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PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

pibox.io

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Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#101

Post by aulin »

sdenton4 wrote: post #45
anderspitman wrote: post #18

Interesting. Usually my critique for products like this is something along the lines of "great, but how are you going to access your data from the internet?" Typically the answer to that is you need some sort of tunneling service like ngrok to get around port forwarding, CGNAT, firewalls, etc. I maintain a list of solutions here[0]. The problem with most of these services is that they're targeted at developers and ar…

Well this makes it sound like it's targeted squarely at developers: "Finally, a NAS that lets you use a standard operating system that you’re used to, like Ubuntu or Raspberry Pi OS."

as opposed to the usual proprietary soon-to-be-abandonware firmware... guess that's a plus for everyone, not just developers, albeit they're the probably the only ones who care about it

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#103

Post by ale42 »

skjoldr wrote: post #63
pxeboot wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mostly size and power consumption. Four NVMe drives could almost fit in a traditional size Raspberry Pi case. It looks like it is also possible to do 2.5Gbit Ethernet on the CM4 [1]. [1] https://pipci.jeffgeerling.com/cards_network/rosewill-rc2000...

Pi has limited PCIe lanes to devote to additional controllers. PiBox lacks USB3 for this reason -- all the throughput is already filled by SATA3. 2.5Gbit is likely to be mutually exclusive to either.

not sure it's just a throughput question... the thing is, there's only a single PCIe lane exposed, and multiplexing it to multiple devices (i.e. a SATA controller plus a USB3 controller) requires more electronics, and of course the bandwidth will have to be shared between the devices

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#105

Post by dvdkon »

wiz21c wrote: post #104

Why does it need a CM4 ? I would have thought that a storage server doesn't require much CPU... Maybe it does more than that ?

The website also advertises running software other than a NFS/SMB/SFTP server, it's presumably for that. You might also be surprised how much CPU power something boring like Samba can use. Finally, an entry-level CM4 costs about the same as the cheapest well-supported SBC, IIRC.

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#106

Post by perryizgr8 »

It's nice to see projects like this, because IMO NAS companies like Synology are really overcharging. I have a tangential question however, regarding the google photos alternative mentioned in the marketing.

Has anyone managed to properly replace google photos with a self-hosted solution? It should:

1. have first class Android and Ios apps

2. should have auto-upload from mobile apps

3. should have share functionality between users, so I can share with my family

4. have a nice web/native app that lets me browse and manage pics on a computer

I understand that it is tough for open-source/free projects to build and maintain mobile apps (due to store fees etc). However, I think this is a big problem and I'm ready to pay for such software. Just not a subscription like google photos.

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#107

Post by Shish2k »

_jal wrote: post #24

It is cute, but I've far outgrown devices like this. Currently on the hunt for a short-depth (<500mm) 19" drive shelf with at least 16 3.5" slots.

Same - there seems to be a huge gap in between “home NAS” (2 drives, ~$200) and “enterprise NAS” (16 drives, ~$4000)

I’m currently using an old HP microserver (4 x 3.5”), but outgrowing it a bit…

My dream is a CM4 board with 2xM2 slots for RAID1 boot drive, and 5+ SATA ports for 3.5” HDDs

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#108

Post by luke2m »

lostlogin wrote: post #85
erulabs wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly the goal - a box that anyone could buy, plug-in, click a few buttons, and get an on-the-internet service (like PhotoPrism or Plex) ready to roll. Bonus if they can easily control access, invite friends, and also if it's totally open and hackable - as much a learning platform for technology as a plug-and-play box-for-media. That's the vision anyways!

Plex seems to be circling closer and closer to a bad place in their quest to be a media company. I’d love it if they focussed on improving the UI and sharing aspects rather than pushing their media and weird default requirement for internet access. I’d happily pay more for the path I want.

https://jellyfin.org/

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#109

Post by corobo »

temp8964 wrote: post #7

Their webpage suggests replacing Dropbox with a self-hosted cloud service. I am not confident enough to put all my personal documents on a home NAS server which runs 24/7. It's basically open for hackers in the whole world to scan and eventually put ransomware in it. I feel I am more comfortable with saving my documents on respected cloud service. I do have a NAS at home but its not open to the internet and I don't p…

Connect to it via VPN mate. I like Tailscale for their NAT busting but any old thing will do

Re: PiBox Mini – Modular Raspberry Pi Storage Server

#110

Post by Liquix »

lostlogin wrote: post #85
erulabs wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly the goal - a box that anyone could buy, plug-in, click a few buttons, and get an on-the-internet service (like PhotoPrism or Plex) ready to roll. Bonus if they can easily control access, invite friends, and also if it's totally open and hackable - as much a learning platform for technology as a plug-and-play box-for-media. That's the vision anyways!

Plex seems to be circling closer and closer to a bad place in their quest to be a media company. I’d love it if they focussed on improving the UI and sharing aspects rather than pushing their media and weird default requirement for internet access. I’d happily pay more for the path I want.

Yeah, it started around 2017 with dark patterns to try and get you to create an account on their website and has only gotten worse from there. Can you even set it up locally anymore without forking over your email address? Shame how they shot themselves in the foot like that
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