Hard Disk For Network

Hey frnds
i've got a soho lan internet network, connecting my desktop to adsl modem router via ethernet & my laptop via wireless. I want to have some kind of hard disk connected to my router (by ethernet) which can be accessible from both the computers. One more thing i want a cheapest solution.
Your expert suggestions are required.
Thnx n rgds

 

What you want is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device. Now i've never actually used one before at home so I cannot make any recommendations but I know there are alot of folks on here who use them so i'll let them chime in and make their suggestions.

 

Thanx buddy
more expert suggestions are welcome..

 

Get a $30 Asus WL-520Gu router and load tomato firmware on it. Then, hook up a usb hdd to the router and hook the router to your network. Then you'll have a cheap NAS or wireless NAS.

 

Could you instead plug an external USB hub into the USB port on the back of the router, and then plug several USB drives into the USB hub?

 

Your Router needs to be NAS capable for the solution to work properly. NAS capable Routers essentially connect to the external drive (I use a 1TB Seagate) via USB, and then you turn on the UPnP Media Server function of the Router, then stream content either wirelessly or over Ethernet connection,then stream content either wirelessly or over Ethernet connection, to access Streaming Video, MP3's, etc., whatever content you have on it.

The other option is to forget using an NAS solution altogether with your Router, and hook an external drive to your master network computer (or even any networked system), then set up File Sharing functions for all systems. This would allow you to directly access the external drive from any system, in effect giving you the same thing without needing NAS capability. Having NAS capability on a Router is more for Wireless Streaming rather than Ethernet anyway.

If you don't know how to do it, use Network Magic Pro (Linksys/Cisco). It's easy as point and click to setup Sharing of systems and drives once you install it on each system (you get 8 licenses per copy). It has a 2 week full trial you can dowload, and it doesn't cost that much. I use it to administer and monitor my own Network. If you've ever used a Linksys Router, it's an upgraded version of their LELA Admin program that they use for all their Router setup and network monitoring, just with a lot more capability. The one feature I really like is the Network Map - it'll show you at a glance your whole network, each device,which ones are active and connected, etc., any intruders, etc.

You can check it out here: Network Magic Pro

 

Yes.. you can hook up a usb hub or multiple usb hubs into the back of the usb port and use it as a wired/wireless nas containing multiple drives and usb print server.

 

Cool! That would make a very sweet little DIY network drive setup.

 

I m using a utstarcom wa3002g4 adsl modem router and don't want to invest in a new router. also my router doesnt have a usb port..is there any way i can attach an external hard disk thru usb and access it on lan??

 

Get an external enclosure that has an ethernet connection, such as this iOmega external drive. Then, plug it into one of the available ports on your modem/router.

 

If i do this way, i suppose the system to which this external drive is hooked, needs to be kept on every time i need to access data from other system?? (correct me if i'm wrong) if thats the case, this fails to serve my purpose and i feel NAS is too expensive solution for me..

 

Well... if $30 NAS solution (excluding the price of the usb storage device) is too expensive, then there's no other way.

 

asus is not freely available at my place can u suggest something else like dlink or linksys or netgear & also a cheap usb hdd..thanx..

 

You can check out D-Link's website (and any other router manufacturer's website), find a router that does what you want, then google for a cheap price and/or check eBay. You can also do a little research and find a cheap enclosure and buy a cheap hard drive online, too.

 

Dlink DIR-320, Dlink DIR-330
Linksys WRT-SL54GS, Linksys WRT350N, Linksys WRT 600N

 

@ jackluo923
Sorry cudnt get back early due to unavoidable reasons..
Please confirm that these routers will work straight away out of the box or i am required to do some modifications??
Also confirm .. can i connect usb hub to the router for two purposes simaltaneously ie, as nas & print server both..
Also btw anybody has got any idea 'how all in one performs ie, all functions print / scan/ copy / fax when connected via print server'??

 

Um... out of the box, Asus Wl520GE can be used as a print server only. You'll need to use a "virtual usb hub" software on your computer in order to use the networked printer.

However, I flashed my router with Tomato. You'll need to flash it with DD-WRT before flashing to Tomato through. That's how I did it.

Both DD-Wrt and Tomato both have usb support, but I like tomato better.

With tomato, the asus router supports
-bi-directional copying (you can use AIO printers and scan wirelessly)
-print server
-ext2/3 and fat file system support for NAS
-FTP servers for connected usb storage devices
-Samba file sharing/NAS

 

what if there is some problem while flashing firmware?? Is it safe enough?? Can we get back to the original firmware provided by oem??

 

Addonics makes a usb-ethernet dongle that lets you put ANY usb devce on your ethernet, including hard drives.

 

Hey buddy none of the above models is available in india at my place. linksys 610n, apple airport extreme n dlink 685 are available with network storage (usb) facility but are too expensive, appx. USD 200 at my place. Not able to get any solution :cry: . Dunno what to do..

Any body from india who can give some india specific cheap solution??

EDIT: NAS is also too costly, i infact liked apple time capsule a lot but thats appx usd 300 at my place for 500gb. if i get some cheap usb storage router max usd 70, i can buy a usb hdd for appx. usd 70 n that will sovle my purpose (appx usd 140 in total)

 

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20382
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25392
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26320

Something like that. Just plug it in your existing network Basically similar to Addonics previously mentioned but cheaper and non-branded.

 

Thanks for the suggetion buddy. I've already looked at those options, these all have got mixed reviews. I needed an additional router also, thats why i'm going for belkin n+ adsl modem router (wireless) with usb storage facility. I feel this will solve my purpose. I'm getting it for appx 125 usd, another 60 usd for an external usb hdd and i'll be having my small personal nas.