Depends ultimately what you want to do with it really.kellys_eye wrote:BG - what do you reckon to NAS devices then? or even make-shift NAS devices (ex PCs not normally up to running modern software) running (cough, choke spit) Linux?
I've had one of these before: Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ and a D-Link DNS323 and quite a few others.
My issue has always been limited flexibility and lack of ongoing support for the firmwares and limited integration with NEW technologies. For that reason alone, I'll not be buying another. Both the two mentioned below had TERRIBLE spin up times too, the ReadyNAS was the worst when it had 4 drives. It span one up after the other, presumably to prevent excessive pull on the PSU.
You CAN do a machine with a PC, but why bother when REAL server hardware is so cheap. You get ECC RAM, reliable RAID, hotswap and alerts via indicators to failed/failing drives, etc, etc, etc. You CAN do it with a desktop PC, but there are always compromises to be made, unless you just have it laying around and want to use it.
For family and a couple of mates businesses, I've set them up with REAL servers (like the HP microserver above) and I've NEVER had to go back to fix them. Not once. THAT is why I'd not use a desktop PC.
AS for linux, there are some great NAS packages out there. Really, there are. In terms of management though, I prefer my Windows setups - I can have one fully working very quickly and never need to touch it again. While I could get a linux one doing all what I want, it would be much more effort for me - which I'm not interested in doing on a box I never want to see.
Like I said, its the most boring bit of kit you'll buy, but the most useful!
BG