This is running on Windows Storage Server right? I think i saw similar from other brands..how much is this? The one i saw is about RM4k.......

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Updated from C-ZONE pricelist.

WD SENTINEL DX4000 4TB RM 3499
WD SENTINEL DX4000 8TB RM 4999

Ok..maybe got hdd inside.

This post has been edited by Matrix: Jan 2 2014, 05:35 PM

yes, i know the 'want' for speed in writing, lol. but seriously, it's enough for storage and I do not expect miracles from RM599 stuff. The read speed is good enough for me to stream HD without hiccups/lags, that's all that matters to me i tested rebuild for 2TB of data, takes around 16 hours.

Well the one I'm referring to is from HP. The one you are referring to is the WD Sentinel which only uses the WD enterprise class RE drives which are bloody expensive. Performance is so so only. You are better off with a Synology for the same price.

The HP Microserver does not come with an OS. You can put anything inside it. Run Unix or Windows OSes and have your 4 hardisk (more than 4 hardisk have to do a little hacking) run in different RAID modes. Some people even run Synology's DSM on these HP Microservers and find them faster than using them on Synology's own hardware.

If you can find the Microserver N36L or N40L (difference is only in the AMD processor clock) which should not be more than RM 600 or so (somebody can update on this nd their availability?)

I'm currently running 2 N36Ls. One at 8GB memory with 4 x 3TB WD Red running WHS 2011 and the other one at 16GB memory with 4 x 2TB Samsung F4E running Windows Server 2008 R2.

I stream full bluray iso across the Gigabit network with no problems. Both do not have problems hitting 100 to 120 MB/s transfer rates across the network.

Sounds like very good option...RM600 for a 4 bay NAS!!!

but where to buy?

IMO, NAS don't last long even for branded ones.

I have a Drobo 1st Gen and within 2 years, unit decided to kaput and destroyed all my data. Can't even recover them. So, I did the best thing. Wipe all drives clean and start over. Luckily, my old Buffalo NAS still have some old data so I don't have to start from scratch.

Since then, I bought a cheap PC, 2 pieces of USB 3.0 PCI-E cards (total 4 ports) and some external USB 3.0 cases. I have 4 USB 3.0 hard drive cases each with 2TB. I used 4TB for data and another 4TB for software mirroring from Windows 7.

May i ask what RAID you use for your drobo??

Drobo 1st Gen used proprietary RAID system. Because of that, u can mix and match any hard drive make, capacity or spec to gain extra storage. I guess it doesn't have any redundancy.

Need to check still available or not. HP clears their stock and price can be even lower.

Can try HP shops?

There was quite a bit of discussion on the Microserver availability in the older NAS thread.

We also discussed how if we could build our own small form factor NAS which could house 4 drives using available parts. Came to the conclusion that cost wise, we could never be competitive and build one under 1k. Perhaps now can? I haven't checked out yet.

Drobo is a new player. When Drobo first came out, they were notorious. Not cheap either and the pricing puts me off. No idea how they are now.

Famous photographer Scott Kelby had his fair share of Drobo problems. It is very unfortunate if problems start happening to someone who makes money on pics and images that's stored over the years and starts to go missing.

http://scottkelby.com/2012/im-done-with-drobo/

Well, so far I must say that big players such as Synology and QNAP have good support even with their older products.

If you don't want proprietary software / hardware, then using Windows built-in mirroring is pretty safe.

As you know, a PC takes more power and space.

Anyway, forgot to mention that with one of my Microservers, I have an eSATA 4 bay external box attached to it. I have to install a Silicon Image PCIe card into the Microserver to provide the eSATA ports as the eSATA port on the Microserver is not PM aware. Anyway, no biggie since there is space and that the eSATA 4 bay box came with the eSATA card.

And that is why I like the Microserver. I can add a 2 port Gigabit PCIe card or even a 10Gbe PCIe card if you're adventurous enough. Some people even put a HD6000 series graphics card and use it as a HTPC.

I have HP microserver N36L. You can read about my detailed review on this in my blog. Wow..can't believe my HP microserver is 3 years old already!!!

This is definitely the BEST NAS solution for me. It has gone through few Ubuntu versions. Still running great!

