Some explanations are in order..

[BoredSysAdmin]

Not going to mention names here, but someone asked me to clarify few things to my best abilities:

This NAS, D-stuff, Home Server.. etc... what is all that and how does it differ from a typical HTPC? I'm not putting the pieces together. I just don't get the relationship between the different types of hardware.

Sure thing:
Nas - Network Attached Storage is basically one or more hard drives in typically small case which instead of sitting inside your desktop or laptop is actually outside on your desk,under it or inside closet
It connects to network and it's main function is to serve files. Cheaper (about $300-350 w/o hard drives) units have slow and cheap controller and their functions list is limited. Higher units ($600+) have faster processors - typically Atoms, more functions and faster performance etc.
Few good articles about nas:
How To Buy a NAS - The Short(er) Version
How To Choose the Right NAS for You
NAS Basics

Windows Home Server like this acer Aspire Easystore H340 is basically a NAS box, with one crucial exception, unless regular nas boxes which running customized linux based operating system, WHS runs actual Windows, basically dressed a up Windows 2008 Server. While it's still running relatively weak Atom process it allows to install ANY windows application or service, giving you more flexibility and ease of maintenance.

D-Stuff? I Guess you mean Boxee Box by D-Link?
Boxee Box is media client - which means is device which typical doesn't have any media on it, but gets it from network (like your pc, NAS or WHS)
But instead it capable of playing all sorts of video and audio files, support of different internet/streaming based media services like Youtube/Netflix/Pandora etc....

About HTPC - Its typically All of above in one box - Storage, Server and Media Client... Means bigger box, faster processor

 

[itschris]

Not going to mention names here, but someone asked me to clarify few things to my best abilities:


Sure thing:
Nas - Network Attached Storage is basically one or more hard drives in typically small case which instead of sitting inside your desktop or laptop is actually outside on your desk,under it or inside closet
It connects to network and it's main function is to serve files. Cheaper (about $300-350 w/o hard drives) units have slow and cheap controller and their functions list is limited. Higher units ($600+) have faster processors - typically Atoms, more functions and faster performance etc.
Few good articles about nas:
How To Buy a NAS - The Short(er) Version
How To Choose the Right NAS for You
NAS Basics

Windows Home Server like this acer Aspire Easystore H340 is basically a NAS box, with one crucial exception, unless regular nas boxes which running customized linux based operating system, WHS runs actual Windows, basically dressed a up Windows 2008 Server. While it's still running relatively weak Atom process it allows to install ANY windows application or service, giving you more flexibility and ease of maintenance.

D-Stuff? I Guess you mean Boxee Box by D-Link?
Boxee Box is media client - which means is device which typical doesn't have any media on it, but gets it from network (like your pc, NAS or WHS)
But instead it capable of playing all sorts of video and audio files, support of different internet/streaming based media services like Youtube/Netflix/Pandora etc....

About HTPC - Its typically All of above in one box - Storage, Server and Media Client... Means bigger box, faster processor

Okay... I'll admit it... it was me who asked the question... big shock to everyone I know.

So let me see if I got this... you have an existing computer that maybe hooked up to your HT either hard wired or by streaming like with my Pioneer Elite Home Media Gallery option. Then you have this NAS deal also on the network that stores say all your music and it sends it to your computer then to the receiver?

 

[XEagleDriver]

Is the Acer recommended?

. . .
Windows Home Server like this acer Aspire Easystore H340 is basically a NAS box, with one crucial exception, unlike regular nas boxes which running customized linux based operating system, WHS runs actual Windows, basically dressed a up Windows 2008 Server. While it's still running relatively weak Atom process it allows to install ANY windows application or service, giving you more flexibility and ease of maintenance.

BoredSysAdmin,

Is this a NAS model you would recommend for a home application with the main purpose to push music (FLAC or WMA Variable) over a home G or N wireless network?

Would you please explain "relatively weak Atom process" in a bit more detail for a computer semi-literate like me?

If not, open to other inexpensive NAS suggestions.

Thanks for help,

XEagleDriver

 

[adk highlander]

I'm also interested to know what you think of the Acer. How many media players will it really handle for streaming both video and audio?

This will be a great solution for my fireball running out of space. The fireball will not use a regular NAS because it needs software installed on the computer it will use to serve media to it. I aslo want to rip my DVD collection and home movies.

Can that Atom handle feeding FLAC to one zone and a DVD to another? Should I just build a PC and install WHS? I want something that uses as little energy as possible because it will be on all the time.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Wow, So many questions... Give me few mins and I'll try to answer everyone

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So let me see if I got this... you have an existing computer that maybe hooked up to your HT either hard wired or by streaming like with my Pioneer Elite Home Media Gallery option. Then you have this NAS deal also on the network that stores say all your music and it sends it to your computer then to the receiver?

