Network drives

I'm thinking of getting a cheap external network drive to start mirroring some folders on various LAN machines in case of a need to do a sudden backup.

I've done a cursory search for something suitable, but as this is a first for me I'm not up to spec on what is and isn't good (price wise and spec wise). I'm not after anything huge, so anything between 100GB and 200GB would be enough. Anyone have any recommendations... as cheap as possible please?

Also, whilst I'm here.... I've noticed (at least on the few I've looked at) that these things tend to be FAT32. Isn't that a bit limiting if your files are above 4GB?

Any and all advice greatly received

i dont have a network drive ,but i do have a small 80gb external HD ,(Buffalo Ministation 80gb) and mine is most definatly NTFS and not FAT32 ,maybe network drives are diff? i dont know.

tbh id say u cant really go wrong with any brand be it ,WD ,Buffalo,Lacie etc just shop around to find the best price.



BTW ,i love that sig ,reminds me of the good old Amiga days

This post has been edited by xu: May 31 2008, 07:25 PM

I have an old battered Ipod video which does not work to play music but works great as a 30gig hard drive, I have loads of films on there which Im happy to keep seperate from my hard drive, nice and easy to get rid of IF anyone comes knocking

Network drives can also be formatted Ext2 if the device runs linux. Look at the linksys thingy

No, it's Windoze I'm after.... No recommendations from anybody?

From what I have gathered so far (although I fully expect it to be wrong) I could format the drive to NTFS, but would only be able to use it via USB if I did.... If I want it on the LAN as a network drive via the usual network cables, it has to be FAT32... is that right?

I really don't wanna go into PC world and ask one of the cretins in red jumpers for advice.... doing that is akin to having a sex education talk with your mother *shudders*

how much do you want to spend, how will it be connected to the network and what will you use it for ??

I don't know what kind of drive it is and what software it runs, some run linux and can format it using ext2, some have their own protocl

As little as possible.... I was hoping to get one for around the 50 quid mark, or less (I know, probably hopelessly over ambitious)

Standard LAN cable to my network's switch, so it is accessible by all LAN clients as a network drive

 LAN.GIF ( 20.99K ) Number of downloads: 2



Mirroring of folders/files from the LAN clients for backup purposes

Plextor PX-EH16L 160GB get full retail package for the goodies

or consider this for some element of future proofing

Linksys NSLU2

Thanks, 2wisted, I'll check them out.

Anyone got any more?