external raid options with redundancy

[Shane Ross]

The S2VR Duo and HD from CalDigit don’t offer redundancy…only the HD PRO does. And the Dulce Duo Quad and Pro DQ also do Raid 5, 6. Bob tested both units, and likes them. I tested the HD PRO, and like it. A bit overkill in terms of speed, if you are working with SD, but both do give you multiple streams of uncompressed SD. And it is the redundancy you are looking for.

I say you can’t go wrong with either one.

And Walter Biscardi tested out other units…they should be good options too.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[Paul Nevison]

thanks Shane,

is there a strictly SD solution that offers speed and redundancy? how do you rate Raid 1 ie mirrored drives for protection?

can you do raid 5 with internal drives in the new mac pros? is that recommended?

I know Mr Zelin would be fuming at my penny pinching….ive read his posts in the past, and i know you get what you pay for, but i am stuck with a finite budget to buy everything mac, software and drive space.

just looking for economical options having worked with fibre channel in the past and knowing we dont have the budget for that. I’ve had unlimited budgets in the past so this is the first time ive had to do it indie style!

any tips appreciated.

[Shane Ross]

[paulos] “is there a strictly SD solution that offers speed and redundancy?”

I believe that LaCie makes a Raid 5 either firewire 800 or eSATA…but I only heard about it, I don’t know it by name. And while Bob Zelin will say NEVER BUY LACIE, Walter Biscardi will PRAISE LaCie as never having given him one iota of trouble. I am in different.

And just because these raid 5 solutions offer high speeds and are touted for uncompressed HD, doesn’t mean they aren’t perfectly fine for SD. RAID 5 solutions are expensive…and not long ago the ONLY way you could get Raid 5 was via Fibrechannel and VERY expensive. There are now cheaper non-fibre solutions that I pointed out…and those ARE the inexpensive options. You can look at the Sidecar (forget the manufacturer name) which is eSATA, but it is in the same price range.

[paulos] “how do you rate Raid 1 ie mirrored drives for protection?”

I suppose this would be an option, but not really all that great on speed. Might BARELY work for uncompressed SD. The S2VR Duo Raid 1…not good for Uncompressed. DV only at that point…but when you get into eSATA units with more drives, the better your speed options. Personally, I’d avoid Raid 1 for video work.

[paulos] “can you do raid 5 with internal drives in the new mac pros? is that recommended?”

Sorry, this isn’t possible. Raid 1 or Raid 0 only. YOu need a specific controller for Raid 5…and it isn’t build in.

The Raid 5 options out there are VERY low priced in comparison to a few years ago. Finding a Raid 5 box 2Tb for under $6000…unheard of. I know it might still be out of your range. In that case, get a Raid 0 box and then firewire drives to back up the footage. That is cheaper than a Raid 5 box.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[David Bogie]

[paulos] “edundancy is a big requirement, raid 5 being ideal but raid 1 might be our only option in our budget.
storage for the project is estimated to be around 1TB so looking at 2TB if we go raid 1.

The mantra should be dont skimp on good storage but our budget has to include a new mac + software etc…
“

“Redundancy” is not a desired function while working unless you have the high speed drives and cards, a ton of cash, competent technical support and a client who demands it (and will fund it). You have none of those as inferred from your post.

What you NEED is a stupid-proof back up procedure and the discipline to test it and then use it once or twice a day, depending on your tolerance for risk and possible loss.

You need to make dubs of your camera originals and store them securely offsite. You need to rotate your backup volumes from one offsite storage facility to another in a predetermined cycle. You need to have a hot site lined up where you can upload a clone of your system get back to work if your editing facility is destroyed or otherwise unavailable.

bogiesan

[Paul Nevison]

thanks Shane and Boogie,

With the speed in which technology is moving just wanted to ask the question to see if any new solutions had arisen lately.

Coming from a fibre world I appreciate how the cost of storage has been slashed over the last 2-3 years and that these eSATA solutions are incredible at the price point.

I guess things are just never cheap enough for indies!!

I was hoping for a less labourious backup solution ie Raid 5 but in our budget it looks like manual backup is going to be the solution we can afford.

once again guys thanks for the input