Security Question: NAS box or Server for safe storage?

Question

Can anyone tell me about pros and cons of using a NAS box as opposed to a server in terms of security? If I ran a linux server on the network would that be more secure than NAS box, or do security flaws in windows machines attached to the network (accessing the device) make the proposition equivalent?

I dont know much about PC security and I want to store all my important stuff *off* my main PC-

Could anyone contribute ideas on the most secure option (without spending a bucketload of cash)?

ideas:
1. nas box connected via lan to router, accessible by windows machines

2. server running linux (- is there a safe windows option?*), connected via lan to router, accessible by windows machines

3. --- looking for more info... any help appreciated if theres a better way to do this

*(is a windows server OS the most secure option compared to other flavours of windoze)?

Network Would look like this:
1. Desktop PC running windoze connected via LAN to router
2. Desktop PC running windoze connected to wireless on router
3. Laptop PC running windoze connected to wireless on router
(4). [Nas box? or server? connected via LAN to router]

(router is gateway to internet and hub for all machines)

Answer 1

Buying a prebuilt NAS would be quite expensive. Building your own box for this purpose, whether NAS or server, can be done quite cheaply. If you have an old motherboard and compatible CPU and a decent amount of RAM for it, all you will really need is sufficient storage. I have done this with a Sempron 2600+, 1GB RAM and 1.3 TB of HDD. As the board I am using for this has no integrated video, I dug out my oldest PCI video card, a Trident TGUI9440 with 1 MB of RAM. I use Clark Connect as the OS. It did require a free registration in order to get the various updates but works well. It installed very easily and has been easy to configure and maintain. I can't speak for wireless under this or the next, but Ubuntu had a decent driver for my Linksys USB dongle. As you have a router, this shouldn't be too big a problem.



An alternate in the NAS arena is FreeNAS. This is a BSD based distro that has been undergoing quite a bit of development and is showing a lot of promise. It is quite daunting to first timers, but as it almost all configured in a browser, it can all be administered from from almost anywhere. This and the Clark Connect can both be configured to act as DHCP servers, internet routers and mail servers.



As for a Windows solution, the things to consider are the higher hardware requirements, licenses and viruses. I don't really have much experience dealing with this, but my World O' Windows goes back to '97. I have fixed broken installs of W95, W98, W98SE, ME, 2K and XP.



As far as virus and spam go, the Clark set up allows you to install and use both ClamAV and IIRC, Spam Assassin.I can't remember about FreeNAS, but IIRC ClamAV should work there. As far as it goes, both will allow you to set up open shares under NetBIOS as well as more stringently controlled share settings. The allowable limits here are very impressive.



I have enjoyed my NAS experiences with both Clark and FreeNas. I may some day attempt a Windows server, but all my needs are nicely met by my existing set up.



Good luck.

Answer 2

This is what I run. Dual core pentium 4 running Beyond TV made by snapstream (Awesome Software) 2Gb RAM Hauppauge 1600 tuner card (HD) Seagate BlackArmor 2Tb NAS Setup is great plus have a wireless keyboard and mouse so I can play WoW or other games right on the TV or surf the web.

Answer 3

A NAS box costs more than a server. I have always saved files to an external hard-drive. That way the drive can go anywhere. And they are cheep too. For security all you have to do is turn the drive off when you don't need it.