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In short [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Attached_Storage NAS ('''N'''etwork '''A'''ttached '''S'''torage)] is a a stand-alone device where you can install one or more harddisk-drives (either internally or externally), and then connect that device directly to your network. The NAS device is given its own IP-address and you configure it to share the harddrives and their data contents on the network to multiple client devices such as XBMC and your computer.
This way you do not have to have your computer(s) powered on all the the time and the data will still always be available on your network and accessible from multiple devices. It is also possible to 'convert' a modest computer into a dedicated NAS device, in fact that is the cheapest way to get your own NAS, (the downside with using a whole computer as a NAS device is the size of the computer-case and possibly the electricity it consums).


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<section begin="intro"/>A [[w:Network Attached Storage|NAS ('''N'''etwork '''A'''ttached '''S'''torage)]] is a stand-alone file-level computer data storage device into which you can install one or more hard drives (either internally or externally), and then connect the NAS device directly to your network. The NAS device is given its own IP address and can be configured to share the hard drives and their data contents on the network to multiple client devices, such as Kodi and other computers. With a NAS you do not have to have your computer(s) powered on permanently and your data will still always be available on your network and accessible from multiple devices. It is also possible to 'convert' a modest computer into a dedicated NAS device, and this is often the cheapest way to obtain your own NAS.<section end="intro"/>


== NAS (Network Attached Storage) and Kodi ==
Simply enable one of XBMC's supported file sharing protocols for use on the NAS. Recommended protocols include NFS, which preforms very well, and SMB, due to how common it is.


==NAS (Network Attached Storage) and XBMC==
== NAS software that works well with Kodi ==
XBMC already supports [[SMB|SMB/SAMBA/CIFS]] (and [[UPnP]]) network-protocols which many NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices support. It is also possible to stream via FTP to XBMC but that is not recommended because the FTP network-protocol was never designed for streaming so that will not be covered here, nor officialy supported.
* [http://www.freenas.org FreeNAS] ([http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/ sourceforge.net project-page]), a free open source FreeBSD-based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a SAMBA NAS device, (plus firewall and FTP-server).
To stream from a NAS device to XBMC simply setup a [[SMB|SMB/SAMBA/CIFS]] (or [[UPnP]]) share on the NAS with a username and password, (once you have configured its network settings and connected it to your network), then add a [[bookmarks|bookmark]] for that share in XBMC.
* [http://www.openfiler.com Openfiler] ([http://sourceforge.net/projects/openfiler/ sourceforge.net project-page]), a free open source Linux-based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a SAMBA NAS device.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-WRT DD-WRT], a free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, and when DD-WRT is install onto a compatible router that features an USB-port that port can usually be used to connect a USB-hard drive and share that over Samba or UPnP
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenWrt OpenWrt], a free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, and when OpenWrt is install onto a compatible router that features an USB-port that port can usually be used to connect a USB-hard drive and share that over Samba or UPnP
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeWRT FreeWRT], a free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, and when FreeWRT is install onto a compatible router that features an USB-port that port can usually be used to connect a USB-hard drive and share that over Samba or UPnP
* unRaid
* [http://www.dvblogic.com DVBLink], commercial software that turns a compatible NAS into TV Server. Kodi users can watch live and recorded TV using XBMC's PVR functionality [http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=DVBLink].


== Converting a cheap old computer into a dedicated NAS ==
This is a guide on how to make an 'old' computer into a cheap dedicated NAS box by using a free (and simple to use) operating-system/software like [http://www.freenas.org FreeNAS], [http://www.openfiler.com Openfiler] or [http://www.clarkconnect.com ClarkConnect Community Edition]. This guide will hopefully get a little more step-by-step oriented over time as people who test and play with this software add information from their experience, but for now a short description will have to do. So for now please refer to the the respective websites of the mentioned operating-systems/software for more information, documentation (user-manuals) and FAQs.


