Which NAS

[Relitech]

Hi,

We are testing the SFFS software and it works very good for us.
We want to use it to backup data and store it on a NAS via FTP.

Which NAS should we use?
Does anyone has some good or bad experience with a specific NAS?

Thanks in advance,
Egbert

[superflexible]

Hello,

two questions, will you do the FTP over the Internet? Will you have a VPN?

[Relitech]

Hi,

We will be using FTP over the Internet and we are NOT using VPN!

[superflexible]

Recommendations anyone?

The most important thing with FTP is that the FTP server software must be able to provide recursive FTP listings without any limits concerning the depth and the number of items.

If we don't get specific recommendations, it would be a good thing to ask various manufacturers if this is so and then you can choose the device on which you can get the best technical information.

Some devices have Pure-FTPd installed as an FTP server, and by default it limits the FTP listings to 2000 items, and the recursion depth is limited also. That makes it pretty much unusable, unless you can raise those limits.

I may be able to do some more detailed research next week.

[RadicalDad]

I've used both the NetGear ReadyNAS and Synololgy 2 bay products. The physical NetGear box is built very well - it is metal, has easy access to the drives, and it is painted black to it disappears nicely. However, that is the only way in which the NetGear device is superior. The NetGear is far noisier, the ReadyNAS Remote software works poorly (if you can get it to work at all), and the CPUs as well as the OS firmware haven't kept pace with current technology. Additionally, the ReadyNAS hardware compatibility list isn't updated often and it can be hard to find hard drive models that you can actually purchase currently that are on the NetGear list. By contrast, the Synology is quiet. The box is white plastic (never cared for the Apple white look), and even though hot swapping is supported, that is a joke (at least in the 2 bay model) because it takes a screwdriver to open the box. Then again, how often will you ever have to hot swap? The CPUs (and NAS model numbers) are refreshed with newer (read faster) versions on a regular basis, and the firmware is constantly getting better with new (and useful) functionality added. For instance, Synology recently added VPN server support. That said, rsync service on the Synology boxes has been a problem over the past few updates which they haven't gotten right yet. Its a standard Linux box, so you could add your own rsync package instead if needed.

I hear QNAP makes a nice box, but I have no experience. I also have no experience with FTP on the ReadyNAS or the Synology, so perhaps I'm no help.

One caveat about hard drives: If you are planning on using a "green" drive, such as the Western Digital EADS Green series, be careful about the "sub" model numbers. All versions of a "major" model number may not be supported. In a NAS this can be a real problem as one of the power saving things "green" drives do is to go into a low power state independent of whether the OS has asked them to do so or not. Linux boxes by default journal to the drive every 20 seconds. If you get a green drive which parks its heads every 15 seconds for power saving you have a problem. On some drives you can modify the timing, but apparently it varies by the sub model number. WD has come in for special abuse on this issue in various forums, but the truth is this is a potential problem for all "green" drives and the "sub model" problem goes far beyond WD and even drive manufacturers. (Remember the old Linksys WRT54G - there were 8 released sub models of this venerable router - each with different capabilities, RAM, etc.)

Hope this helps. Good luck.