Can I do this?

I know nothing about networking. Just enough to get my wifi and utorrent working!

I'm sure this is possible but I don't know the proper set up/equipment I need. I usually use an external dual bay hdd enclosure, raid 1/esata to connect to my laptop to watch or listen to stuff (all my music/movies stay on there). This has worked fine but I want to make it more useful to me. First, I would like to change this over to a NAS, so that I can access the storage with out having to plug it in to my laptop. Secondly I would like to be able to access it from the web. The way I have the internet set up here is just cable to cable modem to router. 1 desktop is connected to the router via ethernet, all other devices connect wirelessly. I want to be able to hook up a nas, restric access to all or some of the drive by other network users, and be able to access it via ftp or https if I want to download or watch something streaming over the internet. Do NAS solutions allow for all this? What products do yall recommend? Something reliable to run 24/7/365, can manage 2TB drives, and is silent/small. What are the pros/cons of getting a NAS as opposed to building a cheapo home media server?

Also, the router/cable modem aren't in my room. Can those be disconnected and moved to any cable jack in the house, or are those specific to the jack it was originally installed on? I have comcast cable/phone/internet package.

 

Yes you can with a true NAS. I would suggest that you go to Real Help For Your Small Network - SmallNetBuilder and do some reading. They also have a chart showing performance.

I'm doing what you want plus 1 step further. I have VPN into my home network when I'm away from home. This gives me access to all of my NAS's (3) not just 1 like a FTP(S) connection would be going through a router.

You can move cable router around but you have to watch how many connections are between you and main connection. Most will start having problem if >4.

 

Yes a NAS can do all of those.

Pros of NAS over a media server:
-Power consumption by a long mile
-Less heat
-Cheaper
-Easier to use
-Smaller
-Less managing needed

Go with a entry level NAS like the D-Link 323.

Do you have a static IP?

 

Both helpful responses, thank you! Setting up a VPN might be something I look to in the future, but for I think I would like to start small and simple. Also, I don't have a static IP. Does that pose a problem? Would I still be using DHCP in the router setup or would this require me setting up static IP's for all the computers that are on the network?

Also, I wanted to buy a diskless system and purchase the hard drives of my choice. I was considering the Synology DS209. Any thoughts? I think while I'm at it I would like to get a new router as well.

 

Interestingly enough, I am also looking to get myself my first NAS; (mostly for just doing backups) and i've been researching for the past couple days myself for a budget-friendly one with around ~2TB. I've come across this one by Iomega; reviews look great for the most part but i'm still searching.

Anywho, the Q flip asked about you having a static IP I think, was more so directed at the 'Public' side of your network. If you don't have a public static IP provided by your ISP you should be able to use DynDNS service to map your 'dynamic public IP address' to a domain name. So when you are outside your network and want to remote into your local network you should be able to just use the domain name you set up in DynDNS to connect.

The way DynDNS works (or how i've used it in the past when I didn't have a static IP) is by installing a tiny app (service) on the host computer in question that you want to access remotely. Then while outside your network you can log into DynDNS' web site and find out what public IP address your network is currently using at the time and log in via Remote Desktop for example using that IP or using the domain name you configured the service as.

But from my short research of SOHO NAS's I believe most NAS these days have their own Remote Access application software/services etc.

Hope that helps in some way. Be sure to let us know what NAS you end up getting.

 

If you get a new router, choose one that can do both VPN and DynDNS. Then you don't have to tinker with port forwarding or stuff like that, just connect to home router and things work like you were at home. Just slower

A heavyweight NAS solution would be something like HP ex495 or x510 series. They aren't that much more expensive if you count in the price of already included discs*, but you'll gain much more processing power, transfer speed and other features. *cheaper than buying empty 4-slot NAS

 

There are several free methods to do what you are after.

There are a few dynamic dns host routing services available like Makaveli72 mentioned, several are free (I use dyndns and no-ip.info). These systems work well and are great as many routers even have built in support. This means less people can mess with it, which is important in an office environment.

The problem with these is that when your IP changes, it may not update right away (usually less than 10 minutes), but also it means messing with your routers configuration to forward any ports you need use. This isn't extremely difficult provided you know the port, but this leaves holes in your firewall. Another hassle is that testing requires you to be elsewhere, while any changes need you there. Another issue is connecting to various systems on that network can mean lots of complex port forwarding. With this setup, you can do almost anything, so long as you have the knowhow or the time to look it up and fiddle. These are good for FTP by the way.


