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Overtime, one thing is for certain the amount of files you have is going to increase. Images, Music (MP3), Video and Documents... I assume most households have been plagued with where do you store them and a few other challenges too: How do you share files between computers/people at home? How do you backup your important files? How do you access files with your media programs like iTunes? How do you sync files between your "server" and you laptops? How do you deal with network bandwidth issues of streaming music and video? I considered a few options for a centralized server, like a Network Drive or a Home Server. Keep reading to find out more and the solution I chose...
Options | Pros | Cons
| Linux server
| - No cost for server software
- Fairly low overheads, so could convert an old PC/Laptop into the server
- Can run other software - eg Web server or software including a shared photo library/media server
| - We only have laptops at home... so no permanent server candidate - so cost of extra hardware
- Some effort to setup
- Would probably have to add additional hardware (disk space) into machine which would be costly
| Windows Media Server
| - Seems to have some pretty cool functionality
| - Need some powerful hardware
- Microsoft Centric
- Extra expense for Microsoft software
- Sick of Windows reboots
- Need to purchase additional security, anti-virus software - usual Microsoft hang-ups
| File sharing off a home Laptop
| - cheap - if you can use an
| - if you need to move your laptop around then you loose your file server - and other folk cannot access the shared content
| | Stand alone Network Storage | - cheaper than PC / Linux file server or Game Box
- Many shared storage servers have inbuilt media server
- Mac/PC/Linux compatabilty
- small amount of space needed
- usally includes backup software
| - does not not do much else besides serve files
| Game box - something like XBox, PS3, WII
| - get a cool game server and media server for the price of one
| - More expensive than a basic file server or network drive
- Couplng two things is never good.. ie if you want to move or replace the game server then you loose your media server.
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Due to the fact i wanted to connect a Windows Laptop, Mac Powerbook G4 and a Linux Laptop to the server I whittled the options down to the Linux server and the stand-alone Network Storage device. At the end of the day I chose the network storage device as it was fairly cheap, a few hundred bucks. I chose a Lacie as it had great support for Win/Mac/Linux and included free backup software. You can also easily extend the storage by adding a another USB external/portable hard drive. I planned to use the additional USB drive as the backup drive to the core server. One of the other things I had to decide was where ot put it on the network. I ended putting it downstairs in my home office. Other folk can access it via the wireless network. I often connect my Mac to it which has iTunes configured to store all my music files on the network drive. iTunes then syncs these files upstairs to my Apple TV, so in general I am not shipping large media files over the network...only when I am syncing. Theoretically I could stream the files directly from the Lacie "media server" to a compatible device. I have not tried this yet but will give it a go to stream it to one of the Airport expresses around the house. There were quite a few other options like the Buffalo Linkstation and other brands like Maxtor, Western Digital. Be careful as some of the older cheaper models do not support Mac & Linux - so choose carefully. It's been several weeks now and I am pretty happy with my decision. |
