[gentoo-user] homemade nas setup

[Harry Putnam <reader@newsguy.com>]

I've been looking into setting up or getting somekind of nas
storage/backup capability lately so thought I'd ask about it here
since I'm sure some of you will be using something or will have built
your own.

After looking at a few on google .. I'm a little surprised at the high
end pricetags and even the midranges for a factory made setup.

Makes me wonder what if anything I'd be missing, functionality wise,
if I were to build it up myself.

I see these storebought things are mostly running a small embedded
linux os.

The lowend stuff like WD `mybook 1tb world Edition II' advertises
gigabit throughput but I see many reviews that report way less in
practice.  In fact it started to look like that particular one is way
below its advertised capability.  I ran across many complaints about
dreadfully low write speads.  Also apparently has some sorry thing
called Mionet for (secure) remote access.

I'm thinking of doing something like a semi-minimal regular (not
embedded) install on a P4 I have with asus P4C800 mobo and some 2 gigs
ram.  Maybe add an extra sata controller (the mobo has one) so I can
put up to 6 or so sata disks on it along with one small IDE disk for
the OS (just to head of any problems related to installing on sata)

Maybe start with 2 500 sata disks and build up as I need it.  Or more
likely `if I need it'... I kind of doubt I'd need more than 4 anytime
soon so maybe wait on the controller part too.

I guess I'd connect to it mostly thru samba/cifs for windows XP
machines that have lots of biggish graphics and video type stuff to
backup/store.  And nfs for my main gentoo desktop.

I wondered what the downsides are compared to a medium range
storebought rig?

A few I can think of are space and noise.. but having never been
around our run a nas setup... I'm not sure if that is really true.

Anyway, a few thoughts on what I might be running into doing it myself,
or missing compared to storebought.  Maybe maintenance
considerations.. or whatever, would be welcome.