GRC wrote: > Hi from not-so-sunny-at-the-moment Portugal, > > Would appreciate some views on the best way to go for hard disk storage > for my toons. Currently running a nice quiet but elderly Sony Vaio > 512MB laptop (so old it's USB 1.1!) under XP Pro with an external WD > Passport 160GB USB disk as the server which works fine. But the disk > is now full with close on 10,000 tracks and my external Lacie 250GB Big > Disk on the main desktop computer doesn't have enough room to backup the > data and the music files. > > Figure I should aim for a couple of external 500GB (nominal) drives, > one backing up the other, but not sure whether to just add USB drives > or head down the NAS route. Cost IS an issue (I'm retired in Euro land > and the UK pound is hurting LOTS . . .). > > Any views on recommended products / configurations? How are people > backing up these sorts of file sizes? Windoze Backup tells me it wants > 23 hours to backup the existing music files (assuming I had enough free > space), even with the external drives connected via USB 2.0 on the > desktop PC. What's the fastest (secure) way to backup? Is it faster > via NAS? > > Thanks. > > Graeme > PS For those interested : iTunes/Apple Lossless -> Linksys WAG54GX2 > Wireless -> SB3/Classic + Controller -> CA DacMagic -> Naim NAC52 -> > Naim 135s -> Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MkII; SB Boom for culinary duties > inside and outside (weather permitting!) > PPS If this has been covered before please point me at the thread - I > had a quick Search but couldn't find anything appropriate (which > doesn't mean it's not out there somewhere!)
I'm not a windoze fan (i.e. there may be windows gurus here that have better suggestions) but here is what I would do given the constraint of spending as little as possible (while still using iTunes): Buy a larger USB HDD. Such drives are usually only $20US to $50US more then buying the HDD w/o a case. (FYI, a NAS** while more fixable, is usually $50US to $150US more.) If there are not enough USB ports on your laptop, pick up a USB hub. These should be inexpensive. About $5US to $15US. First off, I am assuming you are using iTunes to rip and manage your music collection. (I hate iTunes as it contently assumes what I want to do.) Never the less, I believe there are many places describing how to migrate iTunes collections between HDDs. Read up, check twice before proceeding, and migrate your collection to the larger HDD. At this point I am not sure you need to anything more as iTunes may actually hide the fact the files have been moved from SqueezeCenter. So I would "play it by ear". If SqueezeCenter can find the iTunes files you may be done. If not, try telling SqueezeCenter to rescan. ...good luck --- **A NAS (Networked Accessible Storage) hard disk drive can be used by computers which are usually on the same network. If you go this route be prepared to pay more for the NAS then the equivalent sized USB disk. You now will also need a switch (about $15US to $30US) to connect the NAS, lap top and squeezebox. The obvious advantage is that you no longer need your lap top on to access your files on the NAS. However, because the slimdevices paradigm was to build the "slimest" client possible, a computer is required to be available to run SqueezeCenter (for things like data base manipulation, transcoding music when necessary and managing the client's controls and display). There are NAS boxes that have been "hacked" to provide these features (i.e. run SqueezeCenter). But re-purposing these boxes is NOT for the "casual user". There may be some "turn-key" SqueezeCenter solutions available that operate similar to NAS boxes. But I have never looked into this. As desk top computers have become less expensive, more powerful and less power demanding (i.e. less power, less heat => less fan noise) the need to re-purpose a small NAS box is evaporating. --- Now, all that said... If you feel up to taking a risk... And want to try to re-purpose a *re-furbished* NAS... Try searching for a Buffalo HS-DH250GL. I believe this product is at end-of-life and can be had for less then $75US from some vendors. I looked into this a bit myself and believe this is one of those ARM based processor NAS boxes that can be loading with linux and squeezecenter. I do question if it is powerful enough to do everything expected of a real computer (i.e. I bet it will falter if transcoding is required - so your music may have to be encoded to something native to your SB). But, like I said, you would be taking a risk going this route. ...have fun _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
