What else to do with HP Microserver ?

[Tim..]

Ok so I have mine acting as a glorified NAS box, handing out files and
making backups, acting as a POP server and keeping email safe. Occasionally
I'll stream some video or mp3's.

Thinking i may hook it to a motion detecting IP cam for survelliance..

What are others doing with theirs?

Tim.

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Wed, 5 Sep 2012 14:35:37 +0100, "Tim.." <flex...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

Just NAS for files and TM for me. Not even streaming, as I don't have
any streaming clients.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
Seminars, n.: From "semi" and "arse", hence, any half-arsed discussion.

[Mike Tomlinson]

En el art�culo <p9pe48hbs65ucc8bj...@4ax.com>, Jaimie
Vandenbergh <jai...@sometimes.sessile.org> escribi�:

>Just NAS for files and TM for me.

+1. Used for backup ATM.

It's sitting next to the telly, where it looks quite at home. Sometime,
when I get a round tuit, I might turn it into a media centre to play the
movies and music stored on it on the adjacent tv.

--
(\_/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Wed, 5 Sep 2012 19:19:43 +0100, Mike Tomlinson <mi...@jasper.org.uk>
wrote:

>En el art�culo <p9pe48hbs65ucc8bj...@4ax.com>, Jaimie
>Vandenbergh <jai...@sometimes.sessile.org> escribi�:
>
>>Just NAS for files and TM for me.

(Didn't notice which group I was in - "TM" is Time Machine, the Apple
backup service)

>+1. Used for backup ATM.
>
>It's sitting next to the telly, where it looks quite at home. Sometime,
>when I get a round tuit, I might turn it into a media centre to play the
>movies and music stored on it on the adjacent tv.

That's the thing - I've already got an under-the-telly machine that
handles email, local DNS, DHCP and whatnot - as well as telly stuff. I
don't want a big box'o'disks in that room though.

If I didn't have the media centre box, the NAS would be doing all
those things.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
"Usenet is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea -
massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining,
and a source of mind-boggling amounts of excrement when you
least expect it." -- Gene Spafford

[Mark]

On Wed, 5 Sep 2012 14:35:37 +0100, "Tim.." <flex...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

Right now I am using it to store my dust collection.
--
(\__/) M.
(='.'=) If a man stands in a forest and no woman is around
(")_(") is he still wrong?

[Simon Finnigan]

I'm tempted by the IP camera idea.

I've got mine running tversity, Synctoy for backing up other servers. I
also use Livemesh to share files with other people, windows backup on my
laptop to the server, and that's about it.

I'm also looking for other ideas.

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On 6 Sep 2012 08:28:53 GMT, Simon Finnigan <simonf...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

Crashplan, using the free "backup to a friend" functionality?

Cheers - Jaimie
--
The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

[Simon Finnigan]

I'll be googling that tomorrow, after I finish eating out for free on a
mystery shop :-)

Thanks.

[Adrian C]

On 05/09/2012 14:35, Tim.. wrote:
> Ok so I have mine acting as a glorified NAS box, handing out files and
> making backups, acting as a POP server and keeping email safe.
> Occasionally I'll stream some video or mp3's.
>

SSH, DNSmasq, Shorewall, Logitech Media Server, Apache, PHP, MySql,
Wordpress, OpenVPN server, vsFTPd, Smart, RSync backup of NAS, Samba,
NFS, Subversion, PXE image server for booting thin clients, Dovecot IMAP
server for email archived in folders. A lot of little things in a very
basic (net) install of Debian, no usage of a GUI to maintain any of it
(a rule which has though me much CLI stuff).

One hard disk, the original 1GB of memory. It's not on all the time, got
WoL sorted for that, and when it's up I can VPN to it from my ancient
windows mobile phone and get away with running network services on that
which T-Mobile normally block. My own private cloud ;-)

--
Adrian C

[Lobster]

On 05/09/2012 14:35, Tim.. wrote:

Personally - nothing yet as I don't have one! but having heard great
things about these beasts (especially given the 100 GBP cashback offer
which still seems to be running) I'm thinking of going for it...

What I'm after is essentially a box for home use, that would hold all
our data and lets family members access it from any computer in the
house (currently data is held mainly on one of the networked PCs, plus a
portable HDD). That would also include music and video, for 24/7 access
by a couple of media players. Provision of off-site access might be a
bonus, and I'd like RAID for data security (RAID 1, if I understand the
terminology correctly - never used it before).

