1

Hello!

Does it make any sense if I will use an existing NAS (WD MyCloud EX4) as expansion storage for my File Server? I’m thinking of attaching it as an iSCSI drive.

I’m thinking of doing it to centralize all my shares. For now, increasing my server’s drive capacity is not possible so I thought of this idea.

Should I do this or just use the NAS as is?

5 Spice ups
2

The WD NAS kind of sucks for file services, if it was something like a Synology or qnap then I’d say yes, so better of using iSCSI

3

talking from personal experience WD my cloud if a big NO

I am using QNAP now, No issues for the past 2 + years

4

The thing is I already have this WD MyCloud so it’s either using it as is or use it as iSCSI drive. I am not sure how much performance will I lose if use it as iSCSI though coz’ technically it will add another route, like Client → File Server → iSCSI(NAS) compared to Client → NAS if I use the NAS as is.

5

Your infrastructure is already setup with a File Server. To deal with permissions and such just add more storage to that server or replace it. A WD NAS is not even remotely a business device for sharing documents. The performance will be terrible.

2 Spice ups
6

Is this home or corporate ? You cannot just use a consumer product and want to “invoke” Enterprise solutions to it…

A NAS (or any NAS) is already a dedicated file server appliance…how would you think to “consolidate” your file server by nesting your file server as a drive on another file server ?

7

I appreciate all the comments. But like I said we don’t have the budget ATM to expand the current File Server. I already have the WD NAS which I use for my secondary backup repository. Believe me, if I have the budget, I will surely just replace all 4 500GB drives (RAID 10) with a higher capacity for my server. Or better purchase a Dell EMC or the like. But for now, I’m trying to look for a temporary solution that will hold up to 2-4 months. It’s a small business office btw.

8

@adrianyong4136 ​

I’m not sure if I got your question right, but I can set an iSCSI on the WD NAS and just hook it up on the File Server. The File Server wouldn’t know that the drive is from a NAS, if that is what you’re saying.

9

No…what I am saying that your NAS is a file server appliance already…so why mount it on another file server ?

So when people save their file on the windows file server, the file is then transferred to the NAS ? So why not just launch the NAS as a file server ? Else delete older files on the file server ?? or upgrade the file server ?

10

Get some cheap server on eBay and mount your disks inside it. This will keep you running for more than 2-4 months (c) … without overspending your budget.

You CAN do it with iSCSI but it’s fragile approach the way you describe it.