Need help thinking through additional storage options for ..

I have a home network with 4 computers, 3 desktops and one laptop, as
well as two ReplayTVs. The main computer is mine; I have an Asus p4pe
mb with two SATA drives connected to the onboard controller (Promise).
I have a Plextor DVD burner attached to the IDE connector. In addition
to the storage needs below, I am thinking about purchasing a 2nd DVD
burner capable of burning dual layer DVD's and that would probably be a
SATA connection, although I could probably add one with an IDE connector
to the second connector of my present DVD burner.

I am running out of hard drive space and rather than upgrade my hdd's
from 120 GB main drive with a removable 250 GB that serves as storage
and backup for my other family members, I have a great price on 2 SATA
Maxtor Diamondmax 10 hdds that I would like to add for extra storage.
Presently I back up each computer nightly with TrueImage 8, with a full
backup every Sun AM and incremental backups nightly, rewritten each Sunday.

I am thinking about three possible solutions:

1. Add two 300 GB hdd SATA hdd's to my desktop for storage of movies,
music, and for backup. Since my computer only has 2 SATA receptacles, I
would need to add a SATA controller card.

2. Add a remote NAS storage in the networking closet in my home, such
as a Linksys NSLU2. It would allow for "remote" storage in the event
that someone steals my computer, as it would be unlikely, since the
house is alarmed, that they would be able to find the NAS by the time
the police responded. The unit allows for attachment of two external
USB hdd's. I am not sure how slow the data access would be, though. On
the other hand, the unit would be mainly for storage.

3. Now that my daughter is off to college and left her desktop, I have
a spare computer running XP and could set up the new drives as shared
drives, essentially adding attached storage. Her motherboard is an older
ASUS motherboard, CUSL2, and I would have to purchase a card to allow
for adding the new SATA drives.

If adding a SATA controller card is an option (and I say IF only because
I do not know how buggy they are), then I would appreciate suggestions
as to which cards I should consider.

I would also appreciate if someone who has the experience and
understanding could comment about how much option #2 would slow down
data transmission compared to having a hdd directly attached to a system
internally. Would a setup in #2 work over a network to, at some time in
the future, stream video to a home theater

Thanks
Ken K
Ken K

Ken <ken DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote:

> I have a home network with 4 computers, 3 desktops and one laptop, as
> well as two ReplayTVs. The main computer is mine; I have an Asus p4pe
> mb with two SATA drives connected to the onboard controller (Promise).
> I have a Plextor DVD burner attached to the IDE connector. In addition
> to the storage needs below, I am thinking about purchasing a 2nd DVD
> burner capable of burning dual layer DVD's and that would probably be
> a SATA connection, although I could probably add one with an IDE
> connector to the second connector of my present DVD burner.

> I am running out of hard drive space and rather than upgrade my hdd's
> from 120 GB main drive with a removable 250 GB that serves as storage
> and backup for my other family members, I have a great price on 2 SATA
> Maxtor Diamondmax 10 hdds that I would like to add for extra storage.
> Presently I back up each computer nightly with TrueImage 8, with a
> full backup every Sun AM and incremental backups nightly, rewritten
> each Sunday.

> I am thinking about three possible solutions:

> 1. Add two 300 GB hdd SATA hdd's to my desktop for storage of movies, music,
> and for backup. Since my computer only has 2 SATA receptacles, I would need
> to add a SATA controller card.

> 2. Add a remote NAS storage in the networking closet in my home, such as a
> Linksys NSLU2.

I woudnt go that route myself, I'd use a real PC instead.

Basically gives you a lot more flexibility, with
the main downside that the box is a bit bigger.

> It would allow for "remote" storage in the event that someone steals my
> computer, as it would be unlikely, since the house is alarmed, that they would
> be able to find the NAS by the time the police responded.

And you can secure that well enough to stop
any thief getting it before the cops show up.

Not so good with a house fire etc tho.

> The unit allows for attachment of two external USB hdd's. I am not sure how
> slow the data access would be, though. On the other hand, the unit would be
> mainly for storage.

> 3. Now that my daughter is off to college and left her desktop, I have a
> spare computer running XP and could set up the new drives as shared drives,
> essentially adding attached storage. Her motherboard is an older ASUS
> motherboard, CUSL2, and I would have to purchase a card to allow for adding
> the new SATA drives.

> If adding a SATA controller card is an option (and I say IF only because I do
> not know how buggy they are), then I would appreciate suggestions as to which
> cards I should consider.

> I would also appreciate if someone who has the experience and understanding
> could comment about how much option #2 would slow down data transmission
> compared to having a hdd directly attached to a system internally.

Yes, its noticeably slower than with the drive internal unless you
go for a gigabit lan. gigabit lans are quite affordable now tho.

> Would a setup in #2 work over a network to, at some time in the future, stream
> video to a home theater

Yes, I do that now with captured digital TV which produces
2-3GB/hour/channel files, over 54Mb wireless to a wireless
laptop, works fine.