NAS or DAS with Windows 8.1, surface 2 & phone...?

By TrickyDickie
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TrickyDickie

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I want something, but I am not sure it is possible because I can't find anything on the web about how to set this up as I want.

 

What I want is to set up either a NAS or DAS, move all of my media to it (just over one terabyte of it), and be able to use it from the PC (Windows 8.1), my Surface 2 and possibly my phone (Windows Phone 8).

 

I have my own router and wireless, and would like to be able to use the wireless for the phone & Surface to play stuff without having to have the PC turned on as well.

 

Could someone please tell me what I am looking at to achieve this (if it can be done!)...?

 

I am asking here because as I said, I can find bits and pieces, but cannot make much sense of it (I built my PC, by the way, so I'm not a complete noob!)

 

Thanks

 

Richard

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articuno1au

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If you have a Nokia WP device, install Plex on your MicroServer and phone. Best way to get it across.

 

I built my own server, there's no downside to the MicroServers. Doubly so given they are mainly ESXi supported.

 

Yarp.

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TrickyDickie

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Yup. A NAS is great to have. I'd recommend an HP MicroServer running UnRAID :)

 

I've been looking at this and think I'll go with a HP ProLiant G7 N54L MicroServer.

What hard drives are you using? I was thinking of going with WD red or black (I can't remember which off hand - the 'server-grade' things).

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enroh

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I'd suggest a NAS and pick one that has the features you need. I have a 4-bay QNAP and does great serving everything. Synology are tremendous as well. I cannot comment on the HP as I have never used one.

 

Forgot to mention - get the Reds if you aren't using enterprise-grade NAS drives.

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riahc3

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Hello,

I've been looking at this and think I'll go with a HP ProLiant G7 N54L MicroServer.

What hard drives are you using? I was thinking of going with WD red or black (I can't remember which off hand - the 'server-grade' things).

WD Red are the recommended line for NAS.

I would go with the HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8.

Check a review here: https://www.neowin.net/news/review-hp-proliant-microserver-gen8

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FiB3R

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Yep, the 54 is still an awesome little machine. They were being sold with. ?100 cashback for quite a while, but that ship has sailed. Really wish I had bought 2 now :/

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riahc3

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Hello,

That's a tad too pricey for me lol

 

Is the previous generation still any good (the G7 N54L)...?

dl5n.png

Notice that you will pay 179 upfront. The cashback comes later (and maybe even forces you to only use it on their store)

And yes, the previous generation is also good :) Im just saying that since a new gen came out, you might want to go with that.

The only difference I see here is that one includes (pre gen) a 250 GB HDD. But you would remove it anyways to put your new HDDs right (Im thinking you are going to put 4 HDDs)

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Roger H. Veteran

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I have a N40L and works great for my needs.

I put a small SSD in the optical drive bay (prolly gonna swap that out for a 4 x 2.5" caddy (Y)) and have 4 drives in the 3.5" bays. I have 3 x 2TB and 1 x 3TB. Gonna replace all the 2TBs with 3TB ones and be done but i think that'll be enough for now.

I should prolly post them but always forget about that :p

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TrickyDickie

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Ok. Thanks for all of your advice!

What OSs are the rest of you using?

Someone said unRaid, which looks pretty good, and I read in comments on one of the sites that people have had trouble with Windows on them (Difficult to set up?!)

Remember it must work with the Surface too.

l was originally thinking of Windows 8, storage spaces and home group, but get the impression that this would be unnecessary. Am I right?

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FiB3R

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I put 5 HDDs and 1 SSD in my 54. Requires a modded BIOS, but that was pretty easy to install. Currently running Win 8 and FlexRAID.

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TPreston

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You need the files stored/attached to a windows operating system (client/server with desktop experience)

 

Otherwise you wont be able to take advantage of indexing (essential for large collections) and the built in applications wont add your media.

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TrickyDickie

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Another question...I think I'll give unRaid a go (free trial?!), but if I went with Windows, would the standard version (non-pro) do the job?

