Storage, RAID and Lacie

[Hellstan]

I intend to change gear later this year, mounting a RAID array with 5 external HD,
dedicated to pictures (neg scans and M8 files).
Meanwhile, I need to buy a new HD (for instance, a second Lacie).
Will I be able to match it with my future RAID, or not ?

[jjj]

I think that all depends on how the RAID is handled. Some tolerate different drives, some don't.

If you are using LaCie, then it's an external drive, so how exactly do you intend raiding it? Is it an eSata drive? Remember LaCies are simply other manufacturers kit in a nicer box. BTW - I have 6 desktop and one laptop LaCie.  Oddly, even though they repackage and sell using nice design, they are often the best value.

I'm getting one of these - IcyDock,  arriving tomorrow hopefully, to hold 4 drives which I can raid via the eSata card in PC/Mac.

[nemophoto]

RAID arrays can be problematic, especially if you plan to switch drives, controllers, etc. at a later date. I discovered this the hard way with an internal RAID. I had a 2-drive RAID 0 setup, which used an SII chipset on the ASUS motherboard. I discovered that no one had this same chipset on new boards and that my RAID would not transfer. I ended up cloning to single drive so I could use it on a new system. Chose your RAID carefully if you want future compatability.

Obviously, this is not necessarily your problem. I only use this example to point out that you may want to chose very carefully. Though it's not terribly fast (compared to eSATA and Firewire 800), you may want to consider the DROBO because of ease of upgradeability.

[jjj]

I'm getting one of these - IcyDock,  arriving tomorrow hopefully, to hold 4 drives which I can raid via the eSata card in PC/Mac.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=187765\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Update - It arrived and is now going back. Way too noisy, I was promised it was quiet and it simply failed to recognize drives.  So noisy and useless, looked nice though!

[Hellstan]

I'll go for G-Tech.
http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-DRIVEQ.cfm

[Hellstan]

I'll go for G-Tech.
http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-DRIVEQ.cfm
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=191903\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

In fact, I did not decide yet.  
G-tech : their forum is full of people having repeated problems.
Sonnet : seems pretty reliable, especially because it's intended to DV.
OWC : they seem reliable too, with several RAID 1 systems.
Still pondering…

[schrodingerscat]

In fact, I did not decide yet.   
G-tech : their forum is full of people having repeated problems.
Sonnet : seems pretty reliable, especially because it's intended to DV.
OWC : they seem reliable too, with several RAID 1 systems.
Still pondering…
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=199149\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I recently revamped my backup/archive situation. Using a MBP as the cpu forces me to use an external drive and have been using a firewire drive as a backup. With the pile up of large image files it was time to upgrade the system and add redundancy.

After a bit of research I decided to not go with a RAID. but to set up a dual drive enclosure as distinct drives. Picked up the OWC Mercury Elite Pro 800 enclosure and two of the latest Seagate 7200 32MB SATA drives. OWC puts out some of the best engineered and designed equipment on the market, and this enclosure is no exception. Easy to put together, set up, and is quiet. The Seagate's are also pretty much bullet proof.

Each of the drives were partitioned for a bootable backup and the balance for archiving image files only. SuperDuper was used to copy the MBP's drive to the bootable partitions and the image files to the other partitions. When the external drive is turned on, all four drives show up on the desktop and I can copy as needed.

While this may be a bit more involved than a RAID, I feel more comfortable with having control over the process and not being at the mercy of a proprietary hardware/software situation. The external dive is only powered up at the time of copying , further lessoning the chance of it being taken down by a catastrophic failure. Superduper also lets you do scheduled backups if desired.

So now I have two bootable backup drives and two distinct copies of all image files in the enclosure. I also have turned the old firewire drive into a third file archive to work from, allowing me to leave the other two untouched.  The only image files on the MBP are just the current projects and now the HDD has plenty of headroom.

Not as easy as pushing a button, but I sure do sleep easier now. Anyone who's had a bunch of stuff go up in smoke, never to be seen again, knows what I'm talking about.

