ReadyNAS X6 micro-review

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Narflex

SageTV can run on embedded systems (yes, we've done it in house). As a server all it needs is a JVM and the IVTV capture drivers (or just use network encoders).

Would definitely be an interesting product if you can put an HD capture card in it and use it as a network encoder for SageTV.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Jesse

So the question is this: If you could start over would you still have built the conventional array, or would you just go strait to the ReadyNas solution?

Tough question, but probably I'd go with a 3ware 9500. Putting 1 RAID array in a media server is pretty trivial, and works very well. But I now needed a second array, and that get's complicated and impractical pretty quick.

[mikejaner]

Has anybody tried the Netgear NAS that is in stores? I hear it's got pretty nice features and runs pretty well. And for under $100, it sounds pretty nice.

[stanger89]

Biggest problem with those is lack of redundancy and limited number of supported drives.

[dvd_maniac]

Just wondering if you are still happy with your ReadyNAS X6? I am almost out of space on my 2 400GB drives that I keep my tv shows on. My 1.2TB is a little more than half full with movies.
I shrink everything to H.264 but I am still running out of space quickly.
I would like to get another 1.2tb raid-5 NAS for under $1200.00....

[lovingHDTV]

Has anyone using these boxes had any issues recording HDTV to them, or does it work as well as recording to a local disk?

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by dvd_maniac

Just wondering if you are still happy with your ReadyNAS X6?

Yup, haven't really messed with it though, it's just there. That's a good thing BTW, that it just works. Haven't had to add any discs yet, so I can't comment on how that works.

I would like to get another 1.2tb raid-5 NAS for under $1200.00....

If I were buying now, I'd get a ReadyNAS NV, basically the same thing, but it's got a bit more powerful processor plus it's got hotswap bays. It would be about $2000 to load it with 1.5TB redundant, but you wouldn't have to do that all now, you could get the NV with 1 or 2 500s and add more later.

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

Has anyone using these boxes had any issues recording HDTV to them, or does it work as well as recording to a local disk?

Haven't actually done it, but I don't see why it would be a problem, these things have plenty of bandwidth for HDTV. I think I was getting about 20MB/sec reading/writing to it.

[jptaz]

Ok...probably a really dumb question but:

It has USB 2.0 ports...can I connect it to my computer as a USB 2.0 Mass Storage Device?

I don't have Gigabit E and my USB 2.0 Mass storage devices definitely blow away 100 MB performance.

John

[stanger89]

No, those ports can't be used to connect it to a PC.

[dvd_maniac]

I am trying to decide between the readyNAS and This one

My main concern is if either one will support NTFS file permisions?
I USE Germsage with external video player so that Sage does not bypass the security. If I put videos that I do not want my kids to see will these Nas boxes comply?

[stanger89]

The only thing I notice (without research) is that I don't see an expansion option for that one.

As for permissions, the ReadyNAS provides basically the whole suite of Unix file permissions (users, groups, quotas, etc).

[Polypro]

Nice review. Just noticed the "r" getting blasted

P

[dvd_maniac]

Originally Posted by stanger89

The only thing I notice (without research) is that I don't see an expansion option for that one.

As for permissions, the ReadyNAS provides basically the whole suite of Unix file permissions (users, groups, quotas, etc).

Expansion wouldn't be an issue as I plan to start off with 4 drives anyway.

The Unix permissions probably won't help me. But I did notice the other one said Active Directory Support, I am guessing that means it does comply with NTFS file permissions?

[stanger89]

Why wouldn't that help you?

[dvd_maniac]

I do not know Linux/Unix, I have a windows domain setup with active directory. I have some movies, south park and some other stuff I do not want the kids to access. Will I be able to keep them out with the Unix file permissions? Will it be seamless with current Active Directory groups and users or is there a learning curve?

[stanger89]

I know I setup user-level shares that require user/password. I haven't really delved too deeply into it though.

As for learning curve, you never have to go to a shell, can't actually, it's all from the web admin. What exacly do you want to do?

[KrisAcker]

Originally Posted by dvd_maniac

I do not know Linux/Unix, I have a windows domain setup with active directory. I have some movies, south park and some other stuff I do not want the kids to access. Will I be able to keep them out with the Unix file permissions? Will it be seamless with current Active Directory groups and users or is there a learning curve?

The ReadyNas can join jour domain and use the users and groups from your active directory. Then you just set permissions for the shares you create as you would for a Windows share. This is all done in the web interface, you never "see" Unix.

[dvd_maniac]

I have my movie directory setup as follows
\\server\movies\actionadventure
\\server\movies\drama
\\server\movies\comedy
etc...

Then all the movies are in the proper genre folder. So when you say share permission this is at the folder level right?
I need NTFS permissions to get to the file level access. I would rather not have my Sage system get too complicated for friends, guests and wife to navigate by creating seperate shares for kids access.

[stanger89]

Yeah, I can't find an easy way to set file level permissions.

[dvd_maniac]

That stinks. Maybe I should go with a firewire connected device then? That would allow my server to handle the security better...