The Gnu Bee Personal Cloud 2 (GB-PC2) is a network-attached storage (NAS) device specifically engineered to run free, libre, open source software (FLOSS). The GB-PC2 has all the functionality of any commercial, proprietary NAS, but at a much lower cost and with the transparency, reliability, and accessibility advantages that come with using FLOSS.
Personal Cloud 1 vs 2
The GB-PC2 is the big sibling of the GB-PC1 in the sense that it accommodates 3.5” drives instead of 2.5” drives. The GB-PC2 design is based on the GB-PC1 design, but is modified to handle both the larger size and greater power requirements of the 3.5” drives. The chipset and capabilities are otherwise the same.
Features & Specifications
- Processor:
- Media Tek MT7621A
- dual-core, multi-thread (Linux kernel sees four cores)
- 880 MHz, over clock able to 1.2 GHz)
- Memory:
- 512 MB DDR3 RAM (maximum amount for the Media Tek chip)
- soldered to mainboard
- Storage:
- SD card slot (tested up to 64 GB cards so far)
- 6 x 3.5” drives (HDD, SSD, or mix and match; drives not included)
- recommended RAID levels are 0 and 1 under LVM and MD, and Linux MD RAID 10
- Connectivity:
- 3 x Gigabit Ethernet (2 ports can support Ethernet bonding)
- 1 x USB 3.0 port
- 2 x USB 2.0 port
- serial port (3-pin J1 connector or 3.5 mm audio-type jack)
- 2 x mainboard fan
- Power:
- 12 VDC @ 8 A maximum
- 5.5 mm x 2.1 mm, center-positive barrel jack
- Dimensions:
- weight: ~454 g (1 lb) without drives
- Enclosure:
- 2 x anodized aluminum side plates
- 6 x threaded brackets and screws
- 24 x drive screws (four per drive)
- Software:
- Sources & Documentation:
Why a NAS?
Whether you’re a developer or a digital artist, chances are you have a lot of essential data, from music tracks to application code. So you probably already know that data loss is a fact of modern life, and backing up your data is the surest way to prevent it. You could use an online service for backups, but doing so exposes you and your data to a wide range of privacy, security, legal, and financial risks beyond your control. For example:
Read More: GnuBee Personal Cloud 2