Is it worth it installing a new disk in Lacie?

[geky13]

Hello,

I have two Lacie NS2 each with 1 TB of disc space. I think one is a classic and the other is a lite version.
I am very happy with them and am running the latest lacie firmware.

I have been thinking to make an upgrade of discs in order to acquire some more storage, thus the plan is to buy 2 SATA Seagate Barracuda 2TB disks.
Before deciding to install these disks in the Lacies I have the following questions:

1. In my Gbit LAN network i can achieve maximum 45 MBytes/sec (varies from 12 to 45 depending on read or write and from where to where) transfer rates from and to the lacies (to and from Lacie classic to lite, to and from lacies to PC internal and external USB hard disks etc).
In case of deciding to upgrade the lacies with the new disks and also install the latest firmware from Plugout, would I see an increase of transfer speeds?

2. What are the original disks in the lacies? I mean interface-wise, SATA1,2, SSCSI? IDE?

3. In case I go forward with the upgrade and wish to perform via the windows 7 environment (sorry am not too much of a Linux guy :-)), could you please link to the appropriate guides: Guide to physically exchange the drives and guide to install the new firmware?

My other alternative is to use an old XP machine to run as a file server with TVrsity as the media server. For this solution I would need to spend about 60 euros extra for a SATA controller to IDE interface and a Gbit LAN IDE card.
This solution is not my preferred one as I like the lacies and their functionality, plus its more expensive.
However it would give me full optimisation of my Gbit LAN with transfer speeds somewhere into the 100 MB/sec.

Thank you very much in advance if you take the time to answer to my post.

[fvdw]

In case of deciding to upgrade the lacies with the new disks and also install the latest firmware from Plugout, would I see an increase of transfer speeds?

No probably not. It is limited by cpu and ram , you will get speeds around 25 MB/s I expect

2. What are the original disks in the lacies? I mean interface-wise, SATA1,2, SSCSI? IDE?

sata2 AFIK

3. In case I go forward with the upgrade and wish to perform via the windows 7 environment (sorry am not too much of a Linux guy :-)), could you please link to the appropriate guides: Guide to physically exchange the drives and guide to install the new firmware?

The quide to install the firmware can be found in the download section. To get the disks out is easy, remove the cover and take out the 4 screws holding the disk, then slide back the disk carefully to prevent that it touches the main board when pulling back.

My other alternative is to use an old XP machine to run as a file server with TVrsity as the media server. For this solution I would need to spend about 60 euros extra for a SATA controller to IDE interface and a Gbit LAN IDE card.
This solution is not my preferred one as I like the lacies and their functionality, plus its more expensive.
However it would give me full optimisation of my Gbit LAN with transfer speeds somewhere into the 100 MB/sec.

I doubt that probably it will not be much faster then 25-40 MB/s, with big files.With copying many small files speed will be lower due to file header handling and file tree administration. But only a test can tell what the real speed will be
remember an xp machine constantly running might use easily 50 watt our more. if you let a run all year it will cost you about 400 kwh. A nwsp2 uses only 12-15 watt when disk is running or 7 watt whit disk spind down

[geky13]

Dank u wel!

I was planning to put the XP server into sleep mode with a WOL functionality.

I am still undecided though, might just give it a go with upgrading the nwsp2 to a sata3 2TB.

Is there a possibility within windows to also flush the lacie official firmware?

Mvg, Geky13

[fvdw]

...

Is there a possibility within windows to also flush the lacie official firmware?

Mvg, Geky13

what do you exactly mean with that ?

[geky13]

...

Is there a possibility within windows to also flush the lacie official firmware?

Mvg, Geky13

what do you exactly mean with that ?

I meant:
I Know that with your firmware the installation can be done via windows environment.
In case I decide that I prefer to have the original lacie firmware, is it possible to flush it using your windows tool?

[fvdw]

In principle yes but not automatically, you will have to make a partition table and write the image (if you made a backup) to them

[geky13]

Thank you for your kind help.
I did a bit of research and currently I am consuming 227 Kw annually with 2 lacies running in my network.
In case I would go to a file server I calculated (will use windows 8 not XP) that it would consume 255 Kw annually, thus not a big difference especially considering that ,after a test I conducted, I am reaching 110 Mb/s read and write speeds between SATA3 HDs in my network.

However, I am also tempted to go for a Synology 214, which would consume just 99 Kw annually based on my calculations and use.

Its decision time :-)

Groeten, Geky

[fvdw]

I don't think you can run a windows8 or XP machine with same amount of energy as a nwsp2 the cpu will use much more enrgy then the arm processor. The harddisk is needed in both (and spins down on the nwsp2). In that state it uses only 8 watt. Of course if you let the windows8 machine standby 2/3 of the day it will consume less but still more then 8 watt. I think such a machine will cost you about 500 kWh/year

[geky13]

Well you are partially right:
My use is 4 hours of activity and 20 hours of inactivity as an average per day.
The file server runs at 50% CPU power these 4 hours and the total system consumes 100W/h
So for the file server for my usage I am looking at indeed 255Kw/year

For the lacies though using the same calculation you are right, they would use 175 Kw/year both of them.

The synology 214 is by far the best option as far as power is concerned, but it is a 250 euro investment...

But it has fast transfer rates: http://www.synology.com/en-global/produ ... nce/#2_bay
And due to the DSM OS it supports a ton of added apps (same as a file server, but easier to configure).

So I am afraid that lacies are going to be replaced at some point as performance really starts to be a bit outdated

[fvdw]

well we wish you good luck