Using Powermac G5 as NAS

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Using Powermac G5 as NAS

Hello All,

I have recently purchased a powermac G5 1.6ghz to use for networked attached storage.

Firstly I would like to know if it is possible to use any of the drives added to the powermac as a time capsule? Can I have other computers around the house all syncing to it over the network?

Is there any decent (preferably free) NAS software that could run on it?

Im not sure if this will work as NAS in the traditional sense, but I was just going to plug it into a network switch and the rest of my macs will see it and be able to access the drives.

If anyone knows a way of optimising this, that would be great.

( Could the connect to server function of finder work? or would I need a server os on the g5?)

My reasons for buying an old G5 tower for this purpose are as follows:

> I read a lot of reviews about NAS devices and how hard they are to set up and use (especially with os x)

> Most NAS devices cost more than an old G5 (I got it delivered for less than £150)

> Lots and lots of expansion in the G5 (external sata cards, internal ones etc)

> Real easy to network to other macs (it just appears in finder)

Any help on this would be much appreciated!

All the best,

Edward

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 14, 2011 10:00 AM

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Answer 1

May 14, 2011 12:41 PM in response to XEdwardX

If you have MacOS running on the G5, simply enable file sharing on the disks from the Sharing pane in System Preferences and you can connect from other machines on your LAN very easily, using cmd-K connect to server from the finder. You may even be able to mount at startup, though mot sure I remember how to do that.

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Answer 2

XEdwardX Author

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May 14, 2011 12:46 PM in response to old comm guy

oh ok thanks! What is mounting at start up?

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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May 14, 2011 12:52 PM in response to XEdwardX

I'd advise against any NAS drive, but...

Mount that Share once, then once the Globe Icon shows up on the Desktop, drag that Globe Icon to the right side of the Dock between Applications & Trash. You now have a Dynamic Mount, a quick click on the Icon in the Dock will connect you.

On the multiple Shortcuts...

Mount them all, when show up on the Desktop, then create a new Folder maybe named Shares on/in the Desktop, drag all those Shares shown on the Desktop to that Folder, (you can even rename them once there, if you wish), drag that Folder to the right side of the Dock between Applications & Trash, this should give you a popup menu to select from.:-)

To automount them, drag those Aliases to the Accounts Pref Pane's Login Items Window.

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Answer 4

XEdwardX Author

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May 14, 2011 1:57 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the information! Sounds good!!

Why would you advise against nas drives?

I dont know much about them and am trying to find out as much as possible!!

Are they unreliable or slow or something?

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Answer 5

BDAqua

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May 14, 2011 2:48 PM in response to XEdwardX

They are relatively slow, at least most, but the worst part is the impossibility of repairing any Directory or File damage in my experience.

I'd go with something like Firewire Drives & do File Sharing from the G5.

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Answer 6

XEdwardX Author

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May 16, 2011 11:38 AM in response to BDAqua

Oh i see. It will mostly be used for file back up and long term storage of various projects old work etc.

So I wont need to access it a whole lot.

I heard it was a nightmare repairing drives on NAS which is another reason why I got an old G5 so I could use the disk utility to keep those drives in check!

Thanks for your help!!

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Answer 7

BDAqua

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May 16, 2011 12:04 PM in response to XEdwardX

I find the Voyager Qs quite useful for backups & lomg term archiving, if you have SATA drives...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/FWU3ES2HDK/

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Answer 8

XEdwardX Author

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May 16, 2011 12:07 PM in response to BDAqua

Sweet! I have never seen one of those before!

Looks rather useful!

Cheers!

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Answer 9

May 16, 2011 2:30 PM in response to XEdwardX

XEdwardX wrote:

Sweet! I have never seen one of those before!

Looks rather useful!

Cheers!

Toasters (what BD linked to) would be my first choice for backups, though I don't use mine a whole lot because it is only USB 2.0 and eSATA, which doesn't help me so much. The OWC unit (which, BTW, has come down another $5 since I last looked) has FW800, which makes it very useful to G5 users.

The nice thing about dropping bare drives into a dock like that is that the drives are able to keep pretty cool, plus when done, you can put them in a nice little ESD box from Wiebetech that keeps them clean, dry and safe.

All in all, a very nice solution to backing up to the (now becoming even more so) inexpensive hard drives. (Today's Fry's ad here had the Hitachi "greenish" 2TB drives for $70 a pop.)

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Answer 10

XEdwardX Author

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May 17, 2011 9:58 AM in response to old comm guy

Ok cool! Thanks for the advice! =)

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