The next phase of my media center quest is to get some sort of network attached storage solution. Of course, I could just go and buy a Buffalo Linkstation, or some similar solution from Linksys, but my requirements outstrip what these boxes offer. I want to be able to run whatever software on the NAS that I want. For instance, now that the TiVo S3 is here, I want to share my photos and music out from the NAS system, and that requires something that speaks the TiVo beacon protocol. There are a couple of open source solutions which make TiVo Desktop-like functionality available in Linux, like javaHMO, which, as the name suggests, is entirely written in Java.
Ideally, I should be able to expand the NAS box with USB 2.0, so I can finally set up a backup solution that doesn't involve me burning DVDs. It should also be nearly silent, and use very little power, as it will be on all of the time, connected directly to my router, on the UPS. Sounds like a tall order, doesn't it. Surprise. I found a box that solves almost all of these problems, the Kuro Box. This tiny box is basically the developer version of the Linkstation, which runs Linux on PPC. It is BYO storage, so any 3.5" disk can be installed -- from the pictures in the linked article, it looks like the drive must be PATA, though. The unit even has an integrated USB 2.0 hub, so adding external storage should be a snap.. Very promising!
Ideally, I should be able to expand the NAS box with USB 2.0, so I can finally set up a backup solution that doesn't involve me burning DVDs. It should also be nearly silent, and use very little power, as it will be on all of the time, connected directly to my router, on the UPS. Sounds like a tall order, doesn't it. Surprise. I found a box that solves almost all of these problems, the Kuro Box. This tiny box is basically the developer version of the Linkstation, which runs Linux on PPC. It is BYO storage, so any 3.5" disk can be installed -- from the pictures in the linked article, it looks like the drive must be PATA, though. The unit even has an integrated USB 2.0 hub, so adding external storage should be a snap.. Very promising!
