Which ReadyNAS?

[ka$h]

I'm after a ReadyNAS setup. That was the simple decision, now which one is best?

I'm wanting it to be a DLNA server capable of handling most HD file types (MKV etc) as well as an itunes server and mac time machine. SABnzbd operation is also a requirement. I want to access this from either the 360, ps3, ATV2 (JB with XBMC) or direct through the Panasonic Viera TV.

Capacity is to be 2 or 4 TB (Preferably 4)

It will sit on my Airport Extreme which will hardwire the ATV and Viera, but everything else will be wireless.

I know I can pick up a ready configured one, or make up my own from a chassis + drives. I think I want a v2 but this is where I really haven't a clue. I think I'd love the all singing and dancing 6 ultra but cost is prohibitive and would I benefit from it?

Top dollar is about £5-600 if I can get it for that or a lot less would be best.

Any ideas of which config or where to get the best deal is?

K

[evilsatan]

I have the ultra 4 with 4x2tb HDDs with 6tb usable space in raid5. The readynas uses x-raid so you could just buy 2 drives to begin with and add more in the future as required, the NAS will automatically expand the volume for you.

I would recommend getting an x86 model rather than a sparc, more power that way, I just put 4GB ram in mine as it runs sabnzbd, sickbeard and couchpotato. When accessing HD content via wireless you may find stuttered playback but using gigabit homeplugs and a gigabit switch I stream all content perfectly to my REVO with XBMC live Eden beta 2.

Ebuyer is generally the best price but look around. I even looked at second hand ones on eBay, you can save a lot when they do pop up.

[ka$h]

OK, so that's all sounding good, hadn't considered more RAM, but that'll go on the list lol!

Best drives for one of these? Am I right in thinking the WD Green should be avoided because of sleep settings or can they be reconfigured to work satisfactorily? Should I just buy some other drives instead?

edit: OK, so I've stumbled across the Ultra+ series. I guess this is just the dual core option and it's not needed for what I want. That and the fact it pushes my budget too far north (possibly)

[beerman]

You can disable the sleep on the WD green drives. The LCC value on my drives is in the 100s rather than in the 100,000s if I hadn't disabled it.

[ka$h]

Bugger it, ordered an Ultra 2+ and a couple of WD20EARS 2TB Drives to fit in there.

That should be more than enough to get me away.

Now I need to figure out how to set it all up ((SABnzbd, couch potato & sickbeard)I'm blaming you ES )