[Hellstan]

I recently revamped my backup/archive situation. Using a MBP as the cpu forces me to use an external drive and have been using a firewire drive as a backup. With the pile up of large image files it was time to upgrade the system and add redundancy.

After a bit of research I decided to not go with a RAID. but to set up a dual drive enclosure as distinct drives. Picked up the OWC Mercury Elite Pro 800 enclosure and two of the latest Seagate 7200 32MB SATA drives. OWC puts out some of the best engineered and designed equipment on the market, and this enclosure is no exception. Easy to put together, set up, and is quiet. The Seagate's are also pretty much bullet proof.

Each of the drives were partitioned for a bootable backup and the balance for archiving image files only. SuperDuper was used to copy the MBP's drive to the bootable partitions and the image files to the other partitions. When the external drive is turned on, all four drives show up on the desktop and I can copy as needed.

While this may be a bit more involved than a RAID, I feel more comfortable with having control over the process and not being at the mercy of a proprietary hardware/software situation. The external dive is only powered up at the time of copying , further lessoning the chance of it being taken down by a catastrophic failure. Superduper also lets you do scheduled backups if desired.

So now I have two bootable backup drives and two distinct copies of all image files in the enclosure. I also have turned the old firewire drive into a third file archive to work from, allowing me to leave the other two untouched.  The only image files on the MBP are just the current projects and now the HDD has plenty of headroom.

Not as easy as pushing a button, but I sure do sleep easier now. Anyone who's had a bunch of stuff go up in smoke, never to be seen again, knows what I'm talking about.
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My problem with OWC is this :
[a href=\"http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10635]http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10635[/url]
Living in Europe, I'm not eager to loose time and money with overseas shipping.
Reason why I will opt for Sonnet, who has now an operation in France and a strong
net of resellers/distributors in Europe.
I think I'll complete this with 2 portable drives, maybe G-tech.

[schrodingerscat]

My problem with OWC is this :
http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10635
Living in Europe, I'm not eager to loose time and money with overseas shipping.
Reason why I will opt for Sonnet, who has now an operation in France and a strong
net of resellers/distributors in Europe.
I think I'll complete this with 2 portable drives, maybe G-tech.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=199273\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

The G-Tech enclosure is on a par with the OWC, so should be reliable. My reply was also a general conversation on external solutions for others who may be following this thread.

Funny how in this age of globalization that you still have a hard time getting products you know are out there.

[Hellstan]

The G-Tech enclosure is on a par with the OWC, so should be reliable. My reply was also a general conversation on external solutions for others who may be following this thread.

Funny how in this age of globalization that you still have a hard time getting products you know are out there.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=199379\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thank you, Erwin  
Geeting products is not uneasy : it's living with it which could be.

PS : I'm writing a script now about Schrödinger. Funny, isn't it ?

[schrodingerscat]

Thank you, Erwin  
Geeting products is not uneasy : it's living with it which could be.

PS : I'm writing a script now about Schrödinger. Funny, isn't it ?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=199394\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hi Erwin -

Yes, Dr Jung does work in mysterious ways. The script wouldn't have anything to do with the work of R A Wilson by any chance, would it?

Cheers

SC

PS - Were the complaints about the G-Tech in regards to their RAID system or the enclosures themselves, which I understand are quite reliable. Myself, I would shy away from any proprietary RAID solution and go with a user controlled backup system. Not paranoid...I know they're out to get me.

[Hellstan]

Hi Erwin -

Yes, Dr Jung does work in mysterious ways. The script wouldn't have anything to do with the work of R A Wilson by any chance, would it?

Cheers

SC

PS - Were the complaints about the G-Tech in regards to their RAID system or the enclosures themselves, which I understand are quite reliable. Myself, I would shy away from any proprietary RAID solution and go with a user controlled backup system. Not paranoid...I know they're out to get me.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=200446\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Nothing to do with Mr. Wilson.
Everything to do with the Solvay conferences.