Is a microserver like this overkill for my needs? or do I just need a
NAS instead?

I reckon I could do with 1 or maybe 2 Tb storage, therefore I'd need it
to have two identical HDDs, right? Would it be difficult to set up for
someone of medium-level tech ability (eg I don't speak a word of Linux
and sorry, but really don't have the time to learn now!)

Any thoughts on this would be most welcome!

Thanks
David

[Jeff Gaines]

On 12/09/2012 in message <PwW3s.159029$De5....@fx04.am4> Lobster wrote:

>Is a microserver like this overkill for my needs? or do I just need a NAS
>instead?

An enterprise level NAS would cost rather more and perhaps not be as
flexible.

I have run Windows XP on mine, XP drivers are not available from HP but
there are links on the web for them, the Aussies seem to be particularly
good at winkling things like that out.

--
Jeff Gaines Wiltshire UK
640k ought to be enough for anyone.
(Bill Gates, 1981)

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:10:29 +0100, Lobster
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>On 05/09/2012 14:35, Tim.. wrote:
>> Ok so I have mine acting as a glorified NAS box, handing out files and
>> making backups, acting as a POP server and keeping email safe.
>> Occasionally I'll stream some video or mp3's.
>>
>> Thinking i may hook it to a motion detecting IP cam for survelliance..
>>
>> What are others doing with theirs?
>
>Personally - nothing yet as I don't have one! but having heard great
>things about these beasts (especially given the 100 GBP cashback offer
>which still seems to be running) I'm thinking of going for it...
>
>What I'm after is essentially a box for home use, that would hold all
>our data and lets family members access it from any computer in the
>house (currently data is held mainly on one of the networked PCs, plus a
>portable HDD). That would also include music and video, for 24/7 access
>by a couple of media players. Provision of off-site access might be a
>bonus, and I'd like RAID for data security (RAID 1, if I understand the
>terminology correctly - never used it before).

RAID 1 is correct - mirrored disks, both have the same data and will
continue if one dies, and will re-mirror to a blank disk when you
replace it.

>Is a microserver like this overkill for my needs? or do I just need a
>NAS instead?

I bought one because it was considerably cheaper and more useful than
a NAS - but you do need to be techie enough to set it up yourself,
which is the downside. NASes may have less available functionality,
but they're essentially plug'n'play.

>I reckon I could do with 1 or maybe 2 Tb storage, therefore I'd need it
>to have two identical HDDs, right? Would it be difficult to set up for
>someone of medium-level tech ability (eg I don't speak a word of Linux
>and sorry, but really don't have the time to learn now!)

Aha. Well, unless you want to either use Windows on the HP (where you
can't do the RAID1 without some messing about), or get your hands
dirty with one of the NAS-tailored distributions (I use FreeNAS but
it's not the simples by a long shot), I'd recommend a Netgear ReadyNAS
Duo with a pair of 1 or 2Tb disks set up as clones of each other
(you'll find you dump more stuff on it than you think, and 2Tb are
only a touch more than 1Tb disks). Don't get fast disks, as the speed
limitation will be your network or the NAS network throughput, not the
disks.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
"the first successful time machine will be used to retrieve lost
Doctor Who episode footage." - KKC, ugvm

[Mike Tomlinson]

En el art�culo <PwW3s.159029$De5....@fx04.am4>, Lobster <davidlobsterp
ot...@hotmail.com> escribi�:

>Is a microserver like this overkill for my needs?

no, it's perfect.

>I reckon I could do with 1 or maybe 2 Tb storage, therefore I'd need it
>to have two identical HDDs, right?

yes

> Would it be difficult to set up for
>someone of medium-level tech ability (eg I don't speak a word of Linux
>and sorry, but really don't have the time to learn now!)

Something like freeNAS on the uServer might suit you, but if you don't
want to put the time in to learn how to configure and maintain it, it
sounds like one of the off-the-shelf NAS solutions would suit you
better. That would do all you want out of the box.

[John Weston]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:07:41 +0100, Mike Tomlinson wrote:
>

>
> Something like freeNAS on the uServer might suit you, but if you don't
> want to put the time in to learn how to configure and maintain it, it
> sounds like one of the off-the-shelf NAS solutions would suit you
> better. That would do all you want out of the box.

