[sikoniko]

I need a storage repository. I am using MyMovies and think the WHS integration is cool. I have been looking at buying the Mediasmart 495, but I am concerned that Microsoft will release the next version of WHS (Veil?) and HP's answer will to buy new hardware, not provide an in-place upgrade option. With that being said, I have priced out hardware, and I could basically buy and build my own WHS for about the same price. It would be a little more expensive to get the external drive bays, but I'm not sure that is necessary, as I don't see pulling drives once they are installed. Then, I would have the ability to upgrade at my choosing, and not be constrained by HP.


Now, If I go this route, is it WHS that does the mirroring/replication or something HP is doing? What I like about the HP is that I can add different sized drives, and they will replicate, so I am not stuck with the limitations of RAID.


Thanks for your feedback and input.

 

[dbone1026]



Quote:
Originally Posted by sikoniko /forum/post/18239993


I need a storage repository. I am using MyMovies and think the WHS integration is cool. I have been looking at buying the Mediasmart 495, but I am concerned that Microsoft will release the next version of WHS (Veil?) and HP's answer will to buy new hardware, not provide an in-place upgrade option. With that being said, I have priced out hardware, and I could basically buy and build my own WHS for about the same price. It would be a little more expensive to get the external drive bays, but I'm not sure that is necessary, as I don't see pulling drives once they are installed. Then, I would have the ability to upgrade at my choosing, and not be constrained by HP.


Now, If I go this route, is it WHS that does the mirroring/replication or something HP is doing? What I like about the HP is that I can add different sized drives, and they will replicate, so I am not stuck with the limitations of RAID.


Thanks for your feedback and input.

I would expect that there will be no "upgrade path" from WHS to Vail with the MediaSmart Servers (this is just a guess on my part).


The duplication features are WHS related and have nothing to do with HP.


Tough call which way to go. I originally started out with an EX470, but it sold it a few months ago to build my own WHS because I needed more room to grow. I set my dad up with an EX495 + TR5M. The HP MediaSmart line is a great way to introduce someone to WHS. There is no right answer, either way I think you will be fine.

 

[J_P_A]



Quote:
Originally Posted by sikoniko /forum/post/18239993


What I like about the HP is that I can add different sized drives, and they will replicate, so I am not stuck with the limitations of RAID.


Thanks for your feedback and input.

The ability to use different sized drives is a feature of WHS as well. So a home built machine would be able to do that as well.


I've been using WHS for over a year now on a custom built machine, and I've had no problems whatsoever. My wife even likes it!

 

[aero12]

A fair amount depends on your WHS OS costs. For example if you have technet or are thinking of getting it WHS is included in it.

Also a question would be do you have a mac at home, since HP's WHS line's Timemachine add-in actually works pretty well and you can't add that to your own WHS build.

 

[bighick]

Homebrew is more expandable - buy a mobo with 6 sata, bigger case to house more drives, more pci-e/pci slots for for sata cards

 

[sikoniko]

I have an MSDN and Technet account through work so the software is not an issue. I have decided to build a new PC for my main HTPC and use the old parts for my WHS. I'm just unsure of what case and how big a power supply I want to go with at this point for the WHS...

 

[aero12]



Quote:
Originally Posted by sikoniko /forum/post/18251954


I have an MSDN and Technet account through work so the software is not an issue. I have decided to build a new PC for my main HTPC and use the old parts for my WHS. I'm just unsure of what case and how big a power supply I want to go with at this point for the WHS...

Yes if you have technet build your own is more compelling. In my case I used technet and a $135 SS4200

 

[terryj47]

I've been running a "roll your own" WHS now for a few months now. Backs up our PCs every night. Shares out pictures and music. We store MC TV recordings on it to offload some of the recordings from our media center PCs (for of them). It has worked great so far. Cost me about the same as a turn-key box from one of the major manufacturers but it has over two terabytes of storage at that price and room for four more drives! Tried some of the other server/raid systems and WHS seemed like the best fit for our needs.