=== Required hardware ===
* The computer itself:
** As people and companies upgrade to new computers they often give away or sell their old computers, which are usually 4 to 6 year old hardware. The most common are branded desktop or midi-tower computers like those from Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, and IBM. These 'old' computers are no longer good for gaming or even office tools as they are perceived as too slow. This however means that you can get hold of them fairly inexpensively, or sometimes even for free. However, the older the computer is, the more likely you will have to spend some extra money on it to get the performance you want/need.
** The hardware needed is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86 Intel or AMD x86 (IBM-compatible) computer], at least 200Mhz processor and 96MB of RAM (however a 500Mhz+ processor and 256MB+ RAM is recommended to be able to disable the swap/page-file) and a network-controller/adapter, (FreeNAS even supports GigaBit NICs, which is great if your other computers support GigaBit too).
** The optimal installation location of the operating system can be debated. While some of these 'NAS operating systems' upload everything into RAM (if you have enough RAM), some of them require read/write access to the installation location. This means that if the installation location is on the same hard drives you are sharing, they will not be able to spin-down very often and the computer will thus generate more noise and heat. A great solution to this problem is to make the installation location a solid state memory device (that doesn't have any moving parts), such as a Compact Flash card (if you have a Compact Flash to IDE/ATA converter) or a USB flash memory key/stick (if your computer supports booting from USB). By obtaining a computer which supports booting from USB in BIOS, you can free up an ATA/SATA-slot and will be able to connect an extra hard drive to the system.
* Storage (the hard disk drives):
** The hard drives to be shared as storage can be connected via IDE/ATA, SATA, SCSI, USB or Firewire. Most of these NAS softwares also supports hardware RAID cards and software RAID 0, 1 and 5. Best is though if you get a computer with two or more IDE/ATA channels as then you can use at least four IDE/ATA hard drives which gives good value with the most GigaBytes for your buck. SATA hard drives are as cheap as IDE/ATA (and faster), however you must then purchase a SATA PCI-adapter as none of these 'old' computers comes with SATA ports on the motherboard, but one the other hand if you plan on upgrading your NAS-compuer in a year or two then those SATA hard drives (with a SATA PCI-adapter) is the smarter choise.
** Another nice feature is hard drive spin-down when idle (after ex. 30-minutes) which saves the life-time of the shared hard drives. All IDE/ATA hard drives connected to the internal IDE/ATA controller on the motherboard or on an internal a PCI-adapter support spin-down. Many external USB enclosures and internal IDE/ATA/SATA to USB-adapters on the other hand do not support spin down, remember that if you plan on connecting your drives via USB.


==The definition of NAS (Network Attached Storage)==
=== FreeNAS ===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Attached_Storage NAS ('''N'''etwork '''A'''ttached '''S'''torage)] is the name given to dedicated data storage technology that can be connected directly to a computer-network to provide centralized data-access and storage to compatible network-clients. Normally this means a harddisk-drive storage device that is attached direcly to your LAN (Local Area Network), typically a ethernet-based network, and assigned an own IP-address, rather than being attached to a computer that is serving data-files to network users. Network-Attached Storage consists of harddisk storage, (that can include support for multi-disk RAID systems), and software for configuring and mapping file locations to the Network-Attached Device. NAS software can usually handle a number of network protocols, and share formats. Configuration, including the setting of user access priorities, is usually possible using a web browser.
FreeNAS is a complete operating-system and NAS software package which is free and open source, (so you do not not need any other operating-system on the target computer) and it features a nice web-interface for all configuration, (so no keyboard/video/mouse is needed after the initial installation). The FreeNAS boot-image itself takes up less than 32MB memory and can be booted from a hard drive, or a USB-stick.


 
[[Category:Hardware-Archived]]
 
==NAS (Network Attached Storage) compatible with XBMC==
This is a list of NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices and software compatible with XBMC.<br>
'''Please feel free to add any NAS device or software that you have tested yourself and you know it works with XBMC.'''
 
===NAS devices that work with XBMC===
*[http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=640&scid=43 LinkSys NSLU2 (Network Storage Link for USB 2.0 harddisk-drives)], which is Linux and SAMBA based.
**As the NSLU2 is Linux-based you can 'hack' it and install all sort of software on it, see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSLU2 wikipedia]
*[http://www.netgear.com/products/details/wgt634u.php NetGear WTG634U Wireless Router]
**Shares from a [http://www.netgear.com/products/wgt634u_comp.php USB Mass Storage Compatible Harddrive] connected to it via USB 2.0
*[http://www.revogear.com Kuro Box (by Buffalo Technology)] for one internal harddrive. Linux-based and supports open source software.
*[http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=97&categoryid=19 Buffalo Technology TeraStation NAS 1.0 TB (HD-H1.0TGL/R5)] supports 4-drives, RAID-0/1/5 and GigaBit ethernet.
*[http://www.buffalotech.com/products/storage.php Buffalo Technology Linkstation HD-HG300LAN and HD-HG400LAN], 300GB and 400GB respective with GigaBit ethernet.
*[http://www.maxtorsolutions.com Maxtor Shared Storage™ Networking Drives]
**Maxtor Shared Storage Plus 200GB (H01R200)
**Maxtor Shared Storage Plus 300GB (H01R300)
**Maxtor Shared Storage Plus 500GB (H01R500)
**Maxtor Shared Storage II 300GB
**Maxtor Shared Storage II 500GB
**Maxtor Shared Storage II 1TB
*[http://www.snap-server.co.uk Quantum / Snap Appliance Snap Servers (Models 2000, 2040, 2200 and 4100)] (formely: [http://www.ateonix.com Ateonix Nasas]).
*ASUS WL-500g (Deluxe) Wireless-Router with USB 2.0 harddisks support, requires [http://www.macsat.com/wlguide third-party firmware].
*[http://www.thecus.com/products_over.php?cid=1&pid=1 Thecus N2100], 2-internal 3.5" SATA bays, RAID 0/1 and 3 USB-ports for external hardrives.
*Lacie Ethernet Disk Mini 250GB.
*SimpleTech SimpleShare NAS 400GB.
*[http://www.westerndigital.com Western Digital WD NetCenter™ Network Drives]
**WD NetCenter 160GB Ethernet Network Drive
**WD NetCenter 250GB Ethernet Network Drive
**WD NetCenter 320GB Ethernet Network Drive
**WD NetCenter 500GB Ethernet Network Drive
 
