Video server / NAS

["Adam Stevens" <adam@xxxxxxx>]

Hello,

My old video server died tonight.  It's basically just an old Dell PC with
=
a bunch of disks connected to it (3 internal IDE, 2 internal SATA, and 4
ex=
ternal IDE via a firewire box).

I've been aware that it's been "on it's way out" for a long time,
and have =
been looking around for a neater solution.  Ideally I'd like to treat
mysel=
f to a 1Tb or 1.6Tb Terastation (http://tinyurl.com/4wd7h), but I can't
qui=
te bring myself to spend around =A3600 when I've already got over 1Tb of
di=
sk storage in my current server.

So, as I see it, I've got 3 options:

1) Build/buy a new PC, bung all my old drives in it.
2) Buy one of those USB NAS's, which allow USB drives to be connected to
th=
e network.
3) Look for something like the Terastation, but which comes with no
drives,=
so I can put my own in.

I'd rather stay away from building yet another PC.  I know that NAS's are
b=
asically just PC's with pre-installed software, but I like the idea of a
"s=
tand alone" unit connected to the network.  If I did build a PC, I'd
have t=
o put some flavour of Windows on it (I don't know enough about Linux to
tru=
st myself to be able to fix it if something went wrong), and although I
hav=
en't looked at Windows Server for NAS, I don't know if it suits my needs
(e=
g, remote control via web interfact etc).

I'm not a big fan of USB and/or firewire drives.  I don't know if it's
just=
me, but I've never had a reliable external USB/firewire drive (and I've tr=
ied *lots*!).  Even my current box'o'four IDE drives with a firewire
interf=
ace has given me major headaches at times.  I'd also have to get a load of
=
USB caddies, and they'd each need their own PSU etc. etc.

So, basically, I'm looking for something as near as possible to the
Terasta=
tion, but something which will allow me to use my existing drives, and
some=
thing which I can get for around the =A3200 mark (or less obviously!).  I
d=
on't really care if it supports IDE or SATA drives (ideally, something
whic=
h came in both flavours, so I could get one of each!).  It should also be
a=
ble to hold at least 4 drives internally... Two and a pinch, but only if
it=
's cheap.

Noise is also an issue.  I've considered getting one of those cheap Dell
se=
rvers which pop up occasionally, but although I have great respect for
Dell=
, I know from using them in my office that their servers are quite noisy,
a=
nd the NAS needs to me in my home office (it doesn't need to be
whisper-qui=
te - I've already got a PC on 24/7, but I'd rather not have a hurricane in
=
the office!).

Any ideas?! - I'm really hoping someone will say "Ah yes, a diskless
Terast=
ation, go to this link"! :-)  I've Googled 'til my figures bleed, but
I hav=
en't found one!

Thanks,
A.