Hey,
I've been looking for a data storage solution that can protect against drive failures. My first inclination is a big array with RAID5 or 6, but the one thing about RAID is its limitations - all disks have to be of similar specs, all the same size, you can't just put new storage in, you have to create a new array with all of the new members, and as far as I can tell that means re-creating the RAID, and offloading all data to another location. It almost seems to be more of a pain than it's worth.
I was just looking into a box with an 8 port 3ware 9650 RAID controller but turned it down because of the reasons above. That and I'm not sure if I def. want to do a RAID5/6 array for a solution.
I was looking at the drobo, as that seems to be the answer to my requirements:
- drive spec inter-operation (multiple specs on drives, still works)
- dynamic expanding array
- RAID5 or 6
- platform independent (I want to see it as one volume (I have all 64 bit OS's), and have it not matter which OS I'm in).
I realize those are pretty strict requirements, but I was willing to sacrifice one or two depending on cost and which ones were sacrificed. It seems drobo is the answer to my prayers. You can mix and match drives (although I don't really intend to, just maybe 1/1.5/2TB when expanding the dynamic expanding array (which it also has)). It has protection against a drive failure (or two), and it appears to be platform independent - no drivers required. I don't care if I have to manage it from a particular OS, as long as I can read/write to it from all (so I plan on going NTFS).
Is anything wrong here, with my take on what drobo is? Also, why is the drobo S, with simply 1 extra drive and eSata, twice the price as the regular drobo? I can't find any other differences. What gives? Anybody have any experience? Good idea? Bad idea? Thoughts?
Thanks . I can't find much with searches except reviews from people who don't use it daily, just tested it a few times .
EDIT:
PS: The only actual RAID experience I've had for myself is setting up RAID1 mirrors when I built me and my dad's computers for data storage. (separate from OS). Never had problems, EVGA's utility works great. Only reason I didn't persue it further was simply b/c the EVGA RAID only supports volumes up to 3TB or some crap like that.
I've been looking for a data storage solution that can protect against drive failures. My first inclination is a big array with RAID5 or 6, but the one thing about RAID is its limitations - all disks have to be of similar specs, all the same size, you can't just put new storage in, you have to create a new array with all of the new members, and as far as I can tell that means re-creating the RAID, and offloading all data to another location. It almost seems to be more of a pain than it's worth.
I was just looking into a box with an 8 port 3ware 9650 RAID controller but turned it down because of the reasons above. That and I'm not sure if I def. want to do a RAID5/6 array for a solution.
I was looking at the drobo, as that seems to be the answer to my requirements:
- drive spec inter-operation (multiple specs on drives, still works)
- dynamic expanding array
- RAID5 or 6
- platform independent (I want to see it as one volume (I have all 64 bit OS's), and have it not matter which OS I'm in).
I realize those are pretty strict requirements, but I was willing to sacrifice one or two depending on cost and which ones were sacrificed. It seems drobo is the answer to my prayers. You can mix and match drives (although I don't really intend to, just maybe 1/1.5/2TB when expanding the dynamic expanding array (which it also has)). It has protection against a drive failure (or two), and it appears to be platform independent - no drivers required. I don't care if I have to manage it from a particular OS, as long as I can read/write to it from all (so I plan on going NTFS).
Is anything wrong here, with my take on what drobo is? Also, why is the drobo S, with simply 1 extra drive and eSata, twice the price as the regular drobo? I can't find any other differences. What gives? Anybody have any experience? Good idea? Bad idea? Thoughts?
Thanks . I can't find much with searches except reviews from people who don't use it daily, just tested it a few times .
EDIT:
PS: The only actual RAID experience I've had for myself is setting up RAID1 mirrors when I built me and my dad's computers for data storage. (separate from OS). Never had problems, EVGA's utility works great. Only reason I didn't persue it further was simply b/c the EVGA RAID only supports volumes up to 3TB or some crap like that.