NASLite Network Attached Storage

I am very impressed with your product. when I read your system requirments I figured that the floppy was needed for initial setup. now that I've gotten more information, I see that I need to keep the floppy for the config file. I'm just asking why can't the config information be stored on the hard drive? is there any way at all to run the server without a dedicated floppy drive.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Historically, the goal has been to keep the NASLite system as modular as possible, with one of the requirements being data portability. Currently, there are 7 versions of NASLite (6 floppy disk versions of NASLite and NASLite+). The storage drives are fully portable between the NASLite versions, making moving of data painless and easy. There are a fair number of folks using drive trays to move disks between NASLite servers.

Anyway, storing configuration information on a data drive can cause confusion if a drive is moved to/from servers that would normally use different network settings, such as NASLite at work and NASLite at home. Since the bootable CD-ROM can’t be written to, the floppy disk made the most sense in that situation.

We are working on a USB Flash based version that will eliminate the floppy disk completely. That solution however requires that your BIOS is capable of booting from USB Flash, so a number of older machines with less capable BIOS will not be able to use the USB Flash version of NASLite.

Hope that makes sense.

It makes perfect sence. I know that this next sugeestion will cause you to say "ARE You Nuts" do you have any idea how hard that would be to do?

Why not an approch of making a cd-rom builder? I like the Idea that the OS is on a secure unwritable media. what I have in mind is that you would start your program. The program would ask what hardware and setting you want to use etc. when build a boot disk for you to use as the boot sector of your custom CD-rom. copy the other parts of the cd to your build and off you go.

Or is it possible to modify the boot image to include the necessary changes so they are inbedded in the cd?

Jim

I'll second his suggestion for a 'cdrom builder' for floppy-less running.

If nothing else, I'd love to see the ability to include the config file in the CD image (which if the config file was written as a say .xml or plain text file to the disk) should be pretty easy to do.

Since there are no 'users' to configure per-se, the only options you really have to configure are the server name, workgroup, and IP settings.

I'd personally like to see the ability to install it to a hard drive as it would enable me to use a simple 32 mb DoM for the OS and cut down the amount of hardware (or at least the space it takes up) just that much more.

NASLite+ v1.0 for USB Flash is just around the corner. I suspect that we’ll be making a release in the next few weeks. It will eliminate the need for the CD so all 4 channels will once again be available for storage drives. It will also eliminate the need for a configuration floppy since all configuration data goes on the USB Flash.

My use is VERY non-critical if you need someone to beta let me know I'll help.

will this require a boot fomr USB motherboard or are you using a floppy to bypass this requirement i.e. floppy loads enough to mount USB and boot from there?

cheers

A board capable of booting USB is necessary. The beauty of the whole setup is that once properly configured it's as close to a firmware-driven NAS as one can get. A cheap 16Mb USB Flash drive can be mounted inside the case using one of the motherboard USB headers, making a nice, clean headless system with NO removable media (CD or floppy). You’ll see nothing but stock case faceplates

I also want to bring what may be a weird idea to some who may have the equipment. Tony please Tell me if this should work. I will try this as soon as I get a chance maybe this eve. I have a floppy adapter for Sony memory sticks. Is there any reason I can't boot from the floppy adapter run the config file and save it to the same floppy adapter? I know I can make a bootable memory stick (I've done before) will the current setup allow to save to the same drive as it boots from as long as there is space and it’s the “A” drive? This would also free up an extra IDE connection to use for another hard drive. I would never expect anyone to go out and buy the adapter but if you have one already? I know there are similar adaptors for MMC SMMC cards maybe other types as well.

Just a series of random thoughts to ponder (Maybe I need to double or triple-up the heavy-duty foil in my cap to keep the voices quiet?)

i will be very intrested in this feature and will almost certainly buy kit just for the job.

The trick will be finding low end enough kit (ok i could go medium end but thats more heat and more importantly noise to deal with)

would the discussion of kit be appropriate for this forum?

First, Tony, let me thank you for a great application. I just purchased NAS Lite+ after reading about it for about fifteen minutes. Its a great solution.

On the topic of USB boot capable computers, while this is really a great solution, it does eliminate a number of low end machines.

Would it be possible to boot of the LAN ? A number of older corporate machine provide for this.

What do you think ?

agreed it would be nice to have an alternative.. as I have many machines that could do the job CPU wise etc but zero that boot from USB... hence i would need to buy new kit.

Or pehaps a CF card in one of those snazy PCI holders could be an option?

do you get such a thing as a USB drive to PCI coverter.. hmm

I loaded the naslite floppy set to a cf and is in currently running fine and faster than the floppy stand alone.

eqpuipment:
casetronic c146 1u case
epia mII 10000 mb
512 mg ddr 2100
dazzle usb reader
64meg cf reader
four 250 wd hd
NO FLOPPY

simply ran the floppy cd install the cf in dazzle usb reader and set it up as a super floppy install. then unhooked cdrom.
the telnet into it and did the normal setup of net work...
woohooo.. nexted mission is to install to the cf with out the reader acting like a usb drive.
or maybe i got a small 250hd to play with. the secret is usb devices that hooks to the mb.. format a hd to 1.722 mb the speed increased about 45% faster than the floppy. but still slow about send large files to the nas.
quaker

people want the model number of the dazzle usb reader ill post it tomorrow from work.

Could you please explain that with little more detail?
I am very interested in how you did it but my school english is not good enough to decrypt this super-shortcut-cool-hip peace of whatever!

i put the compact flash in a usb adaptor and ran the usb installation . set it up as a superdisk . it running sweetly and faster than the floppy edition. i notices about 45% in speed differences. my next mission is to get it to boot from the compact flash thru the onboard cf adaptor that comes with that motherboard.
http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia_MII ... oardId=202
that is the motherboard that i do have. anyother Q please email me at scott@digividz.com