We use g speed raids at work and no way I'm shelling almost a grand! I just need a simple mirror/clone setup (2 drives) 3.5". Any recommendations? I don want a pos that will fail.
Inexpensive raid setup?
- Thread starter JonWormwood
- Start date
Assuming it's just for project backup, why not just set up a folder on a second physical drive and sync the backup folder to your main project folder? Seems this would be cheapest...
Windows, OS X and Linux all have built-in software based RAID options you can run for free. All you need to do is supply the drives. Granted, hardware based RAIDs may be more reliable, faster and provide more features, the basic options are still built into the OSes themselves for anybody to use. Given that we have no clue what your current computer setup is based on what you've mentioned in this thread (does it need to be external? If so, USB, Firewire, eSATA, etc?), as well as what your actual requirements are (network-able, for instance), it's kinda hard to simply recommend something, though.
AgentX
Member
I have been using some software called StableBit DrivePool for a while, its similar to WHS Drive Pooling or a Linux LVM setup. It basically allows you to pool 2 or more drives into a "drive pool", this allows it to appear as a single hard drive on your machine (2 x 2tb will appear as a 4tb volume). You can then enable duplication of a folder or file so the data will be duplicated over both physical drives in case of failure. You can also add more hard drives (increasing the size of the pool) and if you want, enable duplication over all of them if you're super paranoid. And the best thing? No weird formats, its just an NTFS partition so you could just rip a disc out and put it in another machine and copy the data off.
The problem with Raid 1 is unless your using the entire disk you going to waste a lot of space, using drive pooling you can benefit from using all the space available and also have the same security provided by raid 1 for the files your require.
Hope this helps!
The problem with Raid 1 is unless your using the entire disk you going to waste a lot of space, using drive pooling you can benefit from using all the space available and also have the same security provided by raid 1 for the files your require.
Hope this helps!
AgentX
Member
As a side note, most motherboards these days have the option to enable a raid bios, you can then configure a 2 disc raid 1 array in that at no cost.
kev
Im guybrush threepwood
Does your board not have a basic array facility? Should cover it. If not, a PCI RAID card (watch out 133MB/S bandwidth restriction) or PCI express card if you've got a spare slot.
Sorry for excluding this info. Good call.
I am on a macbook pro (late 2011) and yes I want to go external due to those reasons. We've tried simple sync'ing an external drive but it took longer then we wanted.
Networking is a must. ethernet and wireless. Firewire or USB, though USB is preference due to limited firewire ports. I also have thunderbolt....
You mentioned networking. Does it need to be accessed anywhere over the internet, or is LAN access good enough? If LAN access will suit you, then this place has tons of great stuff that you should find useful:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2OB/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/GM3QKIT0GBOB/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2K/
And so on. Be sure to search their site if none of those meet your requirements.
If you need to access it anywhere around the internet, then you need a NAS. For OS X, my favorite is Synology. Any of these should work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108095
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108120
Hard drives aren't included in any of these, so you'll need to provide your own. RAID/NAS approved ones are helpful, but they're not exactly necessary. I've had four "unsupported" 3TB drives in my RAID for years without a problem.
I'd link Thunderbolt RAID setups, but I have a feeling they'd be over your budget considering they're $800+...
Edit: You can also use Disk Utility to link two drives in a software RAID if you want. Throw some drives in some cheap enclosure from Newegg and configure it. I don't exactly recommend it due to the OS having to handle everything (updates may cause issues) and potential speed issues, but it's certainly possible. Many have done it without issue.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2OB/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/GM3QKIT0GBOB/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2K/
And so on. Be sure to search their site if none of those meet your requirements.
If you need to access it anywhere around the internet, then you need a NAS. For OS X, my favorite is Synology. Any of these should work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108095
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108120
Hard drives aren't included in any of these, so you'll need to provide your own. RAID/NAS approved ones are helpful, but they're not exactly necessary. I've had four "unsupported" 3TB drives in my RAID for years without a problem.
I'd link Thunderbolt RAID setups, but I have a feeling they'd be over your budget considering they're $800+...
Edit: You can also use Disk Utility to link two drives in a software RAID if you want. Throw some drives in some cheap enclosure from Newegg and configure it. I don't exactly recommend it due to the OS having to handle everything (updates may cause issues) and potential speed issues, but it's certainly possible. Many have done it without issue.
kev
Im guybrush threepwood
This thread prompted me to have a quick scout on RAID again, and low and behold within the last year they are recommending software RAID over hardware RAID! I thought surely the speeds would suck, but looking at the benches they are on a par!
Great info. I think I've narrowed it down! I guess the next question is what drives should one get? I was thinking the Western Digital 'black' drives.
The main selling point of WD Blacks is the warranty, obviously. They're not necessarily better than other drives out there, but if one fails, WD does a pretty good job at sending you a replacement. I personally have four Seagate consumer grade 3TB drives in my RAID 5 setup since I'm cheap. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter too much for consumer stuff as drive failure is a hit or miss thing, and post flood reliability is a crap shoot, even today. All of the companies have consolidated, to boot. WD owns Hitachi, and Seagate owns Samsung. Toshiba and WD are working together to make drives in the same facilities, using the same hardware, etc.
When searching for a drive, be sure to check both Newegg and Amazon. A lot of times, Amazon is cheaper. Amazon is also a bit nicer when it comes to returning things, but Newegg tends to pack things a bit better. It's always nice to have a spare drive lying around for that "just in case" moment. Rule #1 with any RAID setup, however, is to remember that RAID is not a backup solution. Don't have everything solely on a single RAID setup.
When searching for a drive, be sure to check both Newegg and Amazon. A lot of times, Amazon is cheaper. Amazon is also a bit nicer when it comes to returning things, but Newegg tends to pack things a bit better. It's always nice to have a spare drive lying around for that "just in case" moment. Rule #1 with any RAID setup, however, is to remember that RAID is not a backup solution. Don't have everything solely on a single RAID setup.
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