What do you store on your NAS/FreeNAS?

So what do you store on your home NAS/FreeNAS? I'm trying to get back to using/learning NAS.

I played around with FreeNAS once, but just found myself asking why use this versus an external usb HD (which I already have and use ... and file transfer is faster).

Or, why use FreeNAS versus just sharing/streaming files off of Windows XP? The XP interface/OS is so much easier to use compared to the FreeNAS web gui.

I know how to easily set permissions on XP; use encryption via truecrypt; install and configure streaming software so I can play things on my PS3; etc.

I'm not hating on NAS. In fact, I want to get back into learning about NAS (early dreams of being a Sys Admin). Perhaps my thinking/reasoning for a FreeNAS and what I would store on it is off. Thus, I'm inquiring.

I backup data from my computers onto FreeNAS. Basically it's a mirror of data.
The data I want to hold onto is in 2 places should a hard drive fail or a virus destroy my data, etc.

I store Movies, TV shows, My iTunes Database, Software Backups, Work related files, etc.

I run FreeNAS over windows because it's easier to administer, doesn't need a monitor attached to it, far more robust, uses a superior file storage system and was cheaper!

I'm thinking about setting up a FreeNAS server this weekend with my spare parts that I have lying around. Will probably store movies, back up files, music etc...

Yeah, I'm thinking of storing things like MP3s; install files; streaming videos; books; reading materials; photos; ... anything that would require immediate access--and access by multiple devices.

The other question ... What should I NOT store on it?

I had previously store ISOs; ripped DVDs; etc. I don't think I will do that anymore. And I will just keep those kinds of files on the external usb HD. Primarily because transferring it off the NAS is slow compared to the USB. When would I primarily transfer those files? When burning an ISO to disk; backing up an ISO file; burning the ripped DVDs to disk; etc.

Quote from XReflection : I'm thinking about setting up a FreeNAS server this weekend with my spare parts that I have lying around. Will probably store movies, back up files, music etc...

Yep, I'm thinking/looking to playing around with it again too this weekend. I guess I just need to figure out how best to utilize it.

Quote from Samwise Gamgee : Yep, I'm thinking/looking to playing around with it again too this weekend. I guess I just need to figure out how best to utilize it.

How best to utilize is all subjective I would think.

Quote from Samwise Gamgee : Yeah, I'm thinking of storing things like MP3s; install files; streaming videos; books; reading materials; photos; ... anything that would require immediate access--and access by multiple devices. The other question ... What should I NOT store on it? I had previously store ISOs; ripped DVDs; etc. I don't think I will do that anymore. And I will just keep those kinds of files on the external usb HD. Primarily because transferring it off the NAS is slow compared to the USB. When would I primarily transfer those files? When burning an ISO to disk; backing up an ISO file; burning the ripped DVDs to disk; etc.

Not slow if the NAS is on GigE.

I have a NAS but I run Linux rather than FreeNAS. Why you ask? Good question. It allows me to run pyTivo (for my Tivos), uShare (for my DLNAs), SABnzbd and Sickbeard (for automatic TV show downloading from usenet). That turns it into a full media center with the 8x2TB drives in a RAID6 configuration in addition to the time machine backups, photos and subversion archives that I keep on it.

Believe me, if the house was on fire, that machine is the one thing I would grab on the way out!

Porn. Gigs upon gigs of porn. Joking aside, I use it for Media Storage. Anything I want the other computers, or even visitors be able to access. Things I want to get from the Internet from home when my computer or laptop is off.

I keep off a lot of the sensitive stuff. Documents and other secure things o to the local hard drive and encrypted flash drive. Just for a little extra level of paranoia.

Quote from wmelnick : I have a NAS but I run Linux rather than FreeNAS. Why you ask? Good question. It allows me to run pyTivo (for my Tivos), uShare (for my DLNAs), SABnzbd and Sickbeard (for automatic TV show downloading from usenet). That turns it into a full media center with the 8x2TB drives in a RAID6 configuration in addition to the time machine backups, photos and subversion archives that I keep on it. Believe me, if the house was on fire, that machine is the one thing I would grab on the way out!

I tried to get ubuntu server up and running but RAID management is crap on Linux. I was using MDADM and then it just broke and started recognizing a mirror array that was never even created. I suspected it had to do with device IDs and the BIOS recognizing devices in different order, but I don't have time to sit there for hours and fix it! God forbid I was trying to restore the array!

If Ubuntu rolls in ZFS support I might give it another shot.

OP, I have had some form of NAS for a while. It's tremendously helpful in a wide variety of things which all the other posters have touched on. I am not real sure why you wouldn't want to keep a copy of your .iso's or ripped stuff on an NAS as well, if nothing else, for backup purposes.

wmelnick, PM'd you. Looks interesting. Feel free to share here if you deem appropriate.

I am runnign mdadm under Centos and have not had any problems with it. It is not the quickest RAID in the world but you do not need ultra speedy HD I/O for what I am doing.

Ubuntu is a nice desktop, but you should run a RedHat derivative for your server.

I put stuff downloaded from Internet on my NAS. As the data grow, 6 external drives are just not going to cut it. Too many AC adapters and lack of redundancy makes keeping up the data grow rate much more difficult.

If you are looking for an easy route, go with what you feel the most comfortable. Using a USB storage link (previously nslu2 and later pogoplug) was working for me before but now I am planning to use a mid ATX tower with lots of hard drive and raidz with FreeNAS to archive the Internet. (well the plan probably won't fly until the drive price goes back down next year). Plus with linux/bsd I have many free file/media transferring protocols to choose from. Yes it takes time to set things up but once it's set, it will keep running throughout the system's life. No once-a-week rebooting because of the software update or windows crash nonsense.