===NAS software that works with XBMC===
*[http://www.freenas.org FreeNAS], a free open source FreeBSD-based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a SMB NAS device.
*[http://www.serverelements.com/naslite.php NASLite], a non-free commercial closed source alternative to the above mentioned FreeNAS, boots from a single floppy diskette.
*[http://www.serverelements.com/naslite-plus.php NASLite+], the big brother of NASLite, it has more features but is a little more expensive and must boot of a CD or a USB-stick.
*[http://www.clarkconnect.com ClarkConnect Community Edition 4.0], a free Red Hat based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a firewall, ftp server and NAS. (Tested September 2006)
 
===NAS devices and software that doesn't work with XBMC===
*[http://www.usbex.com/landrive/ Hotec / Hotway / USBEX LanDrive], not working 100%, get different results with different firmwares.
*Argosy HD363N, supports SMB but doesn't seem to work with XBMC (tested March 2005)
*Tritton Simple NAS NSS001, supports SMB but doesn't seem to work with XBMC (tested September 2005)
*[http://www.macpower.com.tw/products/hdd3/pleiades/pd_usblan Macpower Pleiades USB/LAN],  supports SMB but doesn't seem to work with XBMC (tested November 2005)
*[http://www.coolmaxusa.com/productdetailsnetwork.asp?item=cn-550 CoolMax NAS Model CN-550], supports SMB but doesn't seem to work with XBMC (tested November 2005)
*NetGear Storage Central SC101, does not support SMB (only added because so many asks)!
*CompUSA external NAS enclosure
*Lantec NexStar LX supports USB/FTP/SMB but SMB doesn't work with XBMC. USB and FTP do work. (tested September 2006)
 
==Converting an computer into a dedicated NAS==
This guide on how to make and 'old' computer into a cheap dedicated NAS box using [http://www.freenas.org FreeNAS] will get a little more step-by-step oriented over time but for now a short description will have to do it, so for now please refer to the FreeNAS website at [http://www.freenas.org www.freenas.org] for more information such as documentation (user-manual) and FreeNAS FAQ.
 
FreeNAS is a complete operating-system and NAS software package which is free and open source, (so you do not not need any other operating-system on the target computer) and it features a nice web-interface for all configuration, (so no keyboard/video/mouse is needed after the initial installation). The FreeNAS boot-image itself takes up less than 32MB memory and can be booted from a harddrive, a USB-stick, or a Compact Flash card (if you have a Compact Flash to IDE/ATA converter).
The harddrives to be shared as storage can be connected via ATA/SATA, SCSI, USB or Firewire, it also supports hardware RAID cards and software RAID 0, 1 and 5.
Another nice feature is harddrive spin-down when idle (after ex. 30-minutes) which saves the life-time of the harddrives. The hardware needed is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86 Intel or AMD x86 (IBM-compatible) computer], at least 200Mhz processor and 96MB of RAM (however 500Mhz+ processor and 256MB+ RAM is recommended to be able to disable the swap/page-file), and a network-controller/adapter, (FreeNAS even supports GigaBit NIC's which is great if your other computers supports GigaBit too).
Note! By getting a computer which BIOS supports booting from USB you also free up a ATA/SATA-slot and are able to connect another harddrive to the system.

Latest revision as of 00:32, 24 August 2020

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A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a stand-alone file-level computer data storage device into which you can install one or more hard drives (either internally or externally), and then connect the NAS device directly to your network. The NAS device is given its own IP address and can be configured to share the hard drives and their data contents on the network to multiple client devices, such as Kodi and other computers. With a NAS you do not have to have your computer(s) powered on permanently and your data will still always be available on your network and accessible from multiple devices. It is also possible to 'convert' a modest computer into a dedicated NAS device, and this is often the cheapest way to obtain your own NAS.

