NASLite Network Attached Storage

Any plans for adding security features. I love the software and the idea but with no security I'm finding it absolutely impossible to sell to a business where just anyone can go into the box and delete away. Users and groups would be nice. Just an idea.

There are no plans to implement security into NASLite-2. We are however working on a different product that is specifically targeted to SMB/CIFS clients and will provide a level of security suitable for such scenarios.

NASLite is designed to facilitate the deployment of storage disks onto a network. It also provides seamless integration of various protocols as well as cross-server portability in order to allow access to the storage content to as many client platforms as possible without restrictions.

If you are interested in protecting files stored on NASLite, take a look at TrueCrypt ( http://www.truecrypt.org/ ).

If it works as good as Naslite 2 I will purchase it!

I will say again that if you add security it will no doubt be a hit. I love it for my backup system as I have benched about all of them against it, except 2000 or 2003 server which targets backups, but without security I wouldn't offer it to a business and feel safe about it. For a residence, or home based business I would though. I will do some benchmarks on win2000 server here probably tomorrow.

I have to do more testing but what matters is security and speed in the order and it must come over a lan and not through a crossover cable. I have yet to see anyone connecting with cross over cable to back up there data. I set up 2000 advanced server and tests with passmark show 2000 server to be exactly the same speed as naslite and server had a 10/100 nic and naslite with a 10/100/1000. I will set both up with crossover cable just to see the difference there but that to me doesn't really matter its what the transfer is over a lan that really matters.

I had to reread the above couple of posts a few times just to make sure I understand what is your point. I’m still not sure I get it so I’ll try giving my view on the topic.

The first thing that you have to look at is what the client is interested to do. If the answer is to have a common working area, then Naslite may be a possibility. Next thing to consider is security and cost. In a pear-to-pear scenario, as is the case in most small and home offices, collaboration using a common network drive is ideal. That way PCs don’t have to be shared out, especially in cases where there are PCs, MACs and other platforms. Consider a design house where there may be both unix and PC based CAD machines. Or an art house where you have a bunch of MACs as well as some PCs. Allowing people to connect to your workstation is a no-no in cases like that exactly for the sake of security.

Now you may consider sharing out a filesystem via W2K server, but then you’ll have to pay per seat as well as maintain the box. Considering the fact that the goal is to have a common work area, it becomes clear that most small outfits will probably avoid the security offered by the W2K server for the sake of getting things done. It is a fact that most security strategies are circumvented for the sake of efficiency and ease in most small offices that do not have corporate policies.

So, to tie it all together, a Naslite box will allow people to have a community work area, will cost close to nothing up-front, will require little or no upkeep and will keep your field calls to a minimum. I’ve found that when clients are given a proper explanation of what it is, what it will do and what it will costs, the choice is often immediate.

What I’ve started doing is to set a couple of older machines in a typical office where one is the main and the second is the backup. The main has all services set to RW except rsync. The backup has all services set to RO with rsync disabled. The second acts as exact mirror of the first, so at night the main machine gets mirrored to the backup.

If someone deletes a file or overwrites something by mistake, they can go to the backup and fetch last nights version of the file as necessary with out the ability to change the backup.

That works very well, people love it and it costs very little in software, consumables and hardware. People are happy to cover my onsite-consulting minimum even if I’m out in half an hour.

Obviously Naslite does not fit all businesses, but I’m surprised at how many it does. Word of mouth has been excellent and I plan to sell Naslite for as long as Server Elements is willing to support it.

I’d dare to say that in today’s economy, it has definitely made my job easier.

So Kodiak#1, what exactly is your client’s need?

Thanks for the Truecrypt link Tony, i hadn't seen that and it's open source & applicable nas or not. Amazing the good links i've picked up on Server Elements in my short time being around here.