Your Home Media Gallery [HMG] is simple DLNA client which is limited to audio files. They can fed ether directly - USB or from Network.
Network source could be ether your pc (with DLNA server installed, Like Windows Media Player 11 or others) OR Your DLNA compatible NAS.
In the latter case, music goes straight from nas box to your AVR completely bypassing PC.

AVS thread 'bout HMG - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=924951

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Is this a NAS model you would recommend for a home application with the main purpose to push music (FLAC or WMA Variable) over a home G or N wireless network?
If not, open to other inexpensive NAS suggestions.

I'd personally go with regular NAS and not WHS simply to cut costs a bit, the differences would be the prior is more simply designed to serve files, while latter is more flexible system which in addition of serving files could serve as bunch of other things one'd want as home server.
However, with benefits like ease of maintenance comes typical to Microsoft habit of selling semi-baked software and WHS was no exception:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Home_Server
There were some issues resolved, but one can pretty confident other bugs and caveats still exists.
My suggestions for home DLNA compatible NAS are as follows from cheapest going up:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822165122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108046
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822165130

I'd highly rec the last one since it expandable upto 4 drive, makes theoretically possible to expand it to have 8Tb raw capacity - about 6Tb in Raid 5.

Typically current models of NAS don't include Wifi support(you'd have to hardwire it to wifi access point), however it looks like it's about to change:
http://gizmodo.com/5355843/lgs-n2r1-wi+fi-nas-shares-1tb-of-media-for-299

Would you please explain "relatively weak Atom process" in a bit more detail for a computer semi-literate like me?

Atom CPU is mainly designed for Netbooks, smaller and cheaper laptops with main target usage is internet browsing.
Atom cpu would be a very bad choice for anything CPU intensive like Games, Video Processing, Physics Simulation etc...

Luckily for us, File Serving is not cpu intensive task so even lesser processor than Atom is sufficient, while on Atom things really fly

Off-topic:
Rule exception: ATOM ION Platform - It includes decent dedicated Video card, which recently can programmed to offload Video processing tast, which make this combo perfect for HTPC - For more info see my other post in HTPC topic.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I'm also interested to know what you think of the Acer. How many media players will it really handle for streaming both video and audio?

This will be a great solution for my fireball running out of space. The fireball will not use a regular NAS because it needs software installed on the computer it will use to serve media to it. I aslo want to rip my DVD collection and home movies.

Can that Atom handle feeding FLAC to one zone and a DVD to another? Should I just build a PC and install WHS? I want something that uses as little energy as possible because it will be on all the time.

It looks like you would the perfect client to get WHS - Acer box I mention should work out perfect for you, since you install on it, any fireball software you'd install on your home pc, but it'll consume much less power and make less noise. Other options would be to check out HP products as they make several WHS boxes as well.
Since feeding FLAC files shouldn't require re-encoding them, it'll be a mere breeze task for Atom.
I think multiple zone shouldn't be problem with right config atom box could even serve several HD sources.

 

[jonnythan]

Minor correction: WHS is stripped-down Windows Server 2003 (not 2008) with some added functions.

There is an upcoming version of WHS, named perhaps WHS v2 or WHS Premiere, that will be based on 2008.

 

[tbergman]

If you are slightly technical you could also put together a NAS using an spare computer and FreeNAS or unRAID

FreeNAS is free, weird right? And unRAID has a free version for using three drives or paid versions for up to 6 drives in plus, or 20 drives in pro. I haven't set up one of these yet, currently just serving up media from my desktop using SAMBA, but once I expand to more drives, I'll probably set one of these up. Both offer forms of software raid, unRAID uses a raid similar to raid 4 I think and is a lot like the Drobo systems, only cheaper if you build your own.

Another plus is they can both be booted from a flash drive.

 

[Warpdrv]

I have a D-Link DNS-323 NAS that I am selling if anyone is interested, it has served me well for a while, I have since upgraded to a full overkill unit.

The Dlink will stream any and all files over the network. I have had no problems with it... I used it to store movies and music that I would play with my old XBOX with XBMC running.

It will easily handle 2 SATA drives up to 2TB each. You can run them in a RAID fashion or combined - just a large drive space - JBOD fashion.

There is also a dedicated forum for people that use this product as its pretty popular and inexpensive. I believe there is even custom firmware if anyone wanted to make the most of a device like this...


http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=509

Here is basically how one would be setup on a network, which is a good diagram of what Boredsysadmin is explaining how a NAS would be connected in your network.