I went through the same argument some time ago and decided
to use the ready-built, small and quiet Netgear for my
server. The "free" disks on offer at the time may have had
some influence in the choice... It supports hot swap of the
disks whereas the HP specifically excludes this (There's a
notice inside the box). We also have an HP microserver
running here providing off-site backup for an SME. It runs
Debian and, apart from the physical larger size and the fan
noise from the power supply, it seems to work fine.

I think the Netgear uses less power since it seems to shut
down unlike the HP which keeps that fan running, probably
just to power the bright-blue "HP" logo (...), at least :-)

--
John W

[dennis@home]

"Lobster" <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:PwW3s.159029$De5....@fx04.am4...

> On 05/09/2012 14:35, Tim.. wrote:
>> Ok so I have mine acting as a glorified NAS box, handing out files and
>> making backups, acting as a POP server and keeping email safe.
>> Occasionally I'll stream some video or mp3's.
>>
>> Thinking i may hook it to a motion detecting IP cam for survelliance..
>>
>> What are others doing with theirs?
>
> Personally - nothing yet as I don't have one! but having heard great
> things about these beasts (especially given the 100 GBP cashback offer
> which still seems to be running) I'm thinking of going for it...
>
> What I'm after is essentially a box for home use, that would hold all our
> data and lets family members access it from any computer in the house
> (currently data is held mainly on one of the networked PCs, plus a
> portable HDD). That would also include music and video, for 24/7 access
> by a couple of media players. Provision of off-site access might be a
> bonus, and I'd like RAID for data security (RAID 1, if I understand the
> terminology correctly - never used it before).
>
> Is a microserver like this overkill for my needs? or do I just need a NAS
> instead?

You may be better off buying one or two of these..
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/iomega-home-media-network-hard-drive-2tb-black-09530960-pdt.html

RAID isn't a backup solution so you would still need to backup your server
to something else even with RAID.

The Iomega device above claims to support backing up to another server or to
USB drives plugged in.
If you decide to have two then you will also want a gigE switch and some
cables.

It appears at the price pcworld are selling them they are as cheap as the
hard drives to fit the server.

[Lobster]

Thanks very much for all the feedback - on balance it looks like the
microservers probably aren't for me. I suspect the above Netgear kit,
or something like it, will fit the bill better.

Cheers
David

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:45:46 +0100, Lobster
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Thanks very much for all the feedback - on balance it looks like the
>microservers probably aren't for me. I suspect the above Netgear kit,
>or something like it, will fit the bill better.

On the other side, playing with making your own is fun!

Whatever you end up with, do take Dennis' note about backups to heart,
though. RAID is not backup, not even when it's a mirror - what happens
if your NAS enclosure dies?

(Well, for most NAS boxes you'd install Ext2 IFS on a nearby Windows
box, yank one of the drives, put it in a USB caddy and read the files.
But what if the NAS died *in a fire*? Then you'd be sorry you didn't
have another backup!)

Cheers - Jaimie
--
d> It's OK. I'm an atheist catholic.
g> So you just feel guilty for /no readily apparent reason/.
- deKay and Gareth Halfacree, ugvm

[Lobster]

On 13/09/2012 00:47, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:45:46 +0100, Lobster
> <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks very much for all the feedback - on balance it looks like the
>> microservers probably aren't for me. I suspect the above Netgear kit,
>> or something like it, will fit the bill better.
>
> On the other side, playing with making your own is fun!

Yes indeed and TBH I'm still quite tempted. I just don't have oodles of
time to spare though and I can just see me ending up with the
microserver sitting unused on a shelf for years until it becomes
obsolete! Eg, I kept my previous, working PC at home 18 months ago with
the express purpose of converting it to a Linux box, to learn it for
'fun', really; but it's never been touched since :(

> Whatever you end up with, do take Dennis' note about backups to heart,
> though. RAID is not backup, not even when it's a mirror - what happens
> if your NAS enclosure dies?

Oh for sure. Yes I do already have a NAS (Buffalo Linkstation 500Gb)
which is for backup purposes exclusively; that's staying put. One of
these days it's going to be relocated to my (detached) garage which
should take care of the house-fire calamity scenario, to which I know
I'm still vulnerable...

