External HD with: Ethernet 100/1000 and (USB 2.0 or Firewire). Suggestions?

Hi there,

Now that I have a laptop, I need some more room to store my files and backups.
I thought about a 400-500 GB external hard drive but I really can't find the one for me. What I want is:

1. Ethernet interface for frequent sharing of small file on a tiny domestic network. My PC and laptop have a 100 Mb/s interface so the 1000 Mb/s is a "just in case" requirement.
   
2. A fast interface for big and fast data transfer. Either Usb 2.0 or Firewire. I have no preferences but I'd like to use Linux too. Not only Windows.
   
3. Possibility to create as many partitions as I want and of the type I want. For example I would like to have ext3 partitions, FAT32 partitions and NTFS partitions. I've found netdisks that (according to the owner) could only have FAT partitions.
   
4. A sleek, unobtrusive, anonymous, clean design. A rectangular aluminium box with side fins would be fine. No fancy leds, possibly no fans and a simple upgrade path (read: four screws and a connector so that I can replace the disk)

Any ideas? So far I've only found USB only units or USB + Ethernet units with the FAT only limitation (and an unbearably ugly look). It would be all right for me to buy the external box and the HD separately.

Thanks for any hints.

 

Bump.
Wow, looks like this thing does not exist in the real world.
:-(

 

Sure they do, they are called nas (network access storage) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...DEPA=0&Description=network+hard+drive&x=0&y=0

 

I have never tried but I dont see why you couldnt have any type of external hdd and just share it with your network thru your computer like you would an internal hard drive, that will drop the cost of your item considerably.

I have seen the 500gb Western Digital Essential with the USB2.0 for 99$, I also assume you can partition it any way you like no problems.

 

I've been running the Dlink DNS 323 for about 4 months now, and works great! It can use one or two HDD's, and has options for RAID0 or RAID1 drive systems. I also have it rigged up to share data to my PS3 (Music, Video and Pictures) in the living room, and it also has a built in iTunes server for music across my entire network with Macs and PCs. Highly recommended!

 

Thanks for answering.
I had stumbled upon the NAS offering before, but they have a few problems (from my point of view): they usually do not offer a dual interface (I also need a USB 2 interface for transferring big files, since at the moment both my 'puters have a 100 Mbps Ethernet interface); they cost a lot more, being 'industrial grade' products; most of them for the latter reason feature an active cooling with fans. I was trying to find a dual interface product for home use in the 75-100 $ price range (box only).

I actually managed to find one (some 150$ with a 400 GB hd included) but it was too ugly for my delicate tastes )) and, according to the owner, only allowed a FAT filesystem (presumably - but I maybe wrong - because the embedded computer setting up the net interface understands only FAT filesystems - and that's a bad, bad sign).

 

Thanks, but this only has one type of interface. I need a dual interface product.
Besides, I am also looking for a sleek design: this one is a little too bulky for standing on my desktop.

I know, I know, I'm a nitpicking ********...

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

 

I'm not sure I'm following you...
An external hard drive need some sort of interface. A USB or firewire interface can let you format the drive the way you want. An ethernet interface, AFAIK, needs the setup of a small computing environment to have the data in the disk shared with other nodes in the network. It seems that in certain cases the higher application layers are capable to understand only certain filesystems.
This may not be the case with industrial rated NAS, whose price reflects the higher flexibility of the product, but it happened with the few (dual interface) home products I've managed to find so far.

This may be due to the fact that implementing a multi-filesystem environment would mean more memory, more computing power, more royalties (?).

 

Have a look at the Freecom range of network hard drives..or MyBook drives by W.D.

 

BINGO!!!
I've found my external drive! 400 GB, Ethernet and Usb 2.0, no fans and a nice design.
At a reasonable price with 2 yrs warranty, and in my Country, too.

Thanks a bunch.