Another alternative is VPN software such as Hamachi and Whippien. These create a private network as if you were directly attached. These are handy as they require no port forwarding, these are really simple to use but unless you have a server to handle your files, needs to be installed on each system. This is still easier than setting up port forwarding, and lets you see who's system is turned at the time and is easier to test. With this you can do file sharing and remote desktops and more. It's just like you are connected by wire to them. These are simply awesome programs, really.


Still another alternative is things like Gotomypc and such, however most of these want a monthly fee. A nice, free alternative (for personal use) is Teamviewer. This one takes care of the routing issues like the software VPN's and includes file transfer and remote desktop in one. The downside is that each system you need to connect to, is merely a number, so you may need a cheat sheet (It does maintain a list of recently used numbers so if you only have one or two, it's not bad, the premium allows naming). The good side of these is that they are super simple, the bad sides depend on the service you use. Also, some functions like drive sharing is not possible, though there is file transfer between them, anytime you need a file you have to fire up the program.

There are of course VPN routers, some of which can handle NAS, FTP, dynamic IPS, and even torrents. These can cost quite a bit, but some routers can use aftermarket firmware such as DD-WRT which can make your cheapie into and expensive router for free. Mind you, much of this is beyond the capabilities of most people, but if you read and follow directions it can be done by anyone, you do risk making a doorstop out of your router though. Also, the drive transfer rates are USB rates, something to bear in mind.


Personally, I use a combination of all of them. I like having the option to do what I need at any time. Teamviewer allows me to help relatives and clients as they can install it themselves, read off some numbers and I am in. Hamachi lets me share my files on all of my systems regardless of where I am, and the dynamic dns/VPN router allows me to use a web browser to connect to my server instead of firing up a remote desktop program (for those times I'm not at one of my own computers).




As for the NAS...
Some NAS act as a mini computer, see the D-Link ones, some are merely file shares. The biggest benefit to a NAS is easy setup, and low power consumption, often 20-30 watts for a single drive setup. You pay for it up front though. I recommend buying one with more features than you need, preferably one that can or does run Linux, what you need today, it would stink if in 3 months you realize had you gotten that one feature you hmm'd and hawed over, but passed on, would make life much easier now or is even required now. The good news is their resale value is decent

Some routers can be setup to work as a cheap NAS as well, as mentioned they run at USB speeds for transfers. Depending on the drive, these can operate at half the wattage of a NAS and are usually cheaper (resale value sucks on routers).

If you have a spare computer, this could be your best bet. It's cheap, and can do what you want with it. Need more drives, no problem. Need more computing power, no problem. Want to use a remote desktop, there you go. The downside is they use more power. I have one running at about 70 watts under load, but I chose some components carefully so it was more efficient and added an extra sata card and fans for drive cooling. While resale value sucks, buy in can be as low as free).

Old laptops make excellent nas boxes. New enough have a single sata, plus gigabit and wireless N. The limitation here is drives, but if you use a expressport sata card and you have more sata connections. I was using an older Sony this was way and was running at 30 watts (turn off anything unnecessary). They even contain a handy battery backup. Another neat future is if you need a spare laptop, you have it, or you can remove and sell the screen, wireless card (if un-needed), keyboard, touchpad cd-rom... Basically you can gut it and use external screens and input devices then remove that stuff when done. Another nice thing is their size, they can fit anywhere. Like the computer buy in cost and resale values vary. Theoretically, you could buy one, gut it and sell off the parts, and come away with it for nothing.



My current setup, I bought a used HP Intel 855 based small form factor workstation for $100 about a year ago. It has 3 drive bays (2x3.5, 1x5.25), gigabit, PCI-E, and decent cooling. I added an extra half height pci-e sata card which has dual 6 foot sata cables running up to my desk. One connects to a dvd drive, the other hooks to a drive dock and usb media reader. All drives are shared to my network and VPN. It consumes an average of 50 watts with my single 1tb drive and 40gig OS drive, it was running at 70 when I had 2.5tb in it (3.5in drives use quite a bit of power). I could get it down to about 30 watts with a little work (remove the OS drive) and swapping in some spare parts I have (change the 1tb for a 500gig laptop drive).

Total investment for me was about $130, though not all at once, and not counting what I had laying around. This system handles all of my files, media, uploads, downloads, backups, streaming cameras, torrents, dvd burning, you name it, it does it. My desktop has no dvd drive or media reader, I simply pull them through the network. My goal was to remove as much load from my desktop as possible and get access to anything from any internet connected computer. I can even print to my home printer while on the road if need be.