A Netbook as a NAS/PS/etc all-in-one?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using a netbook as a multifunctional server, specifically for applications such as network-attached storage (NAS) and print serving. Participants explore the potential benefits and limitations of this approach, considering cost-effectiveness and practicality in a home or office setting.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that netbooks could serve as a low-cost solution for combining multiple functions like print serving and network storage, provided they are online.
  • Another participant recommends using a router with a USB port for connecting printers, citing personal experience with such a setup.
  • A different viewpoint expresses skepticism about using netbooks for network-attached storage due to their typically small hard drives and lower RPMs, suggesting that external drives might be a better option.
  • One participant proposes connecting a 2TB external hard drive to the netbook via USB and mapping it as a network drive.
  • Concerns are raised about transfer speeds when using USB connections, especially in gigabit networks, and the potential advantages of using internal SATA connections in desktop PCs for better performance.
  • Another participant notes the higher cost of external drives compared to internal ones and suggests that investing in a dedicated NAS might offer better speed and reliability, especially with RAID configurations.
  • One participant mentions the cost of a recommended router that supports gigabit networks as a viable alternative for network storage solutions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the practicality and efficiency of using a netbook for these purposes. There is no consensus on whether a netbook is a suitable solution for network storage or print serving, with multiple competing views presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations regarding transfer speeds, cost comparisons between external and internal drives, and the overall reliability of netbooks versus dedicated NAS devices. These factors remain unresolved in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals considering low-cost solutions for home networking, those exploring multifunctional devices, and users evaluating the trade-offs between netbooks and dedicated network storage options.

Pengwuino
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A Netbook as a NAS/PS/etc all-in-one??

So I was thinking something just now! Print servers are expensive if you want to attach a printer to a network. Getting built in network support is even more expensive. Same thing for network attached storage. However, I just realized, aren't netbooks like, the simplest way to combine anything like that? Just as long as the netbook is online, it can act like all sorts of fancy gadgets!

Or can it? I can get used netbooks for less than $200 from friends who go through netbooks somewhat often. Does anyone know or have any ideas about making such a device into a kind of all-in-one server? Sure you would have to have all your equipment near the netbook but that's kind of the situation I'm in at the moment with my parent's office. I wonder what other ideas I could spark out of this?

DISCUSS!
 
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You could just get a router with a USB port to connect it to your network (http://www.dlink.ca/products/?pid=530) I can recommend this product from using it for a few years, having a printer hooked up the way I described.

And I wouldn't recommend making a netbook your network attached storage, in my experience, netbook hard drives are small and typically spin at a lower RPM to save battery. If you want cheap network storage, pick up a couple of terabyte drives (they only cost about $100 now) and just share the entire drive over your network.
 


No no, i mean doing what you suggested. I would buy a 2tb external HDD or something and attach it to the netbook via USB and probably just map it as a network drive or something similar.
 


The problem I have with that is that with the USB connection, you're being severely limited in your transfer speeds (Note: this would really only apply if you have a gigabit network and have a wired connection to the netbook), to get the best speeds, the drive would need to use the internal SATA connection on a desktop PC. Another thing is that external drives are much, much more expensive than internal drives, and if you're going to get a 2TB external drive (1tb here http://ncix.com/products/?sku=52473&vpn=WDBAAU0010HBK-NESN&manufacture=Western Digital WD Retail) you might as well just get a full out 2TB NAS and grab better speeds and reliability (typically with these NAS' you can set them up in a RAID array if you want) (http://ncix.com/products/?sku=50186&vpn=LS-WX2.0TL/R1&manufacture=Buffalo).

The router I suggested retails for about $80 and it supports a gigabit network.
 
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