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Storage solution for Small Office

I want to implement Backup Storage solution for a small office with <10 users. What is the best and most economical way to do it?

I have the following requirements:

1.

I want to implement RAID on my storage solution. (Hardware or Software based). Not sure which RAID is the best one here (RAID-0, RAID-1, RAID-5 etc.) ?

2.

I preferably want Hard Drive reuse from my old machines. (Any way to do that?)

3.

I want fine grained authentication control on the Shared area for the users/groups

4.

Want to have web based access of the storage (Not sure how to do this?)

5.

Want to copy over the data from development machines to the shared server periodically. Maybe you can point me to some software.

The storage I am looking at is less than 4 TB and my budget is under $1500.
Can anyone please give me some pointers?
Thanks a ton.

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John Easton

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David Johnson, CD

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Tony Giangreco

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1namyln

Netgear ReadyNAS. Wouldn't recommend any less than an Intel CPU.

Kimputer

I would suggest a Synology unit. That would fit most of your requirements perfectly, and you won't even come close to your budget.
Synology is well-known for its DSM software and GUI, which first of all supports probably all your requirements (raid, use own disks, user management, web interface, cloud support, and much more) but also is VERY easy to understand and manage.

ChiIT

I've been looking at this same thing for a small office. I've settled on QNAP, specifically the QNAP TS-X53 Pro series. There is a 2 bay and 4 bay version, add a few WD RED hard drives and it will fit into your budget nicely. I'm not sure what disks you have currently but you'd have to check to see if they are compatible with the NAS. If not, as mentioned you can get the device and all new disks for your budget.

I agree completely about the offsite storage for disaster recovery, but something to keep in mind is that cloud based backup is typically a subscription so you will pay that as an on-going cost, and for 4T you will most likely exceed your $1500 annually.

Larry Struckmeyer MVP

Windows Storage Server Essentials. Backs up 25 stations, single instance storage, allows Remote Web Access, is familiar Windows 2012 R2 interface. The Thecus units come with the OS on a internal SSD drive allowing the 2 to 5 bays to be used for storage. One source in the US:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822102095&cm_re=Thecus_windows_storage_server-_-22-102-095-_-Product

Sajid Shaik M

i suggest you to go for .. your budget western digital storage. which can accommodate SATA HDD's and you can access it over web ... and it can be a NAS.. it will perform best for less users.

if you are planning about fine-grained.. authentication control... use is as DAS... ans share the volumes from the AD... i beleave it'll support...

check the following link for more details...

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2011/11/17/western-digital-announce-new-windows-storage-server/

thanks

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Sajid Shaik M

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Alexios Valonasis

Synology.com

Perfect solution for your requirements and for your budget
Easy to implement

I have been using some specific models (ds212...) for clients for many years without any problems at all

Kash

Synology DS414 is something you should look for. Works wonders.

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Mike

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Arikkan

ASKER

Hi,

Thanks for so many good comments from everyone. :-)

I have another question and one more point that I would like to know is:

6.

What are you guys using for management of the storage solution (Either NAS or other). Some of them seem to use proprietary management OS and some use Windows Storage Server. What is the easiest to manage and get up and running in the fastest time.

Larry Struckmeyer MVP

Tough to tell you. For some it would be anything Windows. For others, anything 'nix. For others it would not matter.

David Johnson, CD

Each is different. Some have a web interface, some use a dedicated program. If the underlying File system is not NTFS you can't copy EFS files. (only supported by ntfs)

Arikkan

ASKER

If I use Windows Storage Server 2012, is there a way that I can access the user files on an HTTP web access link to the Server (With AD user authentication to the folders).

@Larry Struckmeyer MVP: What is the "Remote Web Access" that you are talking about on the Storage server essentials. Is this for web management or for accessing the backed up files?

Michael Ortega

I vote Synology as well.

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Larry Struckmeyer MVP

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Arikkan

ASKER

Thank you