You can install anything on it since it is running full fledge OS. Throw it linux or windows or even something like Openfiler (storage management software like those in NAS). And you can do anything with it. Torrenting, web hosting, XBMC, DLNA server, file sharing and so on.

just sharing my experience using my 1st NAS unit for nearly 6 months now. It's a synology 213j. Using it mostly as a torrentbox n media server.
It's connected to the unifi router provided by TM via LAN. So far working flawlessly with my LG LA7400 tv via LG smart function on wifi. no issues with 3D OU files over 15gb size. I am able to play movies on my 1080p movies on my PC n TV at the same time both on wifi.
The tv is able to detect the 213j without doing any setup.

I'm not tht IT savy enough even though most reviewer mentioned synology hv one of the most user friendly software to setup. Luckily I hv a friend helped me out setting the port forwards and iron out the issues with ddns.

Tested jumping foward. So far ok, need to wait a little while but resumes nicely afterwards.

I'm using N36L as well for 3 years + 24/7... I can feel the PSU starting to give up as the PSU fan is noisy...

Running on Windows 2008 R2 and so far so good!

Wish to have this though...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16816401170

How much you bought your N36L? Within RM600?
What's the PSU size? Is it the non-standard size that's used in some shuttle chassis?

I am planning for future (if board still available) on DIY Mini-ITX 4~6 HDDs NAS with below specs:
ASROCK E35LM1 Mini-ITX [RM 190]
Bitfenix Phenom Mini-ITX [RM 279]
1x 4GB RAM [RM 120]
FSP 500W PSU [RM 150]
Total [RM 739]

If the HP N36L is RM600 and below then DIY project is not value any more, what do you all say?
In my case, I'll probably break the RM 800 barrier as I'm living in the East so postage fees is another issue to be considered.
But I do think the above performance will beat the HP N36L, but lack the ease of installing HDD and the size of the chassis will probably turn off some.

Old kakis come out already.

Wah, you want to manage server remotely? Tried to find on ebay yet?

Nice find, especially on the casing. Budget is pretty close. I believe you only get to use 4 x hardisk as there are only 4 SATA3 ports on the motherboard. With the Microserver, if you include the bundled OS drive and shift it in the DVDROM area, you can fit 5 drives in total.

The interesting thing about the HP is its already a built-in PnP solution. That is IF you can still find them. If you cannot find it, your proposed build sounds like a good solution.

I tried to do a quick comparison between the N36L and the Zacate E-240 processor;

http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/215/AMD_A...ries_E-240.html

The N36L has more CPU cores (2 vs 1) and hence can execute more threads at once. At the same time, it consumes less power .

The Zacate has a higher base frequency and already comes with Radeon HD 6310 GPU. Useful for HTPC but not a must for NAS.

I bought it around the first batch of microserver so RM900 incl. keyboard/dvd-rom/mouse, It's using the non-standard PSU size and it's costly!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-150W-Microserve...=item20dd34d7de

I will DIY if my PSU mati...

for the next question, it really depends on what you are looking for... I'm looking for something more towards power effecientcy which Microserver helps alot! for torrent/file server it's more than enough...

I wanted to get the card, but come to think of it, I don't know when the server will die since it has been running for 3 years +...

the addon is good to manage the server remotely since my box is not connect to any LCD/Keyboard. It is hard to troubleshoot if I couldn't reach the microserver on OS level.

Gen8 microserver built in HP iLO which has been management than this card. Still thinking about upgrading the box

This post has been edited by thankyou: Jan 3 2014, 03:21 PM

I have actually built a similar rig recently with a similar casing for my relative's HTPC...seriously, i won't like to build this rig....may look syiok, but once the cabling is in, you will have nightmare trying to fit all those cables with 4 hard disks....even a Single HDD already very hard to managed.. PSU cables will suck a lot of space (unless you get those can plug out cables one)....I boh lat build this kinda rig...just let C-ZONE assemble for me....old man liao...

I think i saw these kinds PSU in LYP before...maybe you wanna check it out. Alternatively, get a normal PSU and just put it outside...better ventilation...but FUGLY....

that's what I'm planning, put the PSU outside... not that ppl going to look at the server... as long as it serves the purpose

If you can snag a half working Microserver with good PSU, then probably worthwhile. Eh, I thought I remember you took the optional Carepack?

Since I have 2, I use a KVM switch to utilise a spare LCD screen that I have.

Yes ! Cable management is a nightmare in a small tight casing.