David

[Lobster]

On 12/09/2012 09:36, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:

> On Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:10:29 +0100, Lobster
> <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 05/09/2012 14:35, Tim.. wrote:

>>> What are others doing with theirs?
>>
>> Personally - nothing yet as I don't have one! but having heard great
>> things about these beasts (especially given the 100 GBP cashback offer
>> which still seems to be running) I'm thinking of going for it...
>>
>> What I'm after is essentially a box for home use, that would hold all
>> our data and lets family members access it from any computer in the
>> house (currently data is held mainly on one of the networked PCs, plus a
>> portable HDD). That would also include music and video, for 24/7 access
>> by a couple of media players. Provision of off-site access might be a
>> bonus, and I'd like RAID for data security (RAID 1, if I understand the
>> terminology correctly - never used it before).
>
> RAID 1 is correct - mirrored disks, both have the same data and will
> continue if one dies, and will re-mirror to a blank disk when you
> replace it.
>
>> Is a microserver like this overkill for my needs? or do I just need a
>> NAS instead?
>

>> I reckon I could do with 1 or maybe 2 Tb storage, therefore I'd need it
>> to have two identical HDDs, right? Would it be difficult to set up for
>> someone of medium-level tech ability (eg I don't speak a word of Linux
>> and sorry, but really don't have the time to learn now!)
>
> Aha. Well, unless you want to either use Windows on the HP (where you
> can't do the RAID1 without some messing about), or get your hands
> dirty with one of the NAS-tailored distributions (I use FreeNAS but
> it's not the simples by a long shot), I'd recommend a Netgear ReadyNAS
> Duo with a pair of 1 or 2Tb disks set up as clones of each other
> (you'll find you dump more stuff on it than you think, and 2Tb are
> only a touch more than 1Tb disks). Don't get fast disks, as the speed
> limitation will be your network or the NAS network throughput, not the
> disks.

Having done a bit more thinking and rooting about, I've decided the
ReadyNAS Duo is just the job for me and am going to go for it - thanks
Jamie!

So... I also need a couple of 2Tb HDDs then. Previous experience of
buying HDDs over the years suggests that at any given time there are
always particular brands to avoid like the plague!: are there any which
currently which I should give a wide berth to? Or any suggestions as to
suitable models for my application (particularly bearing in mind Jamie's
comment about not needing fast disks?)

Thanks
David

[Mike Tomlinson]

En el art�culo <H2A5s.266276$pt3....@fx25.am4>, Lobster <davidlobsterp
ot...@hotmail.com> escribi�:

> Previous experience of
>buying HDDs over the years suggests that at any given time there are
>always particular brands to avoid like the plague!: are there any which
>currently which I should give a wide berth to?

I'd suggest avoiding Samsung HD204UI 2TB - have had several failures,
Sudden failures too, no warning leaving time to try and get data off.

One warranty replacement died after a month.

Now that Samsung's hard drive business has been borged by Seagate, the
model number has changed, but the drive is exactly the same, made in the
same Chinese factory, so the warning above still applies.

I'll post back a bit later on with the Seagate STxxxx model number.

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:14:41 +0100, Lobster
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Having done a bit more thinking and rooting about, I've decided the
>ReadyNAS Duo is just the job for me and am going to go for it - thanks
>Jamie!

Thumb up!

>So... I also need a couple of 2Tb HDDs then. Previous experience of
>buying HDDs over the years suggests that at any given time there are
>always particular brands to avoid like the plague!: are there any which
>currently which I should give a wide berth to? Or any suggestions as to
>suitable models for my application (particularly bearing in mind Jamie's
>comment about not needing fast disks?)

Get two disks of different brands - they'll have different failure
curves. Since you'll have mirrored disks, the more different the
better! I've had good luck with Samsung and WD over the last couple of
years, but that's devices from before the Thai floods so who knows.

And preferably buy your disks over the counter, not by post. Up to
arriving at the shop/warehouse they'll be in a container or a pallette
load and not subject to much shock; if they put them in the post to
you, they'll get knocked about massively.

Actually, you might want to get three disks: one to put in an external
USB caddy to act as the backup device for the NAS. The Duo can
automatically back itself up on a schedule, btw. The external disk
doesn't need to be 2Tb until you've got that much data to backup, so
if you've got an old 500gig/1Tb lying around then use that.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
If you can't beat your computer at chess, try kickboxing

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article <k7DKqvAx...@jasper.org.uk>, Mike Tomlinson
<mi...@jasper.org.uk> writes

>I'll post back a bit later on with the Seagate STxxxx model number.

