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Forum Discussion
ReadyNAS 316 Worth Purchasing?
Newegg has a deal where I can purchase the ReadyNAS 316 and a 4tb drive for $558. This seems like too good of a deal to pass up. Currently I'm using a Dell PC as a media server (Plex/Kodi) and have ...
It is one of the Os 6 platforms - which is the most recent ReadyNAS OS. So I think it is a safe purchase. However, I don't work for Netgear and I have no inside info on upcoming launches.
If you plan to run plex, another option would be the RN214 (which was just released). But at current newegg pricing, the RN316 is a better deal.
At this point I don't plan to run Plex from the NAS... though that could be a possibility in the future. I'm going to still run it from the Dell (I have a backup server running on my iMac also). I do worry about the speed of transfer of the media files from this system. I guess I'm still just a bit confused over NAS systems. I'm quite the geek when it comes to technology, but hot swappable NAS systems are still new to me and I'm working to figure out what I want out of it beyond storage... and backups.
Several apps are available, but limiting it to storage/backup is a fine approach.
Apps can be found at http://apps.readynas.com/pages/ and https://rnxtras.com/ Its important to realize that most of these are third-party apps, and Netgear doesn't warrant that they work (and doesn't provide support for them).
Plex tends to run slower on the NAS (particularly library updates), and full HD transcoding might stutter/stall. The benefit is that you don't need to leave the PC running 24/7.
Thanks!
Right out of the gate I will not have any redundancy running, I have only a 4tb and 5tb drive to install into the 316. If I later add another 4 and another 5tb drive will I be able to span those to become backup drives for the earlier installed drives? Or will I lose the data on those existing drives?
I don't really understand raids completely as I've never used them. My backup systems to date have simply been OS based such as TimeMachine.
The speed of transfer should be fine (unless you are sending stacks of data). My RN104 can hit about 20-25MB/s write, and upto 70-80 MB/s read.
If it is just for streaming media via plex, I can have 3-4 kids all using plex on their iPads at the same time, with no noticeable slowdown. (Although the Plex Media Server runs on my HTPC macmini, not o nthe NAS).
If the NAS will only be effectively working as a File Server, you can probably get awya with a RN104. I have been very happy with mine, and for the price, it really can't be beat.
My RN102 is in jbod mode, and does ~50 MB/sec write and 70 MB/sec read.
The RN102 has worked out ok for me, but there are a lot more problems with the RN100 series reported here than there are for the higher end models. Plus it is a poor choice if you want to host the plex server on it. It's inability to transcode is a huge drawback for plex.
The RN300 series also has lifetime chat support.
If you can afford the RN316, its a better choice.
HeatherABC wrote:
Right out of the gate I will not have any redundancy running, I have only a 4tb and 5tb drive to install into the 316. If I later add another 4 and another 5tb drive will I be able to span those to become backup drives for the earlier installed drives? Or will I lose the data on those existing drives?
I'd set up in jbod, not RAID-0 (giving you two volumes).
The expansion options are in the user guide: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/READYNAS-100/readynas6.2_11March2015.pdf - see page 33 and following. If you start with 2 jbod volumes, you can expand them to two RAID-1 volumes w/o losing data.
Another option (more space efficient) is to destroy the 5 TB volume, switch to xraid, and then expand (adding smallest disks first). The smallest disks that can be added would be 4 TB. You'd keep the data on the 4 TB volume, but would need to reload the 5 TB contents from backup.
You're full of great information. Thanks. I just checked compatibility of the 5tb Toshiba drive I have and it's not compatible so I'll be starting only with a WD Red 4tb drive. I'll add more as needs grow and money permits. Going to go ahead and do the 316 so I'm sure I'll have many more questions.
Now I've got some reading to do...
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