Given that the next version of Windows Home Server isn't going to support Drive Extender (no single storage pool, no software data redundancy) I'm investigating alternative solutions
Requirements
- Redundant Storage (at least 1 drive failure)
- Backup data from machines on the network
- Must be able to wake machines up
- Run Squeezebox server software (Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, WHS, Linux, Netgear Ready NAS NV/Duo/Pro)
- Act as a file server for my home network (music, photos, video etc.)
Nice to have
- Fire and forget (everything should be as automated/automatable as possible)
- Offsite backup
- Run Zune Software
- Low power use
- Ideally I would like to reuse my current homebrew WHS h/w (Intel Core 2, Lots of drives of different sizes and a USB external drive for backing up the server)
My initial thought was to put Win7 on the machine and find some kind of backup solution.
Any other suggestions?
I'm a software developer by trade and I'm comfortable with Linux/Windows
Best Answer
Something like a Synology DS410 might work or the higher end DS1010+. It doesn't support Squeezbox but does have a streaming service (among many many other features). ~Edit, it actually does support Squeezbox
One of the Synology devices seems to be the most efficient solutions offering quite a few features for a decent price, and I believe it meets most of your requirements.
There is also comparable boxes from QNAP, such as a TS-419P+, either system costs around $600. Otherwise a custom built server, like the one madmaze mentioned, using a linux distro is probably the cheapest, most flexible (although hardest to setup) option.