Seagate ST2000DL004 HDD p/n HD204UI

"Spinpoint Barracuda Green"

badged both Seagate and Samsung.

"Product of CHINA"

[Daniel James]

In article <H2A5s.266276$pt3....@fx25.am4>, Lobster wrote:
> Having done a bit more thinking and rooting about, I've decided the

> ReadyNAS Duo ...

They're nice units.

Be aware that there are currently two models of the Duo on sale ... the
v1 is based on a custom processor/SATA controller chip based on the
SPARC architecture, while the v2 is based on ARM. They're roughly the
same price, but the v1 (being the older model) tends to be discounted
more heavily.

There's also a Duo Pro which is x86 (Atom) based, and costs quite a lot
more still.

The ARM version is faster than the SPARC, but the SPARC version has
more mature and more complete firmware. You should compare the features
offered by the two models and choose the one that does what you need.

I haven't seen the Duo Pro, but I assume it's just a 2-bay version of
the older 4-bay and 6-bay pro units, which are mature and versatile and
fast and expensive.

I have the SPARC unit, and there was some reason (which I don't recall)
why the v2 would NOT have done what I wanted at the time.

> So... I also need a couple of 2Tb HDDs then. Previous experience of
> buying HDDs over the years suggests that at any given time there are
> always particular brands to avoid like the plague!

It's seldom that bad! There are always some drives that are a bit less
reliable than others on the market at the time, but one generally
doesn't learn which they are until six months down the line (when the
offending drives are usually old models that one can no longer get, so
there's not a lot of point in avoiding them).

There are fewer makers to avoid now that Seagate and Samsung are the
same, and Hitachi and WD are the same.

You can get the ReadyNAS units disk-free, or with one or two drives
fitted, and sometimes with one drive fitted and another "free" disk as
a promotion (either supplied with the NAS or sent on receipt of proof
of purchase). It may be cheaper to get the drives with the unit (which
limits your choice) -- especially if you get the "free" offer.

Note that in any case Netgear may refuse to support a NAS that is
fitted with drives that aren't on their compatibility list (which is
available on their website).

My unit was supplied with a Seagate ST32000542AS, and the freebie was a
Seagate ST2000DL003 -- both Chinese, both 2GB 5900rpm drives, both on
the compatibility list -- which seem to work OK together so far (touch
dead tree).

Cheers,
Daniel.

[dennis@home]

"Lobster" <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:H2A5s.266276$pt3....@fx25.am4...

> Having done a bit more thinking and rooting about, I've decided the
> ReadyNAS Duo is just the job for me and am going to go for it - thanks
> Jamie!

Have you looked at http://www.nas-central.org/wiki/Main_Page

It tells you which ones are easy to hack new software onto.
You may as well run your mail server and other 24x7x365 stuff on there.

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article <k36udg$se9$1...@news.albasani.net>, dennis@home
<den...@killspam.kicks-ass.net> writes

>You may as well run your mail server and other 24x7x365 stuff on there.

Didn't read the thread did you? OP wants a plug in and go solution.

[dennis@home]

"Mike Tomlinson" <mi...@jasper.org.uk> wrote in message
news:4bQWBeBc$vVQ...@jasper.org.uk...

> In article <k36udg$se9$1...@news.albasani.net>, dennis@home
> <den...@killspam.kicks-ass.net> writes
>
>>You may as well run your mail server and other 24x7x365 stuff on there.
>
> Didn't read the thread did you? OP wants a plug in and go solution.

It is plug and go but you can add stuff later, if you choose the right one.

[Rob Morley]

He's already decided not to get a low power general purpose server,
because he doesn't want the extra features/complexity.

[Lobster]

On 17/09/2012 11:02, Daniel James wrote:
> In article <H2A5s.266276$pt3....@fx25.am4>, Lobster wrote:
>> Having done a bit more thinking and rooting about, I've decided
>> the ReadyNAS Duo ...
>

> Be aware that there are currently two models of the Duo on sale ...
> the v1 is based on a custom processor/SATA controller chip based on
> the SPARC architecture, while the v2 is based on ARM. They're roughly
> the same price, but the v1 (being the older model) tends to be
> discounted more heavily.

> The ARM version is faster than the SPARC, but the SPARC version has
> more mature and more complete firmware. You should compare the
> features offered by the two models and choose the one that does what
> you need.

