Velocity Reviews - Performance of small NAS boxes

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Performance of small NAS boxes

So is it me or does the performance of these small NAS boxes really
suck? They are small, but they are expensive and they dont seem to run
very fast....certainly the d-link one is a joke....on a gig link no
less.....

regards

Thing

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

On May 25, 2:56*pm, thing <thing.th...@gmail.com> wrote:
> So is it me or does the performance of these small NAS boxes really
> suck? They are small, but they are expensive and they dont seem to run
> very fast....certainly the d-link one is a joke....on a gig link no
> less.....

It's not just you. Even the pricey ones still suck.

At work we got a sweet not for resale deal on a 4 drive ReadyNAS a
while back. Everything about it is really cool - except for the awful
CPU performance.

It was running a SPARC version of Debian Sarge underneath the web
interface. You could ssh in and apt-get practically anything you
wanted.

We planned to use it as a rsync based backup server. While the
standard NFS/SMB/FTP stuff was just plain slow, the CPU load of rsync
brought it to its knees.

They since brought out a 6 disk unit with an Intel core2 CPU which
should perform a lot better - but last time I looked it was
horrendously expensive.

--
Cheers
Anton

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

thing wrote:
> So is it me or does the performance of these small NAS boxes really
> suck? They are small, but they are expensive and they dont seem to run
> very fast....certainly the d-link one is a joke....on a gig link no
> less.....

Not just you, I have being suitibly unimpressed with the couple I have
tried.

Worst had to be the netgear toaster one - that was so slow that it was
practically faster to burn stuff to DVD...

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

"thing" <thing.thing@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:859abb93-5214-4ae5-ab57-b403618f0519@j9g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> So is it me or does the performance of these small NAS boxes really
> suck? They are small, but they are expensive and they dont seem to run
> very fast....certainly the d-link one is a joke....on a gig link no
> less.....
>
> regards
>
> Thing

I've tried 3 so far

Netgear Storage Central:
Slow, needs software to work (ie not native NAS) but reliable.
Still in use as my main backup.

Linksys NAS 200:
Bad buy this one, slow and very flakey, though I suspect the flakeyness is
tied to heat as it starts of OK then goes flakey on big file transfers (size
and / or number)
Warranty return couldn't fault it (bugger)
Native NAS
Back in it's box under the bench, might get it out one day and try heat
sinking the CPU.

ACE Agestar aka Jaycar XC4677:
Slowish as NAS, good as USB drive, reliability depends on environment.
(power ?)
One I installed as NAS kept locking up overnight but now works A1 connected
via USB.
Another NAS connected one seems to be running fine.
Does have a built in restart timer (daily, or any particlar day of the week)
Needs SATA drives strapped back to SATA 1 speed.

(Slow means in comparison to almost any PC on a 100Mbit LAN.)

Best
Paul.

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

On Tue, 26 May 2009 10:55:55 +1200
"PeeCee" <abuse@local.host> wrote:

<snip>
> Linksys NAS 200:
> Bad buy this one, slow and very flakey, though I suspect the
> flakeyness is tied to heat as it starts of OK then goes flakey on big
> file transfers (size and / or number)
> Warranty return couldn't fault it (bugger)
> Native NAS
> Back in it's box under the bench, might get it out one day and try
> heat sinking the CPU.
<snip>
Hi
I've got a NAS200 here, works ok (even on large file transfers) the
processor is way powerful at 50 bogomips lol But I did upgrade the
firmware to this;

<http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60636>

If you don't need the media server disable it, I only enable if I'm
going to stream something to the xbox360.

--
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
up 4 days 19:59, 1 user, load average: 0.17, 0.26, 0.28
ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

"Malcolm" <malcolm_nospamlewis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:20090525184247.72c48732@mizz-piggy.muppetwifi.homeunix.net...
> On Tue, 26 May 2009 10:55:55 +1200
> "PeeCee" <abuse@local.host> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>> Linksys NAS 200:
>> Bad buy this one, slow and very flakey, though I suspect the
>> flakeyness is tied to heat as it starts of OK then goes flakey on big
>> file transfers (size and / or number)
>> Warranty return couldn't fault it (bugger)
>> Native NAS
>> Back in it's box under the bench, might get it out one day and try
>> heat sinking the CPU.
> <snip>
> Hi
> I've got a NAS200 here, works ok (even on large file transfers) the
> processor is way powerful at 50 bogomips lol But I did upgrade the
> firmware to this;
>
> <http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60636>
>
> If you don't need the media server disable it, I only enable if I'm
> going to stream something to the xbox360.
>
> --
> Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
> openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
> up 4 days 19:59, 1 user, load average: 0.17, 0.26, 0.28
> ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME
>

Malcom

Thanks for the heads up but I've already done the firmware update/upgrade,
and turning off any media servers is the first thing I do with these boxes.

mmm just had another thought, I wonder if the NAS200 needs SATA II drives
strapped back to SATA I like the Jaycar does mmmmmmm!

Thanks again
Paul.

