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Need help choosing a Readynas for Home
Hi.
I'm an average++ user who know a thing or two about computers. I have 2 Macsbooks (used by family members for social networking and games), a PC laptop (which I personally use), an iPod Touch (for my music, video and podcasts that I take on the road with me) and an iPad 2 (shared by my wife and son for more of their social networking, etc).
I use my PC laptop behind a private network (Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Router WNDR3400). I use this for online trading (which I'm just starting to learn), saving webinars, lots of videos, music, audiobook. I have a 1TB connected as a share via my private network router and another 1TB (Seagate GoFlex) via a USB port on my laptop. I use the latter for my active backup drive. Sad thing is I'm a "file hoarder" and I'm running out of space and I'm thinking of getting a real NAS and move all the backup and media files to it.
I've browsed the ReadyNAS community and so far I've narrowed my choices down to either the Ultra or NV models. But which one? I have a limited budget and would like to see what my options are. If I'm missing out on my choices please feel free to suggest which one will suit me needs (and budget) best. :-)
Here are some of the things I'd like to do with the NAS:
1. Backup storage
2. Media storage to share with my devices and stream to my HDTV. I have a Roku and I have no idea what options I have available with regards to media streaming, etc.
3. Provide DLNA services.
Some questions come to mind like:
4. Will I be able to backup some of my data from the ReadyNAS to an online backup server?
5. Can I access my iTunes Library while I'm on the road? What about stored videos?
And then I've got technical questions:
6. Upon looking for the Ultra 4 Plus to purchase, I see RNDP400U and RNDU4000. What's the difference and which one should I go for? This is the same for other models: [Ultra 2 Plus: RNDP200U, RNDU2000, RNDU2120]
Having a limited budget, I am thinking or hoping to 1st go for the Ultra 2 Plus with 2 hdd of 3TB each and just get another Ultra 2 Plus later.
7. Will I be able to nest the two? What are my options for this?
8. Will I be better off to get an Ultra 4 Plus with 1 hdd of 3TB and just add on later?
9. Which would be the most economical way of going at this?
Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions.
Cmaker3
I'm an average++ user who know a thing or two about computers. I have 2 Macsbooks (used by family members for social networking and games), a PC laptop (which I personally use), an iPod Touch (for my music, video and podcasts that I take on the road with me) and an iPad 2 (shared by my wife and son for more of their social networking, etc).
I use my PC laptop behind a private network (Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Router WNDR3400). I use this for online trading (which I'm just starting to learn), saving webinars, lots of videos, music, audiobook. I have a 1TB connected as a share via my private network router and another 1TB (Seagate GoFlex) via a USB port on my laptop. I use the latter for my active backup drive. Sad thing is I'm a "file hoarder" and I'm running out of space and I'm thinking of getting a real NAS and move all the backup and media files to it.
I've browsed the ReadyNAS community and so far I've narrowed my choices down to either the Ultra or NV models. But which one? I have a limited budget and would like to see what my options are. If I'm missing out on my choices please feel free to suggest which one will suit me needs (and budget) best. :-)
Here are some of the things I'd like to do with the NAS:
1. Backup storage
2. Media storage to share with my devices and stream to my HDTV. I have a Roku and I have no idea what options I have available with regards to media streaming, etc.
3. Provide DLNA services.
Some questions come to mind like:
4. Will I be able to backup some of my data from the ReadyNAS to an online backup server?
5. Can I access my iTunes Library while I'm on the road? What about stored videos?
And then I've got technical questions:
6. Upon looking for the Ultra 4 Plus to purchase, I see RNDP400U and RNDU4000. What's the difference and which one should I go for? This is the same for other models: [Ultra 2 Plus: RNDP200U, RNDU2000, RNDU2120]
Having a limited budget, I am thinking or hoping to 1st go for the Ultra 2 Plus with 2 hdd of 3TB each and just get another Ultra 2 Plus later.
7. Will I be able to nest the two? What are my options for this?
8. Will I be better off to get an Ultra 4 Plus with 1 hdd of 3TB and just add on later?
9. Which would be the most economical way of going at this?
Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions.
