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[Z0001]

Hi there

I am planning to replace my large and aging HTPC with smaller form factor PCs, either using the improved video capability of integrated graphics or a dedicated card. However this means I need to put all my storage in a different "box".

Requirements are:

1. a "box" with expandable storage capacity
2. accommodate large library capacity (I have around 40TB library)
3. accommodate large drives (I have 2 14TB ones and lots of small ones)
4. library accessible by multiple Windows PCs with one PC having both read and write rights
5. drive pooling to present to Windows as a single drive (this would be nice to make things simpler)
6. accessible on my home wifi network
7. simple to manage on an ongoing basis

Are there any suggestions for the best way to go here?

Is there a dedicated box I can buy and put HDD in?

Do I need multiple NAS boxes?

Do I need a Windows server with some drive pooling software?

Many thanks!!
Z

[marko]

On a recommendation from glynor, I purchased an Addonics case for the hard drives. I set that to present the disks to Windows as "just a bunch of disks", and use a program called drivepool to merge those into one enormous drive.

This has worked without issue for ten years and counting...

[jmone]

+1 for Drive Pool under Windows (it is what I use).  Get any old PC that has lots of bays and sata connections (or add a SAS card as it will give you 8 SATA ports with 2 x SAS to SATA cables).  Share the Pool as an UNC share.  Use MC's "Rename, Move, & Copy  --> Find & Replace" to change the path from the old "M:\Media" type path to the new "\\Server\Media" UNC share.  Kick back and enjoy the content. 

[dtc]

On a recommendation from glynor, I purchased an Addonics case for the hard drives. I set that to present the disks to Windows as "just a bunch of disks", and use a program called drivepool to merge those into one enormous drive.

This has worked without issue for ten years and counting...

For years I thought JBOD was some alternative to RAID. In fact, it is just a fancy name for "just a bunch of disks".