Looks like I need to upgrade my computer storage system. I'm looking for any input, commentary, or recommendations I have a solo survey company, but lots of cad records. I don't know where the technology is these days, seems like my server was top of the line 5 years ago and is now basically a brick.
NAS - Network Attached Storage
You can put a lot of storage in with this. As a network device you can access it from all your computers. They can have RAID. Then they can back themselves up in almost real time to redundant data centers online (a monthly fee). You can even access your data from anywhere online (built in VPN). Your office could be hit by a drone strike and your data would still be saved at a data center.
I went with the NetGear ReadyNAS Pro series. I can't tell you how it compares with others but mine has worked great for over a year now.
Or just use a usb plug-in drive - easy to add 1 or 2 terrabytes - great for backups too
> Or just use a usb plug-in drive - easy to add 1 or 2 terrabytes - great for backups too
My experience with external USB drives is that their lifespans are much shorter than those of internal drives, perhaps due to inadequate cooling within the tight cases. I've had 4 go bad after only a year or two of service, whereas I've only had 1 internal drive go bad in 20 years, and that one was at about 5 years old.
The NAS cases are probably much better ventilated than the standalone USB drives, and thus might be a better choice.
Maybe we have just been lucky.
We use a number of the Seagate and Western Digital external drives, have done for years, and have yet to have a failure.
Our biggest problem is that even 1 TByte is not big enough anymore 🙁
found this nice review and clips.. thanks. still looking for more info!
Hey Andy,
I use these at the office and they work great. I also have one at home which works out great for all the crap you save.
Have a great weekend and keep those noseeums in Sanibel where they belong! 😉
> found this nice review and clips.. thanks. still looking for more info!
>
>> http://www.colbybrownphotography.com/netgears-readynas-pro-review-a-nas-raid-system-build-for-photographers/br >
Here's what I have:
Fujitsu Primergy TX100 S2 with Intel Core I3 Processor
2 250GB HD's in RAID 1 (I think)
4GB RAM
Running Windows Server 2008
Local computer shop built the server for me and provides offsite data backup, I think I have a 80GB limit on that. I've been with this shop since 2006 and they've built 2 desktops. I've bought 3 laptops from them too (one I destroyed with a water spill out of my Camelbak!). I like using a local shop for data backup, if I have a problem--an I have--I call the owner on his cell and he helps me out.
I have a small shop, just 2 workstations, so I may have overkilled it a bit with my server. Hopefully if it lasts, I'll be able to grow without having to replace my server...that's if it lasts. I think it was around $1800 when I bought it in late 2010.
Hope that helps.
Wes
The cloud.
Costco has a couple of fun options,,,, This and a IOSafe that's fire and water resistant.... fun stuff...
looking at Backblaze.com for backup online. would rather NOT have it in-house, since i live in hurricane alley.
and this unit... http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/network-storage/business/business-storage-2-bay-nas/
Been using 1tb Elements from Western Digital since they came out. It has been dependable and it never moves.
Have a 3tb My Book from Western Digital sitting on the shelf waiting for me to get the bugs out of the 3.0 USB card, trying to find the right driver.
Be careful when shopping for hard drives if you go for a RAID setup. Not all hard drives can be used in a RAID system.
I had a Segate Barracuda RAID setup on my first XP Pro desktop. When the motherboard went, I found out the tech did not switch the second drive to RAID. It was totally blank and failed soon afterwards.
0.02
Great minds think alike.... Similar to my link above!
I was looking at the Western Digital 16 terrabyte 4 bay unit with a "cloud" backup as well.
definitely look into a NAS with RAID capability. Atleast two bays, or maybe 4 if you need more storage/redundancy. Then back that up to the cloud or another offsite system. You can set up a remote NAS at another off-site location and use that as your backup too.
Problem with external HD is accessing them after long storage.
When I had to look up a past project from a backup ext drive that we properly
kept - plastic case in a dry case - none would boot up!
Good thing I have a clause that I could only keep backup digital copies for 6 months only.
This is another good reason to submit to the client all your CAD files. Give them
responsibility to keep the final files.
Our in-house backup is external drives.
For online backup, check out Spideroak. Dumb name but it works well & is decent price.
Online systems take forever (days) to get your data uploaded but can be a lifesaver after that.
You should also be able to access from most other workstations if needed.
I have been using Back Blaze for going on two years now, so far so good, I have done a few trial restores, always works, always backs up in the background, very easy to use. Unlimited data too which is nice.
SHG
I have some Segate external hard drives and not an issue, I wanted to buy the Seagate
BlackArmor NAS 440 which was the predecessor line to the one you linked (in the four drive version), nothing but mostly bad user reviews, now that the newer replacement is out it may be a better solution. The old one looked perfect on paper but seemed to have a lot of issues, I will check out this newer line.
SHG
I have had good luck with Mozy on line daily backups.
Mozy also backs up daily to my external Seagate hard drives. Sorry to hear that Jim F has not had good luck there.
Also Mozy has an app on my iPhone that I use from time to time when I am out in the field to access files from they day before. That has proven to be handy.
Shelby, yes, it was your posts I found in my search that turned up back blaze. Looked into them, I like the way they operate. I thought I had a good system, 4 HD RAID , two for use and two for backups. BUT, when the motherboard/controller goes out and you find out the thing uses proprietary OS, it seems pretty stupid.