RAID for ReadyNAS

[Shredder]

Hey. I am about to buy a ReadyNAS and am having trouble figuring out how much memory I need (the Netgear customer service line is horrible). I will be using it to store a large (2500 cds) and ever expanding music collection.

Anyway, for say 1tb of data, how much total memory do I need to allow the RAID to secure the data? As I understand it, when one drive dies, it transfers the data on the dead drive to another backup drive. Thus, I assume that to secure 1tb of data, I need 2tb of storeage space, 1 for the data and 1 to backup. Is that correct or am I missing something? Be kind as I am not too tech savy.

One more thing, I have heard these can be loud. Is it just loud when transferring data as in burning a cd or is it also loud when streaming music (as when using the SB)?

Thanks for the help.

[funkstar]

Multi drive NAS boxes can be loud. This isn't limited to when data is being saved to them or read from them, it's all the time. You have the noice from between 1 and 4 (in the case of the ReadyNAS) drives spinning as well as the cooling fans.

Storing 2500 albums in FLAC should take up about 800GB max. So you will need at least 1TB of usable space to allow for future expansion.

I could go into the details of RAID here, but it would be a very long post. Have a look at the downloadable guide linked in this forum thread: http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardware/112684-raid-guide-beginners.html (Hexus is another forum i'm an active member)

But basically, to get 1TB os usable space you can do it several ways.

RAID-0: You can have 4x 250GB drives appear as one. This doesn't give you any protection if a drive dies though

RAID-1: 2x 1TB drives. Doth drives hold exactly the same data so if one fails, the data can be read from the other. This is really in efficient though.

RAID-5: 4x 500GB drives would give you 1.5GB of usable drive space. The data is written to three of the disks and the fourth is filled with redundancy data. If one drive dies, when it is replaced the NAS will work out what data is missing using the redundancy data. The array can still be used in this degraded state, but if another drive fails before the first drive is replaced and the array is re-built, you will loose everything.


Have you looked at the Thecus N5200Pro as a NAS? it is similar to the ReadyNAS but is much faster and can hold 5 drives as opposed to 4, amking it more flexible.

Slimserver isn't provided for it by Thecus, but there is a module created by this comunity that is easily installed and is actually more up to date than the Infrant/Netgear one. Because of the vastly quicker processor in the N5200Pro, SlimServer runs *waaaaay* better too.

Hopw this helps :)

[Shredder]

Funkstar. Very helpful. Thanks.

I will look at the Thecus.

Is the Thecus any quieter? Is there a quiet option (my computer is in the same room as my good stereo)?

[funkstar]

I have no idea which is quieter, i don't own either (will be getting a N5200Pro at some point though)

How do you plan to connect everything together?

The NAS doesn't need to be anywhere near your computer or your SB3, just as long as it connects to a network over ethernet, it can be anywhere in your house.

[Shredder]

Not sure what you mean by "connect everything together." I am still researching the details. Right now, I intend to hook the NAS to a Mac and stream the music with a wireless router.

I knew you could put the NAS in a different room from the computer, but am not sure how that is done. If I wanted to just put it in a closet, what would I need other than power? A phone connection? I don't know.

[funkstar]

No, you don't connect the NAS to the PC/Mac (well, you can, but the defeats the purpose).

Use the router as the central point, everything connects to that. The NAS will need to connect with ethernet cable, also known as Cat5 or Cat6 (either will do). The SqueezeBox(s) can connect with cable or over wireless, same with the Mac/PC

Does this make sense?

I would do you a little diagram, but i'm on a public access PC at the moment and don't ahve any drawing tools :)

[jeffmeh]

You may want to take a look at http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?NetworkDesign

[Shredder]

Jeffmeh. Great chart. Makes tons of sense. Thanks.

For best sound quality, it sounds like I want a wire connection b/w PC (where I rip the cds) and wireless to the squeezeboxor transporter? Is that correct?

[jeffmeh]

Wiring the connection between the SlimServer computer and the router eliminates extra wireless hops and makes it much less likely that you will experience wireless problems with the SB3/Transporter. It is not really a sound quality issue, rather a network reliability issue.

[funkstar]

You may want to take a look at http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?NetworkDesign
Good link! I didn't know that was there :)

[egd]

I have no idea which is quieter, i don't own either (will be getting a N5200Pro at some point though)

I my experience the 5200PRO is quieter than the NV, despite the former having 5 drives installed (same drives models installed across both NAS').