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NAS box or use cheap HP microserver
Hi there
I can get a decent HP ProLiant micro server with 4 bays for around 450 EUR. A cheapish decent NAS box costs around the same.
I'm thinking of using the server as an alternative to a NAS box -- I can install my own OS (I'll use a Linux distro for this)and it's reasonably customiseable.
Power consumption on the server would also be minimal so suited ideally to Multi-media serving. I like the idea of using an OS I'm familar with rather than things like QNAP on NAS boxes.
Any disadvantages in going this route as opposed to using a NAS box.
HPE ProLiant Gen8 G1610T 2GB RAM MicroServer - Ebuyer
Update --
after a lot of googling etc I've ordered the Server -- with an extra 3TB drive (I already have 3) and 8GB RAM total cost around 450 GBP - / 600 EUR.
A decent NAS box costs around the same BEFORE populating with HDD's / extra memory.
What I like particularly about this server is that you can use the ODD bay for an SSD and also for Linux GRUB to boot from an external USB stick or even the built in SD card. - You don't need to boot a server very often once its up and running.
Hopefully Air freight from Amazon UK to Isl should deliver in the next two days so looking forward to getting it working. Boot options can disable RAID too so makes for a great equivalent NAS saystem.
Will post back my efforts later -- W10 systems can access PLEX etc on Linux boxes.
I like also that it's got a router also so I can use as an Internet gateway for guests etc. Much more flexible than a bog standard NAS and cheaper too.
Am surprised others haven't gone down the "Small / Micro" server route.
Note - it comes with NO OS supplied so you have to install your own --and it does work with Windows so I'm reliably informed - as well as certified for SUSE and RED HAT so it should work with most decent Linux distros too if you want to use those.
Cheers
jimbo
Last edited by jimbo45; 19 Jan 2016 at 11:40.