> I have the SPARC unit, and there was some reason (which I don't
> recall) why the v2 would NOT have done what I wanted at the time.

Yes I was aware there were v1 and v2 both currently on sale; I must
admit I'd just rather assumed "v2 is newer and therefore (surely!) is
better" but evidently it's a bit more complicated than that. I'm
struggling to find a decent side-by-side comparison of the two though
(eg http://tinyurl.com/92dkk9s is about it), and what it all means. I
found one forum user saying that you can't use v2 Duos as a print server
via USB, which seems a pity as that *might* be something I'd use; others
say the v2 is so much faster in use that it's a no-brainer. v2 has USB
3, which isn't a deal-breaker for me, and can use bigger drives.

As well as PCs, I want the NAS to act as a server for iTunes, Logitech
Squeezebox, and a WD media player - anyone know if v2 or v1 is better or
worse suited to any of these?

> You can get the ReadyNAS units disk-free, or with one or two drives
> fitted, and sometimes with one drive fitted and another "free" disk
> as a promotion (either supplied with the NAS or sent on receipt of
> proof of purchase). It may be cheaper to get the drives with the unit
> (which limits your choice) -- especially if you get the "free"
> offer.

There doesn't seem to be much available with prefitted drives. What
there is mostly seems to have 1Tb drives (and I've found the Netgear
free drive offer, which seems to be only for 1Tb drives, and not clear
if it's still running) - but anyway, really I want a 2x2Tb system I think.

What's puzzling me is that AFAICS the systems prefitted with drives are
massively *more* expensive eg the bare Duo is around the 80-100 GBP
mark, a 2Tb HDD is around 80 GBP - so why does a Duo fitted with a 1Tb
drive come in at 300 GBP? (eg http://tinyurl.com/8j4z6kq or
http://tinyurl.com/9z68jfq) - am I missing something here?.

I found the free drive offer at http://tinyurl.com/95b7rfr; however (if
it's still running) it only seems to be for a 1Tb drive unfortunately.

(I should probably buy the bare system and fit my own drives anyway,
shouldn't I, in order to justify the most welcome help from this
newsgroup :) !)

Thanks
David

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:59:51 +0100, Lobster
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>As well as PCs, I want the NAS to act as a server for iTunes, Logitech
>Squeezebox, and a WD media player - anyone know if v2 or v1 is better or
>worse suited to any of these?

I had a v1-equivalent sparc-based ReadyNAS NV+, which is the 4 disk
version. It wasn't terribly quick at transferring (so I'd greatly
recommend the later versions if possible), but did have all those
plugins.

Go check out the plugins at the Netgear website to make sure that the
V2 has the ones you want.

http://www.readynas.com/?cat=36
is the Resources/Addons list, check also in the header for
Resources/Addons(Community)

Cheers - Jaimie
--
"Everyone generalizes from one example. At least, I do." -- Steven Brust

[Daniel James]

In article <v4%5s.202317$kg5....@fx03.am4>, Lobster wrote:
> I'm struggling to find a decent side-by-side comparison of the two ...

There *used* to be one on the Netgear site, but it doesn't seem to be
there now. I think the v1 Duo is no longer made -- though there are
still some in the retail channels -- so perhaps they no longer see any
point in describing it? Indeed, I can't seem to find a detailed spec of
the v1 units on Netgear's site any more.

The current spec for the v2 unit does include some things (NFS support,
for example) that I'm fairly sure weren't in the original v2 release ...
so it's possible that the v2 firmware is more "finished" now, and that
the differences are fewer.

> I found one forum user saying that you can't use v2 Duos as a print

> server via USB, which seems a pity ...

Yes, that may be the case. You can certainly use the v1 as a print
server (though I never have, as my printers are ethernet connected
anyway).

> ... others say the v2 is so much faster in use that it's a no-brainer.

It's faster, yes. I don't know whether the speed difference is
necessarily so persuasive.

> v2 has USB 3, which isn't a deal-breaker for me, and can use bigger
> drives.

The ability to use bigger drives will become more important as big
drives become cheaper and more widespread.

The v2 unit is certainly a different beast. I haven't used one, so I
can't say how much better it is in those areas in which it is better.

> As well as PCs, I want the NAS to act as a server for iTunes, Logitech
> Squeezebox, and a WD media player - anyone know if v2 or v1 is better
> or worse suited to any of these?