Cmaker3
16 Replies
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Crashplan uses data deduplication and compression, which can make the transfers more efficient. But even with that (and a fast ethernet connection) the speed issue remains. It'd take a few months if I ever needed to restore all my data from their servers. On the plus side, it runs automatically and is economical. So far it seems to be working out as a good disaster recovery option.PapaBear wrote: Another factor is internet connection speed. To back up my 60GB of critical files via internet would take 54 hours at my 3Mb/s connection speed. I live in a rural area and am actually appreciative of the 3Mb/s DSL after having to use satellite for a number of years. Backing up that same 60GB to a USB2 external drive takes a little over 21 minutes. Obviously if I was as fortunate as some of my friends living in large cities with an internet connection speed of 20+ Mb/s my solution might be a little different. PapaBear wrote: Cmaker3 wrote: Just to make sure I understand, if I go with a 2-bay unit, I will only have 1/2 the capacity of storage (or 2TB) if for example I use 2 x 2TB HDD. And since my concern tend to be in favor of having more storage space, the better option for me is to go for the Ultra 4 Plus and just add on additional hdds.
I also prefer the 4 bay units for they can support an array three times the one supported by a two bay unit (with the same size drives). In addition there is the LCD message panel that will tell you what is happening during booting and expanding. It will also display alerts.
Hi PapaBear,
A follow up question, if you will. I have decided to go for the Ultra 2 Plus 2-bay unit (budget contraints) and got two 3TB drives (Seagate Barracuda 7200 3 TB 7200RPM SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST3000DM001). In the future I can buy an Ultra 4 Plus 4-bay unit.
Question: Can I move and just plug in the 2 3TB drives from the Ultra 2 Plus to the Ultra 4 Plus which will have 1 or 2 new drives (probably 3TB also or 4TB) without endangering the existing data contained in the Ultra 2 Plus hdds. Sorry for the question, being a newbie and all, but I feel that there are steps that I need to do before plugging the old drives with existing data into the new unit.
Appreciate the help and advise.
Cmaker3- When you get the ultra 4 plus, you can first move your existing disks over (as is), and your data should be preserved. then install the new drives (hot-adding into the remaining slots).
This works because both ReadyNAS are x86 platforms. - Gotcha. Thanks.
Just one more thing. Amazon lists NETGEAR ReadyNAS Ultra 2 (Diskless) Network Attached Storage RNDU2000 ($251.99) and NETGEAR ReadyNAS Ultra 2 Plus (Diskless) Network Attached Storage RNDP200U ($426.19). What's the difference between RNDU2000 and RNDP200U?
Thanks.
Cmaker3 - The RNDU2000 has a single-core Intel Atom D425 CPU. The RNDP200U has a dual core processor, which is about 30% faster. I am not sure it is worth the $175 price difference (it depends on what add ons your are planning to use). I'd also look at a Pro (prices vary, and sometimes the Pro can be cheaper. Also it has a longer warranty).
- The Amazon pricing on the Ultra 2 Plus has to be an error. They show the list price of the unit at $620, but I have never seen the list that high. That is I think the list price for the Ultra 4 Plus. Newegg shows the Ultra 2 at $279.99 with free shipping and the Ultra 2 Plus at $379.99 with free shipping.
Going to the Netgear Store they show a $140 difference between the Ultra 2 and Ultra 2 Plus ($309.99 vs $449.99), however, they have the Ulta 4 and Ultra 4 Plus at the same $649.99 price and then a $400 price difference between the Ultra 6 and Ultra 6 Plus ($799.99 vs $199.99). The later is more understandable since the Ultra 6 has a dual core Atom while the Ultra 6 Plus has the Intel E2160 dual core processor. So, I would think that the $449.99 is the true list price of the Ultra 2 Plus, not the $620 Amazon is showing. Amazon has done this from time to time, which is why it is always a good idea to shop around. I trust either Amazon or Newegg as reliable vendors and have over the years with more of my money than I care to think about and have never had them disappoint me.
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