NAS (Network Attached Storage) and Kodi

Simply enable one of XBMC's supported file sharing protocols for use on the NAS. Recommended protocols include NFS, which preforms very well, and SMB, due to how common it is.

NAS software that works well with Kodi

  • FreeNAS (sourceforge.net project-page), a free open source FreeBSD-based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a SAMBA NAS device, (plus firewall and FTP-server).
  • Openfiler (sourceforge.net project-page), a free open source Linux-based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a SAMBA NAS device.
  • DD-WRT, a free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, and when DD-WRT is install onto a compatible router that features an USB-port that port can usually be used to connect a USB-hard drive and share that over Samba or UPnP
  • OpenWrt, a free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, and when OpenWrt is install onto a compatible router that features an USB-port that port can usually be used to connect a USB-hard drive and share that over Samba or UPnP
  • FreeWRT, a free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, and when FreeWRT is install onto a compatible router that features an USB-port that port can usually be used to connect a USB-hard drive and share that over Samba or UPnP
  • unRaid
  • DVBLink, commercial software that turns a compatible NAS into TV Server. Kodi users can watch live and recorded TV using XBMC's PVR functionality [1].

Converting a cheap old computer into a dedicated NAS

This is a guide on how to make an 'old' computer into a cheap dedicated NAS box by using a free (and simple to use) operating-system/software like FreeNAS, Openfiler or ClarkConnect Community Edition. This guide will hopefully get a little more step-by-step oriented over time as people who test and play with this software add information from their experience, but for now a short description will have to do. So for now please refer to the the respective websites of the mentioned operating-systems/software for more information, documentation (user-manuals) and FAQs.

Required hardware

  • The computer itself:
    • As people and companies upgrade to new computers they often give away or sell their old computers, which are usually 4 to 6 year old hardware. The most common are branded desktop or midi-tower computers like those from Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, and IBM. These 'old' computers are no longer good for gaming or even office tools as they are perceived as too slow. This however means that you can get hold of them fairly inexpensively, or sometimes even for free. However, the older the computer is, the more likely you will have to spend some extra money on it to get the performance you want/need.
    • The hardware needed is an Intel or AMD x86 (IBM-compatible) computer, at least 200Mhz processor and 96MB of RAM (however a 500Mhz+ processor and 256MB+ RAM is recommended to be able to disable the swap/page-file) and a network-controller/adapter, (FreeNAS even supports GigaBit NICs, which is great if your other computers support GigaBit too).
    • The optimal installation location of the operating system can be debated. While some of these 'NAS operating systems' upload everything into RAM (if you have enough RAM), some of them require read/write access to the installation location. This means that if the installation location is on the same hard drives you are sharing, they will not be able to spin-down very often and the computer will thus generate more noise and heat. A great solution to this problem is to make the installation location a solid state memory device (that doesn't have any moving parts), such as a Compact Flash card (if you have a Compact Flash to IDE/ATA converter) or a USB flash memory key/stick (if your computer supports booting from USB). By obtaining a computer which supports booting from USB in BIOS, you can free up an ATA/SATA-slot and will be able to connect an extra hard drive to the system.
  • Storage (the hard disk drives):
    • The hard drives to be shared as storage can be connected via IDE/ATA, SATA, SCSI, USB or Firewire. Most of these NAS softwares also supports hardware RAID cards and software RAID 0, 1 and 5. Best is though if you get a computer with two or more IDE/ATA channels as then you can use at least four IDE/ATA hard drives which gives good value with the most GigaBytes for your buck. SATA hard drives are as cheap as IDE/ATA (and faster), however you must then purchase a SATA PCI-adapter as none of these 'old' computers comes with SATA ports on the motherboard, but one the other hand if you plan on upgrading your NAS-compuer in a year or two then those SATA hard drives (with a SATA PCI-adapter) is the smarter choise.
    • Another nice feature is hard drive spin-down when idle (after ex. 30-minutes) which saves the life-time of the shared hard drives. All IDE/ATA hard drives connected to the internal IDE/ATA controller on the motherboard or on an internal a PCI-adapter support spin-down. Many external USB enclosures and internal IDE/ATA/SATA to USB-adapters on the other hand do not support spin down, remember that if you plan on connecting your drives via USB.

FreeNAS

FreeNAS is a complete operating-system and NAS software package which is free and open source, (so you do not not need any other operating-system on the target computer) and it features a nice web-interface for all configuration, (so no keyboard/video/mouse is needed after the initial installation). The FreeNAS boot-image itself takes up less than 32MB memory and can be booted from a hard drive, or a USB-stick.

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