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Personal File Server For The Masses
prostoalex writes "California-based Inspiri is coming to the market with Mirra - a personal file-server with simple backup solutiion, remote access as well as file-sharing capabilities. The $399 device comes with 120 GB hard drive, front-mounted USB ports and Ethernet interface. There are some pictures of Mirra on the corporate Web site. The founder of Inspiri, Tim Bucher, according to the corporate documents, had an interesting career, having worked at both Apple and Microsoft, while the VP of Engineering in this company used to work as acting CEO of Apple's Newton business group."
Snap servers have always been more expensive than they should be. At cdw a comparable box would cost you $857.78 for the Snap Server 1100 120GB.
For over a year I've been using old P2's and debian to make large 1TB+ network storage for just around $1000. That's 8X more than what the Snap has for around the same price.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Which computers does it work with? With Macs? With Linux?
You can remotely access your photos and files from any Internet-connected PC, including Mac's. Currently only computers that run Windows 2000 or Windows XP are supported for Mirra Backup and Restore within your home network. We're considering support for Macintosh, Windows 98 and Linux. Please let us know at sales@ispiri.com if you would purchase a Mirra to use with those computers.
"Enjoy what you're doing! If it becomes drudgery, you're doing it wrong!" - Jim Butterfield
And, even more interesting, ended up with Linux:
Because the Mirra server is built on a Linux software platform, the files stored on the appliance should be safe from worms and viruses that attack Windows-based servers
Link
RTFA, and look at the pics. It's a Mini(FlexATX/ITX) board (I've seen the case sold as a Mini-ITX case that could also hold the smaller MFATX boards), and yes, it DOES run Linux. I don't think port 23 would be open, though.
I'm sorry, but being head of the Newton group is not necessarially a mark in your favor.
As the proud former owner of an Apple Newton MP110, I can tell you never played with one. They were revolutionary before their time, trying things that only now are catching on (Write in your own handwriting->Text; oh wait, that's Tablet PC)
A little on the large side, but this was 1995 -- yes, 8 years ago.
I bougt one of these exact cases w/ a Cyrix 933mhz to be my OpenBSD 3.2 firewall. Uptime is about 190 days so far. Usually load is at 3% or less and used memory is 34 megs. Only caveat is that the powersupply fan is surprisingly loud. The box w/ motherboard and chip, nothing lese was $120 at Fry's. The box is actually a Falcon PC.
This guy is way out there
It IS a Mini-ITX mobo - look at the case, then google the FIC Falcon.
this looks like it.
"Ximeta Netdisk Portable 160GB. NetDisk is a HDD that is connected directly to the network through the Ethernet interface."
TigerDirect.com sells them. I think I want one!
Way to much babble from /.'rs about how they can build their own cheaper.
- This is for the masses where (masses="total population" - geeks). It isn't 4 u.
- It does the backups automatically by just selecting files from interface integrated with Windows explorer.
- It keeps the last 8 versions of the files
- You can access your files from anywhere on the internet. Even from behind a corporate firewall cause it authenticates thru their server.
Can your crappy home built server do all that (without spending a few weeks writing scripts)?
I wouldn't buy one, but I think it is cool.
Of course if you're going for a file server, you should be going for a fast box with gigE, booting off a CD into RAM, and 8 200GB or 300GB hard drives, giving you between 1.5 and 2.5TB of readilly available storage, should cost more then $3000 even with a top of the line processer and a gig of ram.
What would really make sense instead of buying this $400 contraption, is buying a 160 gig HDD, which will run you up a little over $100 for a good one on Pricewatch grabbing a cheap 1 gig Duron and a K7S5A mobo, a cheap vid card for a few bucks, a stick of PC133, and throw Linux or Win2k on there, and you have yourself more storage space than this network fileserver for less money.
If you don't understand any of my sayings, come to me in private and I shall take you in my German mouth.
You're absolutely right:
The backup server / trouble ticket server at my office was built for $100:
$20 for a pentium 133 mhz bought on ebay
$80 for a 80gb hard drive
Loaded up debian, added a few applications and services and voila - works like a champ.
Just for the record, just because a PS is 400W doesn't mean it consumes 400W. If a CPU/MB/HD sits idle most of the time it doesn't consume much power, and certainly not 400W. A couple idle boxes consumes as much power is one active one and allows for easier redundancy.
...try putting in an easy-to-use backup system for your parents gigs of photos and video. it's not easy...