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

On Tue, 26 May 2009 11:48:24 +1200
"PeeCee" <abuse@local.host> wrote:

> "Malcolm" <malcolm_nospamlewis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:20090525184247.72c48732@mizz-piggy.muppetwifi.homeunix.net...
> > On Tue, 26 May 2009 10:55:55 +1200
> > "PeeCee" <abuse@local.host> wrote:
> >
> > <snip>
> >> Linksys NAS 200:
> >> Bad buy this one, slow and very flakey, though I suspect the
> >> flakeyness is tied to heat as it starts of OK then goes flakey on
> >> big file transfers (size and / or number)
> >> Warranty return couldn't fault it (bugger)
> >> Native NAS
> >> Back in it's box under the bench, might get it out one day and try
> >> heat sinking the CPU.
> > <snip>
> > Hi
> > I've got a NAS200 here, works ok (even on large file transfers) the
> > processor is way powerful at 50 bogomips lol But I did upgrade the
> > firmware to this;
> >
> > <http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60636>
> >
> > If you don't need the media server disable it, I only enable if I'm
> > going to stream something to the xbox360.
> >
> > --
> > Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
> > openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
> > up 4 days 19:59, 1 user, load average: 0.17, 0.26, 0.28
> > ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME
> >
>
>
>
> Malcom
>
> Thanks for the heads up but I've already done the firmware
> update/upgrade, and turning off any media servers is the first thing
> I do with these boxes.
>
> mmm just had another thought, I wonder if the NAS200 needs SATA II
> drives strapped back to SATA I like the Jaycar does mmmmmmm!
>
> Thanks again
> Paul.
>
Hi
Hmmm, never did that. I'm running a couple of 250GB SATAII drives in
mirror config. It is slow though on initial config and if your
transferring a lot of data at the start.

But now it's in use it doesn't seem too bad. For US$100.00 here it's
doing what I need, plus the ability to connect an external drive for a
backup of the data is good for enough for me ;)

--
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
up 4 days 23:06, 1 user, load average: 0.52, 0.39, 0.27
ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

"Malcolm" <malcolm_nospamlewis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:20090525214812.1bbb7c80@mizz-piggy.muppetwifi.homeunix.net...
> On Tue, 26 May 2009 11:48:24 +1200
> "PeeCee" <abuse@local.host> wrote:
>
>> "Malcolm" <malcolm_nospamlewis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>> news:20090525184247.72c48732@mizz-piggy.muppetwifi.homeunix.net...
>> > On Tue, 26 May 2009 10:55:55 +1200
>> > "PeeCee" <abuse@local.host> wrote:
>> >
>> > <snip>
>> >> Linksys NAS 200:
>> >> Bad buy this one, slow and very flakey, though I suspect the
>> >> flakeyness is tied to heat as it starts of OK then goes flakey on
>> >> big file transfers (size and / or number)
>> >> Warranty return couldn't fault it (bugger)
>> >> Native NAS
>> >> Back in it's box under the bench, might get it out one day and try
>> >> heat sinking the CPU.
>> > <snip>
>> > Hi
>> > I've got a NAS200 here, works ok (even on large file transfers) the
>> > processor is way powerful at 50 bogomips lol But I did upgrade the
>> > firmware to this;
>> >
>> > <http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60636>
>> >
>> > If you don't need the media server disable it, I only enable if I'm
>> > going to stream something to the xbox360.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
>> > openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
>> > up 4 days 19:59, 1 user, load average: 0.17, 0.26, 0.28
>> > ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Malcom
>>
>> Thanks for the heads up but I've already done the firmware
>> update/upgrade, and turning off any media servers is the first thing
>> I do with these boxes.
>>
>> mmm just had another thought, I wonder if the NAS200 needs SATA II
>> drives strapped back to SATA I like the Jaycar does mmmmmmm!
>>
>> Thanks again
>> Paul.
>>
> Hi
> Hmmm, never did that. I'm running a couple of 250GB SATAII drives in
> mirror config. It is slow though on initial config and if your
> transferring a lot of data at the start.
>
> But now it's in use it doesn't seem too bad. For US$100.00 here it's
> doing what I need, plus the ability to connect an external drive for a
> backup of the data is good for enough for me ;)
>
> --
> Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
> openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
> up 4 days 23:06, 1 user, load average: 0.52, 0.39, 0.27
> ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME
>

Hi again Malcolm

It was when I was doing those initial backups that it gave me the problems.
I have something like 250GB to backup so the NAS200 was going to run for
some hours given it's slow LAN speed.
Well it never ran for 'hours' as invariably a few 10's of GB into the backup
it would lockup.
Only fix was to totaly power off by turning off the AC mains, it certainly
wouldn't turn off by the power switch on the back panel.
This is what makes me wonder if it's heat related.

The frustrating thing is the dealer had it running for some 2 weeks in their
workshop, using it as a general backup box for hard drive images, and they
just could not break it.

Maybe I can find someone with lighter backup needs I can flog it off to.

Best
Paul.

Re: Performance of small NAS boxes

Somewhere on teh intarwebs Allistar wrote:
> If you want a fast way to do a backup to an external drive that you
> can take off site, you can get a 1>2Tb external drive with an eSATA
> connection for little cash. Blazingly fast speed (although the one I
> just bought didn't actually come with an eSATA cable, so I backed up
> >300Gb over Firewire. Ouch.)

Sounds painful. I've just fitted two more of these to my desktop:

http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspeci...?ItemID=372808

Full SATA speed and you can remove the drive in seconds.

(BTW, ignore the writing on that page, it's all wrong, wasn't like that a
couple days ago when I ordered them. Just look at the picture.)

I have four of those bays in my desktop now, the bay that holds my boot
drive is locked, all the others can hold various drives at different times.
Great idea IMO.
--
Shaun.

"Build a man a fire, and he`ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and
he`ll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett, Jingo.