Set up your 8 NAS devices efficiently.
Set up your 8 NAS devices efficiently.
I have everything ready for my NAS setup: three 500GB HDDs in RAID 5, a compact drive for the operating system, and Gigabit Ethernet. For the OS, I’m leaning toward Windows 8 since it natively supports RAID 5. While some suggest Linux options like openmediavault, I’m not confident handling network configurations. It’s overwhelming with all the technical jargon—IP addresses, DNS, etc.—so I’m torn between Windows and a Linux alternative. How straightforward would each setup be?
It becomes simple once you grasp it. If you're hesitant to try something new, you can run Windows 8 as a NAS. Just keep in mind the downsides: it isn't designed for that use, so performance might drop (due to hardware). Always back up your data—RAID isn't a substitute. A regular Windows 8 PC with desktop components is more likely to fail or lose information.
You can create a shared folder on your Windows 8 NAS with specific user access settings. Use file sharing features to allow certain users to view or edit files while restricting others. Adjust permissions to match your needs, ensuring only authorized individuals can interact with the shared media collection.
If the array isn't serving as your boot drive, you should be able to navigate to My Computer (This PC) and locate the drive letter linked to the array. Right-click it, select Properties, then go to Sharing settings. Enable Advanced Sharing, check "Share this folder," name it, adjust permissions so everyone has access (Full Control = Allow, etc.), and apply. This will let network members add or modify files within the array, effectively turning it into a NAS—though it might still feel a bit clunky.
go to control panel > network and sharing center > change adapter settings > right click on the LAN connection and click properties > locate IPV4 protocol, choose it and press properties again > enter the address you see, fill in the required fields, note that your local IP depends on your router model—common examples are 192.168.1.64, 10.0.0.32, etc.—the subnet mask is typically 255.255.255.0 and the gateway matches your router’s address (such as 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.0), you may use your ISP default DNS or set it to 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 to view your current IP range. simply access the adapter, right click and select status, then details to see all settings.