solution in place, so no issues there. The file server will be fairly low duty with its main duty being streaming media. I may add a print server on there as well. Ideally I am looking at software raid 5 with expandable storage. To do this I would need to use Suns filesystem (whose name escapes me). I have looked at FreeNas, but my understanding is that it is a bit of a git to expand due to the core being stripped so much. Amahi has also turned up as an install ontop of a full Linux installation and appears to get good reviews. One other consideration is say I have a raid 5 install of 4500gb array. With expandable storage can you rip out a 500gb and replace (and use) say a 1tb disc? So in summary I guess I am after a server install:- Raid (5) software Expandable storage (allowing chopping/changing of hdds). Print server Act as a media server Fairly intuitive. I don't mind some command line actions, but I don't want to spend hours* on the command line fighting obscure syntax. (I'm looking at you HP-UX spits). Power management. W.O.L and drive management. I was originally thinking about WHS but that doesn't support raid and redundancy is supplied by duplication (rubbish basically).