NAS recommended data structure

[notta]

I purchased a new 4 bay QNAP TVS-472XT NAS. Currently I have 4 - 10 TB Seagate Iron Wolf Pro drives in a raid 5 configuration. I was wondering does it make sense to create separate volumes for data sections or should I just create shares? At first I was thinking allocate 2 TB for VM's, x amount for computer(s) backups, and the remainder for movies. Going all UHD now. So does it make sense to split the areas into separate drive volumes or should I just have 1 huge 27 TB volume and just share specific folders out (VM, Backup, Movies), Etc...? Part of me says just make it 1 big volume. So for example, if I allocated 1 TB for VM's and ran out of space I would have to go through the trouble stealing some back from another volume, if I even could, as opposed to just creating a folder on the large volume and being done with it. What would you recommend?

[+BudMan MVC]

The reason you might slice up space to different volumes is if your worried about billy sucking up all the space, and then sally doesn't have any..  Or depending on how the files are being accessed you want to make sure billy can not access sally's files, etc.

 

If this is space you manage, for your devices.. Why would you worry about slicing it up into specific volumes.. Pretty sure your not worried about permission things - if so you can do that with your simple shares.. So makes zero sense to split it up if you ask me.

 

Just create your different shares or for that matter just folders under the 1 share for your own sanity and organization

 

You might want to slice up the array into different volumes if you were going to use say file system X on vol1, and file system Y on vol2, etc. etc.

[notta]

Yea since it's just me I figured that was the best way to do it. I wanted to ask before I committed to one way and found out later I overlooked something. I do plan on setting up different permissions though. For example, on my Kodi box all I need is an account that can read .mkv files from my NAS to play them. No reason for that account to have access to all my backup data (pics,docs,etc..). Paranoia kicking in

 

While I've mentioned Kodi, have you ever used it? All I hear about anymore is Plex. Everything I've read about Plex has me saying to myself, why switch from Kodi. Like the interface, free, and most of all zero issues playing my content. What are your thoughts on Plex vs Kodi?

 

Thanks Bud.

 

 

[+BudMan MVC]

Im a plex user - so I would ask the same question why would I switch to kodi... If your happy with kodi and it does what you want then there is zero reason to switch.

 

Quick google found this

https://www.howtogeek.com/348829/5-reasons-kodi-users-should-just-switch-to-plex-already/