Is there a NAS that will allow for USB interface to a virtual disk?

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1

So I want to either build or buy a NAS but I also want it to be able to plug into another device as a USB drive. I know that you can't give iscsi access to both a USB master & network at the same time... this isn't about that.

What I'm wanting is to consolidate storage onto one thing (like you do) and I have a device that can really only interface via USB instead of over the network but I still want to consolidate it's storage to the NAS.

Thoughts?

2

I've also heard that this is kinda possible in Linux. I'm happy to go that route but am really a Linux Noob... If someone can give an outline for this, that'd be awesome. Not because I'm lazy, (though, lazy sysadmin is lazy) but because I'd like a general guide so that I don't just chase my tail or a red herring from my lack of knowledge.

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3

so ur trying to do usb over a network?

4

No. I can locate the NAS (or whatever device) next to this other one. What I want is for the NAS to be able to do USB as an external HDD as well as NAS.

Now I know that's not happening by sharing the whole shebang... I'm fine with configuring a virtual hdd to be the USB portion.... I just have no idea how. :D

5

I think you are going to be stuck with a NAS device then.

I've never seen any adapter cards where you can reverse the USB interface in a PC.

You're going to want something like this:
http://www.drobo.com/storage-products/5D

6

I'm fine being stuck with a NAS :) It's where I want to go anyways, unless you've got better options for consolidating storage for a network. I'll happily build a file server, NAS, whatever. :)

So you think this will allow using USB and NAS (Ethernet) at the same time?

That's the goal, it doesn't need to be the same volume that gets served to the USB, it can be a virtual hdd... but at the same time is what I'm going for.

EDIT: I just noticed this device doesn't include Networking... yup I'm trying for both USB and NAS file share concurrently from the same device.... not necessarily the same volume... but the same device.

7

Huh.... Basically this (https://www.qnap.com/en-us/product/model.php?II=240)

Except I want the USB (quick access feature) to act as a simple mass storage that I can configure to point to a VHD instead of navigating to it.

Thoughts?