RAID storage devices

Lots of people like drobo. I use the Qx2 from macsales.com.

The problem with Drobo (besides the price) is that it is proprietary hardware. If they ever go out of business, you’d be in trouble if the Drobo failed.

I built my own 2-disk RAID using an enclosure from Macsales.

That’s what I meant to say, but couldn’t spell proprietary.

Thanks. How do you store the extra hard drives if they are not in the enclosure?

I have two of those and am quite happy.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=621

I also use the WDC – 4TB, they are also superb for remote video editing via firewire.

Does anybody have any experience or thoughts on this to store and transport hard drives when not in use:

http://www.casesbypelican.com/hdrives-8pack.htm

I think you’re thinking of my post from a while back. I ended up going with the Drobo 4 bay 8TB (4×2tb), which was actually the most affordable option in the end, and because you can use any variety of compatible drives, while the actual unit might cease to exist, at least for the moment, the recording hardware is fairly standard.

Thanks Bryan. Can you comment on how you store the drives when they are not in the enclosure?

to be honest, i haven’t quite reached that point just yet, but will have to figure that out by the end of next year. part of me was hoping to simply transfer/switch out to larger capacity drives as they become available every couple years, but there must be some way to file them away in a pelican case or something of the like, labeled perhaps in their original packaging. if you hear of anything, definitely let me know.

Im looking at this for storage:

http://www.casesbypelican.com/hdrives-8pack.htm

the only question about the above is if the drives will fit when in the sleeves for whatever enclosure one has.

Just verify what the RAID enclosure uses for size (2.5" or 3.5") and what connections are used. Then get exact duplicate drives, however many the enclosure takes. I have a two-drive RAID enclosure with two 1TB drives set to redundancy. One drive dies over the summer, got another 1TB drive, let it rebuild and was back in business.

I also have a 2TB drive that I use for daily backups of the photo that are one the RAID, along with my music and user library info.

When the RAID starts filling up, I archive to two 500MB drives that I then store in static free bags, then ziplocked. One I keep here, one I keep elsewhere. Before I archive the images, I add what archive drive they were copied to, so if I need to retrieve them, where they are is easily found in my Lightroom library.

Nerd Power

David – I just put the drive in the anti-static bag that it came in. If I’m going to transport it, I jut put a little bubble wrap around it. If you are going to store them for a long time, you might want to use some dessicant. You can pick up packs through lightimpressionsdirect.com