Best networked disk storage option?

iantresman · 31-12-2003, 09:23

I'd like to add 200-300Mb of hard disk storage to my network for general backup, but the simpler solutions appear to be more expensive. I seem to have the following options:

1. PC with XP and internal hard disk drive
2. Barebones system with external hard disk drive
3. Networked hard disk drive

Is anyone aware of a hard disk drive I can plug into my ethernet network? Or is there a bareboines option with the necessary software?

I don't want to add an external hard drive into my own PC as it is in use round the clock.

Regards,
Ian Tresman
Derby, UK

Bifta · 31-12-2003, 09:28

You can get quantum Snap's that you plug into the network but all in all you're better off just buying a single USB2/Firewire external HDD and sharing it round the network

philip.j.fry · 31-12-2003, 10:25

Networked drives I imagine are quite expensive.

My opinion would be to find out the minimum spec pc that could hold a drive of the capacity you want and pick up a barebones system second hand, then install a linux distro on it and run samba thus sharing the drive with all networked machines.

Gareth · 31-12-2003, 10:29

I think I'd go for the USB/Firewire option - prolly the simplest option, and prolly not any more expensive than setting up a barebone system to host an internal HDD.