MediaSonic raid enclosure - raid required?

[null]

I'm looking at this MediaSonic 4 bay raid enclosure:

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HFR2-SU3S2-PRORAID-Drive-Enclosure/dp/B003YFHEAC


For anyone that has this, can you tell me if raid is required?

I won't want to run raid initially, I'd prefer my machine to see each of the 4 disks independently. E.g. Music (disk 1), Video (disk 2), Photos (disk 3), Work (disk 4).

Specs cite that the enclosure supports "Single Mode", but I'm not sure what that means, exactly.

Any help appreciated.

 

[zaniix]

http://www.mediasonic.ca/product.php?id=1398380591

"Single Mode: Computer will show up as two independent drives."

 

[null]

Excellent, thanks.

The 4 bay model didn't mention that (which is the one I'm really looking at; I've updated the link in my OP): http://www.mediasonic.ca/product.php?id=1358153144

 

[Kaos_Drem]

If all you are looking for is single drive mode I would look at the Mediasonic Pro-Box instead of the Proraid.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

$70 cheaper, and is only missing the "software" raid that the proraid has.

I have used 2 of these boxes for a long time and never had any issues as long as I used the Esata with PM capability.

 

[MAGAT]

they make a non-raid version as well HF2-SU3S2

 

[null]

Thanks guys.

I'm aware of the ProBox. I'm going move to raid in the near future, but not before buying this enclosure, that's why I want to make sure ProRaid can be run in single mode until I make the move to raid.

 

[rive22]

Just caught this;

+ 15% off w/ promo code SOUTHW15824, limited offer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816322004

 

[westrock2000]

I'm using one of those for ZFS. I am using the eSATA port and an eSATA card with Port Multiplication. It mounts all 4 drives separate, which allows ZFS to take over and do its magic.

I will probably never use the USB....it seems based on reviews that the USB aspect is questionable.

EDIT: I have the $100 from Amazon. Zero problems over the last 6 months.

 

[rive22]

I'm using one of those for ZFS. I am using the eSATA port and an eSATA card with Port Multiplication. It mounts all 4 drives separate, which allows ZFS to take over and do its magic.

I will probably never use the USB....it seems based on reviews that the USB aspect is questionable.

Are you able to monitor SMART on each drive? Just curious, because of the port multiplier.

 

[westrock2000]

Are you able to monitor SMART on each drive? Just curious, because of the port multiplier.

Honestly have no idea. It's being used on OSX, which I haven't really messed with SMART at all on.

 

[Kaos_Drem]

I don't know if the pro-raid version of the enclosure acts differently, but the pro-box version of it will provide individual drive statistics for smart, temp, etc when using crystaldiskinfo.