Video/Photo Storage Solution?

Kiri

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
176
Hi, I'm hoping I can get some advice for my particular case.

I work with a lot of video and still image files, and my current storage setup is running out of space.

Currently I have a simple setup:
- OS/Apps: 240GB SSD
- Cache/proxies: 140GB SSD
- Photo/Video Data: 2.5TB 7200rpm HDD (85% full)
- Backup: External 2.5TB HD (backed up using "free file sync")

So, I need more storage space (at least 4TB), but ideally I would also like to have better performance / speed. I am also on a pretty tight budget.
(I'll also need to buy a larger external HD for backups. )

A DAS / NAS solution like Drobo would be ideal, but too expensive. SSDs are also too expensive in that size.

So that leaves me with buying another HDD and.... I've been researching this a bit, and these are the options I have come up with so far:
- Windows Storage Spaces. I don't know much about this, but seems like it won't improve performance much?
- Drive Pool. I just read about this. Seems good, but again, doesn't really improve performance?
- RAID0. This seems like a good option for increasing performance, but I can't easily add to it later?

Anyway, I'm sure you guys have a lot more knowledge about this stuff than me, so what do you think is the best option in my case? Or is there something better I'm not aware of?
 
Don't overly complicate things. It'll take away from your main goal of editing photos and videos. Don't mess with drivepools, storage spaces, caching software or raiding your volumes. Just more nonsense to mess with that doesn't really get you anything for what you do. Unless you do raid1 for mirroring purposes. Unless the storage subsystem you are using truly does auto tiring, you are wasting money with file caching solutions. If you want to tinker with it because its fun, and its a hobby? Go for it. But for the most bang for your buck with least amount of complexity? Maybe unpopular.. But a single 512gb or 1tb SSD for OS, app, tmp, swap and work space for your photo and video pipe lines and 4TB spinner to hold your finals after they are rendered on your SSD. External Drive via USB for backups. I do exactly that my self. I went from close to 7 drives in one machine a few years back.. F that noise. that was stupid.
 
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I agree with kdh, keeping it simple is the best plan unless it's a hobby interest or you are trying to solve a very specific problem. The only thing I'd add is maybe consider two backup drives and rotate one off site.
 
I third skipping the raiding and whatnot.

Your setup is not unwise, it's just out of date.

Boot/OS drive I'd do a 512GB-1T NVME m.2 drive. Maybe a 2T Since SSDs are basically raids of chips, the bigger the better for speed with NVME m.2 drives.

For cache/proxies, I'd do a second 512GB-1T I'd lean towards the 1T as it is the sweet spot for price and maximizing performance.

For photo video data, get some cheap SATA SSDs. Size doesn't have a performance payoff as they are limited by the SATA interface.

Then I'd get a big external disk. Preferably two so you cna have a disconnected or off site copy of things.

The only problem with my plan is you need the motherboard to support the m.2 NVME drives, which can make it non trivial cost wise if you don't already have it in your system.
 
I third skipping the raiding and whatnot.



The only problem with my plan is you need the motherboard to support the m.2 NVME drives, which can make it non trivial cost wise if you don't already have it in your system.

Exactly!!! My new build, probably early 2020, will have an NMVE drive of 1 TB for OS/programs, and most data, including my Lightroom catalog. Actual photos will go on a spinner, along with the music, books, etc.

I also like to keep things simple. Backup drive in my system unit. Backup of the backup drive is USB, plugged in only when backing up the backup drive. I'm still thinking about cloud storage, but I'm leaning to Backblaze Personal Backup.
 
I dunno about caching software.. It just seems like epic snake oil, those old school math co-processor emulatetors, and stacker. NTFS isn't designed for tiered storage, and wedging something into on the host level to do it sounds silly. I've done real storage tiering for about 10 years using all emc gear, but that is so low in the hardware stack that's been abstracted from the OS. If you want better performance, caching software is a waste.. You are better off spending the money on getting 2 SSDs and raid-0ing or raid 1ing them then jacking around with caching software. Back in the day when SSDs we sub 32gigs in size? I could see some sort of caching software.. Today? With 512ssds being sub 100$? I just looked.. Primocache is 30$ for entry level license. Save them pennies, and put them towards a 2nd ssd.. That'll be real bang for your buck because you'll get real world usable space, better consistent performance and less complication.
 
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