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AStaUK

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Not used it myself, but what about loading XPEnology (XPEnology.com) on to the microserver?  Allows you to run Synology's DSM and features which gives you access to their media server and other features.  That setup should allow you to stream video/music to the PC/Surface2, not sure about the Windows Phone but I'd have thought there is a way to get that working as well.

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TrickyDickie

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Hello,

dl5n.png

Notice that you will pay 179 upfront. The cashback comes later (and maybe even forces you to only use it on their store)

And yes, the previous generation is also good :) Im just saying that since a new gen came out, you might want to go with that.

The only difference I see here is that one includes (pre gen) a 250 GB HDD. But you would remove it anyways to put your new HDDs right (Im thinking you are going to put 4 HDDs)

 

 

This 2nd link goes to another site where it is ?300+ lol

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+BudMan MVC

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Also a HP microserver user here, N40L -- the little box just rocks it!! Sounds like your just going to run the NAS OS native, that works.. I run esxi on mine, and then just run my fileserver/nas just via a windows 7 OS on a vm. I also run my router as vm, and my linux box as vm. And then lots of play boxes when I need them, etc.

My NAS has raw access to 3 disks in the box (2TB, 3TB and older 750GB), I just use the comes with 250GB for my datastore.

Now I have made some upgrades to mine with more ram and nics (4 ports vs the native 1).. Future plans prob include more ram go from 8 to 16 and prob go SSD for datastore which will free up slot the 250GB is in for more file server space.

For me the only file storage I need is via cifs/smb - so windows 7 fits the bill fine.. Have plenty of licenses for it ;) I run drivepool from stablebits on it -- this allow me to present all the disks as just one big disk for storage, etc..

Lots of things you do with those little boxes - they very power friendly, quiet, etc. etc.. Love Mine!!! Good Solution in the home for lots of things..

I have played with many a NAS OS on it even, I have no idea what issues windows users might have with unraid? Its just simple shares via samba.. So not sure the problem there, etc.

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TrickyDickie

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Also a HP microserver user here, N40L -- the little box just rocks it!! Sounds like your kjust going to run the NAS OS native, that works.. I run esxi on mine, and then just run my fileserver/nas just via a windows 7 OS on a vm. I also run my router as vm, and my linux box as vm. And then lots of play boxes when I need them, etc.

My NAS has raw access to 3 disks in the box (2TB, 3TB and older 750GB), I just use the comes with 250GB for my datastore.

Now I have made some upgrades to mine with more ram and nics (4 ports vs the native 1).. Future plans prob include more ram go from 8 to 16 and prob go SSD for datastore which will free up slot the 250GB is in for more file server space.

For me the only file storage I need is via cifs/smb - so windows 7 fits the bill fine.. Have plenty of licenses for it ;) I run drivepool from stablebits on it -- this allow me to present all the disks as just one big disk for storage, etc..

Lots of things you do with those little boxes - they very power friendly, quiet, etc. etc.. Love Mine!!! Good Solution in the home for lots of things..

I have played with many a NAS OS on it even, I have no idea what issues windows users might have with unraid? Its just simple shares via samba.. So not sure the problem there, etc.

 

Your setup looks very interesting - Perhaps I may be doing more than just sharing files after all!

I am interested to know how this virtualization works here - You just load all the VMS and keep them running?

Also, a search for esxi took me to the VMware cSphere site - is this correct?

Wouldn't Hyper-V on windows 8 do the same? I ask because my original plan was to use Windows 8 and remote desktop in to administrate (Actually got that working with the pc lol). But then someone mentioned unRaid so I thought I'd give that a go too.

Running VMS from it sounds fun too.

Sorry for this barrage of questions, but this just intrigued me. Your fault, obviously lol

 

Do you know of any particular place I can get more info? At the moment, I am just randomly Google-ing (?!?!)

 

Edit to remove a silly question...!

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