Advantages

Disadvantages

I experienced problems with hard drive over temperatures in the summer of 2007 with my external USB2 case. The case was using a noisy 40mm fan. I thought a larger PC case with bigger, slower running fans would help lowering the temperature without creating too much noise. So I decided to build my own NAS

• less cords (power, USB)
• (maybe) less noise
• more disk space out of the box
• impressive look and feel (does not impress spouse really)

• heavier equipment to move around than just a small SLUG and a few USB2 enclosures and power supplies

• difficult access to the slug's reset button (unless you route that out as well)

Hardware you need:

Rip out the entire stuff in it: The board(s), metal plates, whatever bothers you. Keep only what is needed to put in the following equipment:

• 1x USB hub (Belkin four port hub works fine for me)

Tools & skills you need

• soldering iron
• soldering tin
• wires, cables
• pliers, scissors, screw driver
• power drill to make some holes, a Drehmel tool is useful as well
• shrink tube, cable ties, double sided tape

I experienced problems with HDD overtemperatures in the summer of my external USB2 case.

• Hook up your NSLU2. Use double sided tape to glue it flat on top of the 5.25'' drive bay. That way you have full control over the power switch and still see all four LEDs

reduce the voltage by 50% and the power by factor 4. The fan will run slow and will consume 0.5W as the resistor. \\

• 1x USB hub (Belkin four port hub works fine)

12V 2W fan or 2/12A. With R = U/I = 12V/(2/12)A = 72 Ohm. Putting a 72 Ohm resistor in series to a 72 Ohm fan will \\

An empty PC case with a power supply. Any case will do. \\

• Install potis and or switches into a 5.25' drive bay plastic cover or where you find space
• Consider making the power supply's fan adjustable as well (requires to open up the supply)
  
  

I will try to get more details and maybe some pictures into this page soon.

• 1x NSLU2
• 1x USB2? hub (Belkin 4 port works fine)
• at least one hard drive
• soldering iron
• soldering tin
• wires, cables
• tools: pliers, scissors, screw driver, power drill to make some holes, a Drehmel tool is useful as well
• shrink tube, cable ties, double sided tape
• some switches, some potis (variable resistors) or fan controller
• some fans 80mm or 120mm
• some IDE to USB adapters (or any other adapters for your 2.5, 3.5 ATA, SATA ... etc. hard drive
  You can hijack any USB to IDE interface from a not used external case

• Install Unslung 6.8 and unsling to HDD partition /dev/sda1 (USB port 2)
• Hook up your NSLU2. Use double sided tape to glue it flat on top of the 5.25'' drive bay. That way you have full control over the power switch and still see all four LEDs?
• Install the disk(s), hook up the power, install the USB hub to the bottom of the case with cable ties
• Wire up the drives to the hub and the hub to port 1 of the slug
• Wire the 5V power from the PC's power supply directly to the NSLU2. We do not need the slugs power cord anymore. Optional put in a toggle switch into the 5V line to be able to turn off power to the slug completely

I put the switch into the supply so the back panel of the PC case has a switch sticking out.

Select value by:

reduce the voltage bt 50% and the power by factor 4. The fan will run slow and will consume 0.5W as the resistor.
So a 1W poti with >>72 Ohm will do.I used a spindle 10 turn poti of 1kOhm for each fan.

• Modify the power supply to turn on/off with a toggle switch (green cable shortened to ground will turn on power)
  ->I put the switch into the supply so the back panel of the PC case has a switch sticking out.
• Install as many fans you like and hook them up to either fan controllers (reduces noise) or simple potis.
  ->Select value by:

12V 2W fan or 2/12A. With R = U/I = 12V/2*12A = 72 Ohm. Putting a 72 Ohm resistor in series to a 72 Ohm fan will
->reduce the voltage bt 50% and the power by factor 4. The fan will run slow and will consume 0.5W as the resistor.
->So a 1W poti with >>72 Ohm will do.I used a spindle 10 turn poti of 1kOhm for each fan.

Advantges

Disadvantges

You need:

Installation

• Modify the power supply to turn on/off with a toggle switch (green cable shortened to ground will turn on power) I put the switch into the supply so the back panel of the PC case has a switch sticking out.
• Install as many fans you like and hook them up to either fan controllers (reduces noise) or simple potis. Select value by:

• Consider making the power supply's fan adjustable as well (requires to open up the supply)

• less cords
• maybe less noise
• more disk space in a box
• impressive look and feel

• more physical space used in the room
• heavier equipment to move around
• build requires basic electronic and computer skills
• harder access to the slug's reset button

 * excuse my messy Wiki posting *

The case was using a noisy 40mm fan which was annoying. I thought in a bigger case with a bigger, slower running fan I will be better off. So I decided to build my own NAS

1) more physical space used in the room 2) heavier equipment to move around 3) build requires basic electronic and computer skills 4) harder access to the slug's reset button

An empty PC case with a power supply. Any case will do Rip out the entire stuff in it: The boards, panels, plates, whatever bothers you and keep only what is needed to put in the following equipment:

Wire up the drives to the hub and the hub to port 1 of the slug Wire the 5V power from the PC's power supply directly to the NSLU2. We do not need the slugs power cord anymore. Optional put in a toggle switch into the 5V line to be able to turn off power to the slug completely

Optional: - Modify the power supply to turn on/off with a toggle switch (green cable shortened to ground will turn on power) I put the switch into the supply so the back panel of the PC case has a switch sticking out. - Install as many fans you like and hook them up to either fan controllers (reduces noise) or simple potis. Select value by:

- Consider making the power supply's fan adjustable as well (requires to open up the supply)

I will try to get more details and maybe some pictures into this page soon.

Advantges

Disadvantges

You need:

Installation

Use an empty PC case with a power supply

Install Unslung 6.8 and unsling to HDD partition /dev/sda1 (USB port 2) Hook up your NSLU2. Use double sided tape to glue it flat on top of the 5.25'' drive bay Install the disks, hook up the power, install the USB hub to the bottom of the case with cable ties Wire 5V power from the PC's power supply directly to the NSLU2. We do not need the slugs power cord anymore. Optional put in a toggle switch into the 5V line. Modify the power supply to turn on/off with a toggle switch (green cable shortened to ground will turn on power) I put the switch into the supply so the back panel of the PC case has a switch sticking out. Install as many fans you like and hook them up to either fan controllers (reduces noise) or simple potis. Select value by: 12V 2W fan or 2/12A. With R = U/I = 12V/2*12A = 72 Ohm. Putting a 72 Ohm resistor in series to a 72 Ohm fan will reduce the voltage bt 50% and the power by factor 4. The fan will run slow and will consume 0.5W as the resistor. So a 1W poti with >>72 Ohm will do.I used a spindle 10 turn poti of 1kOhm for each fan.

I will try to get more details and maybe some pics into this page soon.

I experienced problems with HDD overtemperatures in the summer of my external USB2? case. I decided to build my own NAS advantges 1) less cords 2) maybe less noise 3) more disk space in a box 4) impressive look and feel

disadvantges 1) more space 2) heavy equipment 3) requires basic electronic and computer skills

You need: An empty PC case with a power supply Rip out the entire stuff in it, keep what is needed to put in 1x NSLU2 1x USB2? hub (Belkin 4 port works fine) 1..5 hard drives soldering iron tin, cables, pliers, screw driver, shrink tube, some switches, some potis (resistors), some fans some IDE to USB adapters (or any other adapters for your 2.5, 3.5 ATA, SATA ... etc. hard drive