Hi Russell

I have been looking at storage as well recently. I am a linux guy and 
have been for more than a decade now .... and I have always had a linux 
server with multi disks, etc. I have 162 Gig of photographs and it grows 
at about 40 gig a year, or, in the next few months if I get the D300, 
about 100Gig a year. Along with other data, I have some stringent backup 
requirements too, and I have 200GB of data that I consider to be 
irreplaceable and have multiple backups of.

My current disks are filling up, and I am in need of an expansion. With 
4 disks in the system already I will need to either replace disks, or 
add external storage. External devices are good for backup strategy, so, 
I have had a look around...... and, I like the look of the Western 
Digital "My Book World"

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=279

This is a terabyte which will effectively, when used in a mirrored 
format, is 500GB. The price point for the system is very attractive at 
about CAD$350 for me in Canada...

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10305314

or for a 2TB version.... at $550....

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10305569

It is linked in via Gigabit Ethernet which I have running throughout the 
house. Further, it has a USB expansion port so that you can connect a 
USB device and use that to back up the main device....

My major reservation with it is that it is Western Digital, and I have a 
bad history with them. I find that hard-disks often break soon after 
their warranty expires... and WD have a 3yr warranty, whereas Seagate 
have a 5yr.... I decided a while ago to buy Seagate disks only, and I 
have yet to be disappointed (too much).

So, for not much more than the cost of the actual storage, you can 
easily expand your storage capacity with one of these devices. As I say, 
for me it is perhaps a better idea than gutting and refitting my linux 
server.

Just another thing to consider.

Rolf

Apptech wrote:
> I want to add numerous SATA drives to a LAN.
> 8 would do, more would be good. This is by definition a 
> "server" requirement but lacks most of the rigour associated 
> with the term. Aspects such as backup, mirroring etc need 
> not be addressed here.
>
> "All that is required" is to be able to read and, less 
> often, write files at "an acceptable speed". ie not stupidly 
> slower than if on a typical PC. Application is mainly access 
> to photos. Files are typically in the 1 MB-3MB range but 
> there MAY be a  Quantum leap for new files to 10MB+ each. 
> (RAW rather than JPG).
>
> Drives are typically 300 GB range but newer one will be 500 
> MB and maybe 1 TB soon. Optimum $/GB is about at 500 GB 
> point. . (2TB are on the market but too dear yet)
>
> Longer term this will probably become a more orderly 
> arrangement of fewer larger drives.
>
> QUESTION:
>
> Best cheap way to do this?
>
> Two obvious ways are
>
> 1     Several multi SIDE cards in 1 PC. Say 2 x or 3x  - 4 
> drive cards.
>
> 2     Add USBS front ends to drives.
>
> Option 2 is less certain and dearer.
> Option 1 is liable to create more PSU hassles.
>
> Any other good options?
>
> Does anyone to an SIDE tower at a price that costs notably 
> less per slot than the HDD that goes in it?
> Anything of seen that takes NxSIDE makes the disk cost a 
> minor part of the exercise.
>
>
>
>
>
>         Russell
>
>
> Just for information:    If using RAW at 10 MB+/photo. If eg 
> a wedding takes 3000 photos all up that's 30 GB for one 
> event. Requirements grow apace. Taking less photos may help 
> :-). (Wedding can be pre-photos, hair stylists, bride 
> preparing, limo to wedding, outside, wedding, outside again, 
> guest greeting, formal groups, bridal group photos, 
> reception and dancing till late, Numbers add up.
>
> As this is NOT my 'day job' there aren't too many of these, 
> but enough to need something better than at present.
>
> 1st recent China visit produced ~ 9000 photos.
> 2nd produced ~ 3000.
>
> I don't want to go to RAW format but it seems it might be a 
> good idea, alas.
>
>
>
>
>
>   


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