[ILUG] [OT] file server thoughts

[Lee Hosty]

I'm going through the motions of planning a largish network file server 
for personnel use here, and pondering on the reliability of disks. Is 
there any advantage in having disks mounted as read-only once they are 
crammed to capacity with data (write-once, read-often)? Will this 
prolong disk life? Or is it clutching at straws in the face of Some 
Other Solution(tm)? My main motivation behind this idea is that the data 
is for the most part replacable - I still have the DVDs and CDs that 
provide the data should a disk die (although I'd have to go through the 
ripping process all over again). Are they likely to have a longer / less 
troubled life if they are read-only? I guess the whole plan comes apart 
if theres a power-loss while disk reading is occurring (platters 
spinning and heads seeking)?

It'll be running some form of Linux if that counts :)

All opinions welcomed
   Lee