ok, i want to set up a monstrously-massive (in terms of home use, anyway) RAID-5 file/video/media server, and need some recommendations.
the requirements:
1) it must be incrementally-expandable, as i won't have the money to buy all the hard drives that i want all at once....yet, once the new space is added, it must still appear on the network as a single directory (i.e., i can start with 3 - 5 drives in RAID-5, then later add another 3 - 5 drives, creating two seperate RAID-5 arrays....then logically combine the two into a single, larger directory).
2) the enclosure must be able to store at least 12 hard drives, but more = better.
3) it must be reasonably-priced....say, no more than $1200-ish (not including HD's, obviously)
4) the RAID management utility must work on multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux)
5) the RAID controller must be hardware-based, preferably with expandable memory
6) have GigE LAN connection
this will be used to store all my CD's & DVD's in ISO form to be accessed via my HTPC & other systems & for storing temporary backups of my other systems.....oh yeah, and lots & lots of pr0n!!
so give me your suggestions on what you think would work for this application.....thanks
the requirements:
1) it must be incrementally-expandable, as i won't have the money to buy all the hard drives that i want all at once....yet, once the new space is added, it must still appear on the network as a single directory (i.e., i can start with 3 - 5 drives in RAID-5, then later add another 3 - 5 drives, creating two seperate RAID-5 arrays....then logically combine the two into a single, larger directory).
2) the enclosure must be able to store at least 12 hard drives, but more = better.
3) it must be reasonably-priced....say, no more than $1200-ish (not including HD's, obviously)
4) the RAID management utility must work on multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux)
5) the RAID controller must be hardware-based, preferably with expandable memory
6) have GigE LAN connection
this will be used to store all my CD's & DVD's in ISO form to be accessed via my HTPC & other systems & for storing temporary backups of my other systems.....oh yeah, and lots & lots of pr0n!!
so give me your suggestions on what you think would work for this application.....thanks