Check the specs ... the v1 has a squeeze server of some sort (which I've
never used) but I'm not sure about iTunes (which I detest) and I don't
know what a WD media player is(?)

If the software runs on a PC and uses the NAS simply for storage they
should both be OK. If you want to serve media straight from the NAS
there has to be software to do it and there may be quite a bit of
difference between what the 2 versions support as they're quite
different inside.

> What's puzzling me is that AFAICS the systems prefitted with drives
> are massively *more* expensive eg the bare Duo is around the 80-100
> GBP mark, a 2Tb HDD is around 80 GBP - so why does a Duo fitted with
> a 1Tb drive come in at 300 GBP? (eg http://tinyurl.com/8j4z6kq or
> http://tinyurl.com/9z68jfq) - am I missing something here?.

You're right ... it was the other way around not long ago. I suspect
this reflects the fact that Netgear bought the drives that they're
fitting into these units when drive prices were higher than they are
now.

If it is now cheaper to buy the drives separately then do so! Do check
the compatibility lists first, if you want to get support, though.

Cheers,
Daniel.

[Lobster]

On 19/09/2012 18:29, Daniel James wrote:
> In article <v4%5s.202317$kg5....@fx03.am4>, Lobster wrote:
>> I'm struggling to find a decent side-by-side comparison of the two ...
>
> There *used* to be one on the Netgear site, but it doesn't seem to be
> there now. I think the v1 Duo is no longer made -- though there are
> still some in the retail channels -- so perhaps they no longer see any
> point in describing it? Indeed, I can't seem to find a detailed spec of
> the v1 units on Netgear's site any more.

>> As well as PCs, I want the NAS to act as a server for iTunes, Logitech
>> Squeezebox, and a WD media player - anyone know if v2 or v1 is better
>> or worse suited to any of these?
>
> Check the specs ... the v1 has a squeeze server of some sort (which I've
> never used) but I'm not sure about iTunes (which I detest) and I don't
> know what a WD media player is(?)

Well I've found that Logitech do a Squeezebox server for the v2
(http://www.mysqueezebox.com/download) which is good enough to me -
reckon that's settled the decision for me!

I'm entirely with you on iTunes but sadly notwithstanding my role as
Family IT Support I'm wildly outvoted on that score, so iTunes is a must
unfortunately...

> If the software runs on a PC and uses the NAS simply for storage they
> should both be OK. If you want to serve media straight from the NAS
> there has to be software to do it and there may be quite a bit of
> difference between what the 2 versions support as they're quite
> different inside.

Makes sense - so bloody iTunes should work anyway... is that good or bad? :)

(FWIW - WD media player: <http://tinyurl.com/9pectvd> - connects to our
TV/'home cinema' setup, so should work fine)

>> What's puzzling me is that AFAICS the systems prefitted with drives
>> are massively *more* expensive eg the bare Duo is around the 80-100
>> GBP mark, a 2Tb HDD is around 80 GBP - so why does a Duo fitted with
>> a 1Tb drive come in at 300 GBP? (eg http://tinyurl.com/8j4z6kq or
>> http://tinyurl.com/9z68jfq) - am I missing something here?.
>
> You're right ... it was the other way around not long ago. I suspect
> this reflects the fact that Netgear bought the drives that they're
> fitting into these units when drive prices were higher than they are
> now.
>
> If it is now cheaper to buy the drives separately then do so! Do check
> the compatibility lists first, if you want to get support, though.

Will do - glad to know I'm not missing a trick over the costings!

Thanks so much to you and others for all the help - am greatly reassured
and am now going shopping!

David

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

On Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:20:17 +0100, Lobster
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I'm entirely with you on iTunes but sadly notwithstanding my role as
>Family IT Support I'm wildly outvoted on that score, so iTunes is a must
>unfortunately...

iTunes sharing is shit anyway, you can't make playlists or load tracks
onto iPods etc from shared stuff, so it's really little use.

For iTunes' use, I just put all the mp3's (etc) in a /Sounds/ folder
on the NAS, and (after unticking "Copy to iTunes folder") people can
drag them into a local iTunes, so they keep a local DB and can both
play and sync the music from the NAS onto other devices. Everyone's
happy.

Almost anything that would use iTunes sharing can speak DLNA or
Squeeze anyway.

Chers - Jaimie
--
"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future"
- Niels Bohr