[TriLUG] NAS box

[Brian McCullough]

On Sat, May 01, 2004 at 02:36:16PM -0400, Jon Carnes wrote:
> OpenBSD version 3.5 has just been released. This is the version that
> comes with CARP built into it (built-in firewall failover).


REALLY not wanting to start a religious war, but I have a question of
Linux vs BSD.


I have a client that needs a "disk server" and I was thinking that this
might be an opportunity to ask for recommendations.


First, of course, there is the basic question of "purpose-built" (
commercial box like a Snap Server ) or "home-brew." 


Then, and this is really my question, if I was to build a box for this
purpose, it would probably have the following specifications:

LOTS of disk space ( SATA? RAID! )
At least one Gigabit Network connection
Second network connection, at least 100 MBit.


This machine would be plugged into an existing network ( actually two
loops, one 100 MBit, one Gigabit, but this box is to a large extent for
the Gigabit side ) consisting of a Linux general purpose server ( IMAP,
SMTP, DNS, SAMBA, etc. ), a Linux firewall box, and a conglomeration of
Win 95, 98, 2K machines. ( also a soon to be dead ( or replaced ) WinMe
machine )

The big workstations, and the machines making the most use of the new
box, are Win2K.


Here's your chance to help me design an inexpensive!, big disk array, to
take the load off of the general purpose Linux server.


Thanks,
Brian