Adding a SAN

[Mustang]

As per my previous thread I am now the proud owener of a Buffalo SAN. It is configured to run RAID5 (factory setting). I have noticed that since I added it to my network, the speed that everything loads (including this website) has increased.

Is this down to the SAN, the way I have it set up or the fact that my router (Belkin) just cant cope and I that I should now consider upgrading it?

What does the panel think?

[VectraMan]

Are you sure it isn't a NAS?

And why do you want to upgrade if the speed of your network has increased?

[Mustang]

Are you sure it isn't a NAS?

And why do you want to upgrade if the speed of your network has increased?

Doh!! Thanks for spotting both errors VM!! Must be monday morning!!

It is indeed a NAS (can't think why I put SAN down) and the speed of the network has decreased!!

[VectraMan]

I've just ordered a Buffalo NAS too, so hopefully I'll be able to tell you tomorrow if it has the same effect.

Unless it's actually doing something (like you're copy files to/from it), then it shouldn't be having any effect.

[Mustang]

OK thanks VM. I am pleased with it so far - especially as it hasn't required me to be too techie to install it.

Look forward to hearing how you fair.....!

[basshead]

I love my Buffalo NAS

root@MRBACKUP:~# uptime
2:00pm up 312 days, 19:44, load average: 0.04, 0.07, 0.04
root@MRBACKUP:~#

(and my UPS )

[VectraMan]

Now have a Buffalo Linkstation 500 to use for backup. Works fine, no effect on the rest of the network.

Only bad thing is the web interface is extremely slow.

[lilelvis2000]

Can't think of why the NAS would slow another PC down? its not also acting as your internet proxy is it?

I only ask that as it appears from the basshead's post that it is running Linux.

[LazyFan]

NAS's often are formatted with FAT32 which is slower than NTFS. Considerably slower. This is so, MAC and LINUX can read files from the NAS as well as Windows. And that the operating system is often embedded Linux so, they do not have to sub MS a fee.

This is actually the fault of Microsoft who have made NTFS a proprietary format. Which means no one else can use it properly as it's all undocumented. There are Linux work arounds, but these are ad-hoc and never included in NAS 's. Also if you format to NTFS most NAS embedded systems will not work with it.

Most NAS systems have great specs which is a shame as they are let down by their RETRO file systems. Which starts to defeat the point of buying a barebones NAS really.

The solution?
Build your own NAS using Linux and format the drives using one of the very fast Linux drive formats (much better than NTFS). Then using Samba or SFTP you can transfer files about. Also you can upgrade your own NAS easily.

You can get empty NAS cases and small ITX motherboards now. So, it is possible. Much improvement needs to be done to the NAS scene as it's far from perfect.

[VectraMan]

File format is XFS, whatever that is.

What is concerning me is that the disk never shuts up. Nothing is using it, yet I can hear the disk constantly working. Maybe I shouldn't worry about it, but for a device designed to be left on and forgotten about it seems a bit strange.