A couple of weeks ago I decided that I needed a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. To recap – a NAS device would provide me a better backup solution with the added benefit of a shared storage location on my home network. Given the criteria that I previously listed and a little bit of research, I purchased a Linksys NAS200 and a pair of 500GB SATA drives for a total of $350.18. This is about $150 under my $500 budget constraint.

Before my purchase I had been leaning towards the D-Link DNS-323, but secretly hoping the Linksys NAS200 would arrive in time. Sometimes it pays to wait. I don’t usually purchase hardware that is so new on the market, but a couple of factors persuaded me to make my decision. The Linksys NAS200 retails for about $40 less than the D-Link DNS-323 and packs quite a few more features. This combined with the NSLU2’s success and my overall good luck with Linksys hardware helped seal the deal. Since my home network runs entirely on Linux, I wanted a device that would work well in this environment. I’m not suggesting that I won’t run into problems, but with the NSLU2’s reputation I feel a little less worried. I’ll be sure to follow up with a full review once my new hardware arrives. To be continued…

UPDATE: My final review of the Linksys NAS200 has been posted.

Lately I’ve become paranoid about my home backup strategy. I’ve realized that burning CDs/DVDs just doesn’t cut it. Not only are compact discs a lousy medium, but I’m not diligent enough to make the backups. Even when I do make backups, they tend to get lost in my house – oftentimes ending up as the coaster of a frosty mug. A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device would give me centralized backups with the added benefit of a shared storage location on my home network.

I’ve been researching NAS solutions to adequately CMA. I’ve narrowed my search down to five choices. Each of the devices will work for my needs, but they all come with their own baggage. My list of must have features along with the five devices and my perceptions of each can be found below.

Must have features:

1. Ethernet connected storage.
2. RAID 1 mirroring.
3. Less than $500 total price.
4. 1TB (500GB mirrored) of drive space.
5. Works in a mixed environment.

My choices:

1. D-Link DNS-323
   Pros
   • Good user reviews on CNet.com.
   • Scalable.
   • Fast write speed.
   Cons
   • Looks like my toaster.
   • Price. With 2 500GB SATA drives this comes close to my $500 limit.
2. Linksys NAS200
   Pros
   • The NSLU2 was a success.
   • Inexpensive. Amazon.com is selling the unit at a preorder rate of $129.99 (drives not included).
   • Scalable.
   Cons
   • Yet another ugly device.
   • Not yet released.
3. Maxtor Shared Storage II
   Pros
   • Nice design.
   • Quiet.
   Cons
   • Average price. I found this retailing for $429.99. at JR.com.
   • Bad user reviews on Amazon.com.
   • Reviews suggest that the internal drives cannot be replaced.
4. NetGear SC101
   Pros
   • Inexpensive. Retails at TigerDirect.com for $74.99 (drives not included).
   • Scalable.
   Cons
   • IDE drives only.
   • Toasteresque design.
   • According to user reviews, this device may not work in a mixed environment.
5. Western Digital My Book World Edition II
   Pros
   • Price. I found the 1TB device for $356.99 at JR.com.
   • The best looking device. It reminds me of an Apple product.
   Cons
   • Horrible user reviews on both Amazon.com and CNet.com.
   • Supposedly has a very noisy fan.
   • Reviews suggest slow write speeds.

In the midst of writing this article, I ran across a detailed comparison of NAS performance specs. I’ll definitely be reviewing this information before making my final decision. I’m also open to suggestions as long as they fit within my list of must have features.

UPDATE: My final review of the Linksys NAS200 has been posted.