Need advice on data storage (RAID)

  • Thread starter Deleted member 218490
  • Start date
D

Deleted member 218490

Guest
I'm looking to build some kind of data redundancy setup for my media content / HTPC and I've been considering a couple of options.

1. Buy a 4 bay or 8 bay RAID enclosure, attach it to my main PC and stream it to my HTPC, or vice versa.
.......... * If I buy a 4 bay I would use 2TB drives. I'm extremely concerned about
.......... the reliability of these high volume drives. Is my concern legitimate or is
.......... there simply a lot of unwarranted fear online regarding their reliability.
.......... * If I buy an 8 bay I would use 1TB drives. Less storage space and probably
.......... more expensive as well.

I am not considering a NAS in this instance because their cost is so damn high


2. Build a storage server with a RAID controller card and configure it to either 4 or 8 drives like mentioned above.


3. Buy (4) 2TB drives and install 2 in my main PC where I put most of my media, and then have (2) 2TB in a separate enclosure. Clone the data on a weekly/monthly basis and keep it disconnected from the PC so that the data is safe. This would be the most tedious but probably the most safe


4. ???? Other ideas.


I don't have much experience with any of this, so any input/advice would be appreciated.

My budget is limited, and I'd like to keep the cost under $600 for everything. Unfortunately I don't know how realistic that is so I may have to piece the system together.
 
Buy something like this at $229 (www.performance-pcs.com)
It supports 5 drives with hardware RAID5 onboad. Stick 5 2Tb drives. Create GPT volume in Win7. Enjoy.

You will need eSata port multiplier support on your HTPC.

Lian-Li EX-50 (it doesn't come with esata card)

EX-50_01.jpg
 
^ The above looks good.. Question though. It says no software required in the description but then there are system requirements. I'm assuming it means there is no software controlling the RAID, and that it's done through the hardware, but that it does use some software to interface with the RAID?
 
ww_Crimson said:
^ The above looks good.. Question though. It says no software required in the description but then there are system requirements. I'm assuming it means there is no software controlling the RAID, and that it's done through the hardware, but that it does use some software to interface with the RAID?
Click to expand...

Well, with any hardware RAID you setup it up in unit, then you run software which will aloow you to manage RAID. Even high end RAID cards require software manager. Actual RAID processing is done via hardware (not software). So, yes, this unit is hardware RAID. Once RAID is setup you don't need software.
For example LSI cards use "MegaRAID Storage manager". Intel uses "RAID Web Console2" and so on.
 
And what are your thoughts on the reliability of 2TB drives? The internet seems like a huge fear monger telling me that nearly every 2TB drive is going to die within a few months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top