Build a network attached storage device

[yamawho]

Over the weekend I was checking out the offerings from Plextor and HP. Then the thought came to me, I can build this ...

FreeNAS is a small app, based on FreeBSD, to use a PC as a network-attached storage device. It's powerful enough to be used in a business, but it's friendly enough so that even a typical home office user can use it.

First, you'll need a machine to serve as a dedicated NAS box. An old PC will work just fine. I used a old Compaq PII 350mhz, 128mb ram, 160gb Maxtor ide hdd. All it really needs to have is an Ethernet connection, wired or wireless, and a disk drive. Even a USB key drive or CompactFlash card can be used for storage, but I went with a standard IDE drive. Old systems may not support larger hdd's as was my case. However, ATINUT was kind enough to help me out and reminded me that I needed to use a ata100 pci card so the system would support larger hard drives. I happened to have one in the closet so life is good.

The FreeNAS ISO is only about 38MB -- nowhere near the size of a full Linux distro. I downloaded the file and burned a CD, then was ready to install FreeNAS. When you boot from the cd you are presented with the following;

1.Assign interfaces
2.Set LAN IP address
3.Reset webGUI password
4.Reset to factory defaults
5.Reboot
6.Ping host
7.Install on HD/CF/USB key
8.Shell
9.PowerOff system

I recommend that you download the 73-page FreeNAS Setup and User Guide and read it.
If you are installing to the hdd like I did, you need to start with option 7.
The second option, for two partitions, creates both a system partition and a storage partition on the same hdd. If you choose the 1st option, you will need to have another hdd for the data.

After a reboot, you need to remove the cd, you need to go the step 1 and 2 since the same menus appear. That done, access the web GUI by the IP address from another system on the network ie 192.168.1.138.

Next you add a drive to be used for storage, I first clicked on Disks -> Management in the webGUI, then clicked on the icon with the plus sign in it.

Then I set a mount point by first clicking on Disks -> Mount Point, then adding a mount point on the previously added drive. If you chose the two-partition drive during installation, be sure to specify partition 2 on this screen.

Finally you need to add a service to communicate with windows systems and linux you need to choose CIFS.

That's about it ... painting is optional.

Link ...

FreeNAS: The Free NAS Server - Home

[Protoplasm72]

Sounds like a good project. What kind of transfer speeds do you get?

[yamawho]

I haven't benched but it feels as fast as file transfers between computers on the network. I'm very happy with it so far. It works without issues with winXP and Mepis linux. I can add hard disks any time as well. All I would need to do is mount them.
The webGUI makes it very user friendly.

I googled and found posts stating that FTP transfer service was faster than CIFS but I guess you can configure it to your liking.

If you read the install docs and follow along, it's very easy.

[yamawho]

Here is a link to Novell page on installing FreeNAS ...

HOWTO: Install FreeNAS - DeveloperNet

I also added a few screen shots of the webGUI.

[zsaz1029]

Glad you linked this in another thread. I have an older PC lying around that I may install this on. Great idea. Months later, any after thoughts? How large was the initial (OS) partition that you made? FreeNAS only needs 32 Mb?

[yamawho]

Seems like ages since I even touched it ... it's on 24/7.
I set the hdd to spin down after 10 min of not being used.

I used the option to install the OS to the hdd and didn't need to partition ... it does it all.
The partition is very small.

I plan to add another hdd in the future ... maybe another 160GB or a 250.

The only thing I wish it could do is use it as a print server as well.

Zero issues since day one ... go for it

[SRTDodge05]

If you need to use a pc i would just load a xp or something on it and it will do the samething with more options. Nice thing about having a true nas box is it doesnt use much power and they are small.

[yamawho]

Originally Posted by SRTDodge05

If you need to use a pc i would just load a xp or something on it and it will do the samething with more options. Nice thing about having a true nas box is it doesnt use much power and they are small.

True ... but FreeNAS is free and XP isn't.

With FreeNAS you learn something and with XP you just line Bill's pockets.

[SRTDodge05]

I didnt say you had to use xp, a old copy of 2k or win98 will work just fine or some kind of linux. Nice thing about using a pc is you can load it up with many of drives as you want.

[zsaz1029]

Playing around with this on an old Compaq Presario desktop. (If only I could find another HDD caddy for this machine.)

Thanks yamawho!!!

[PeterT]

Just found this thread. Thanks for the info Yamawho!
Is that an LS120 drive in that box? Haven't seen one of those in a while!

[yamawho]

It's just a 3.5 floppy ... Compaq style.

Been using it alot more lately.

I used Acronis True Image 8, 9 and 10 to make images over the network.
Had issues depending on which system I was backing up ... nothing to do with FreeNAS however.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by yamawho

It's just a 3.5 floppy ... Compaq style.

Been using it alot more lately.

I used Acronis True Image 8, 9 and 10 to make images over the network.
Had issues depending on which system I was backing up ... nothing to do with FreeNAS however.

Oh, looked like an LS120.
That's what I was thinking of maybe using this for. Images stored on my old CUSL2, which is collecting dust at the moment.

[Spawn_abx]

woot!

I've got an aging Asus Terminator this would work great on... At the moment its on the sitting on the floor an not being used, and this is exactly the type of thing I wanted to use it for...

RADIUS support and all...

Thanks!

Vince

[yamawho]

Found another guide to install FreeNAS ...

HowTo Install FreeNAS

Windows Backup With Rsync and FreeNAS