Building a Music Server.

If you want one ready to use, but settle for only 200GB, then try the Yamaha CDR-HD1500. The recording is uncompressed.

Assuming you're just building this for home use (not for some industrial-strength server setting), putting together a music server easily and cheaply shouldn't be a problem. Maybe I don't worry enough, but as long as the processor I bought ran in the MB I bought, I'd be content.

I'd buy a small-form-factor shell (Shuttle?) and the pieces that go into it - you don't need much for a music server. NewEgg.com makes it pretty simple to pick out the necessary parts that will work together, and they're well priced. HP just released a 1/3 form factor PC that would work great too - comes complete for around $500, though you'd need to add wireless network.

For storage, I wouldn't mess around with RAID anything, especially if cost is an issue. You can get a 1TB external drive for around $800. That's enough for 2500-ish CDs in lossless WMA format, more in other formats. To make regular, easy backups, you could buy two at 1TB. Music servers shouldn't need constant, near-real-time synchronization or hot swapping capability, so all the RAID stuff is just extra expense, IMO.

So, for $1300-ish (or $2100, with two drives), you can have a small, quiet music server that holds 2500 uncompressed CDs and acts as a transport to your DAC or processor and probably surpasses any dedicated transport in performance. Fantastic stuff.

If you looking for single system support, I'd give the nod to J River Media Center as software - great program that is intuitively customizable. You can do a lot with your library with this program. For whole house distribution, I'd recommend SlimServer - it's an open source server with both an open source client as well as purchaseable client pods. The software works extremely well and has a nice browser-based interface. It's not as strong at categorization, etc., but holds up well to large libraries.

Hope this helps. -Kirk

I have been working with computers professionally for 20 years and I have to agree with Kthomas in that RAID might be overkill. I would consider external USB or Firewire drives for a cost effective approach. Step up to the next level - there are several good NAS boxes out there that just hook into a home network (use Ethernet) Buffalo Technology has a "Teraserver" that is pretty slick. I have installed two so far for clients. You can RAID/MIRROR or just run em raw. WEB interface ... good for non-network people.

If you go FULL on ... 3Ware SATA RAID controller - I could go on and on why I love these controllers but lets just say they are fast and work well in any type of environment. Don’t screw around - get a server case and something that hot-swaps fans as well as drives. Make sure you get a good solid power supply / supplies. Get Seagate drives or comparable with a 5 year warranty and keep a spare or two. If you’re just streaming music I wouldn’t worry too much about drive speed. It will make noise – find a safe temp friendly place to put it. Run a network OS on the box and BUY the OS and application software. Server 2003 is a bit of overkill but it has some nice tools built in. Your looking at some serious money but it will last a decade or better and you can expand to your hearts content – 2,4,8 Terabytes whatever you need … just add drives and controllers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16816116029

I hate to harp but :

BACKUP/BACKUP/BACKUP !!!!!! You get started collecting music and pretty soon you will have stuff you don’t want to loose. Drives are cheap. Don’t get caught with your pants down.

Computers HATE people …