Please Recommend me a CHEAP 4 drive esata enclosure without drives…

[Bryan Roberts]

You just blew my mind. I pulled out drives that I used for previous films (1tb Seagates) and read the top of the label not even knowing these drives would ever have a jumper capable of limiting speed, and sure enough it was limited to 1.5! I’m not embarrassed of admitting stupidity and learning something new but that is pretty embarrassing!

Another follow up question since I have obvious holes in my knowledge: if I’m running internal computer power (split off my optical drive) to power my SATA enclosure with four drives with a fan (it’s designed to be an internal drive enclosure run off of internal power) and my enclosure doesn’t have a separate power plug input for each drive (it offers a place to plug in two SATA power cables or 2 normal 4 prong power plugs) – is plugging in two SATA power cables enough power (considering they’re all being split off the same optical power cable)? In other words, my setup is very close to the popular G5 Jive that Sonnet Tech used to offer but it has four drives and a fan. Will it be able to pull enough power for all this from two SATA power plugs or two standard four prong power plugs?

[Ernie Santella]

I have a Firmtek and it’s been great with no issues. But, I’ll just throw one more box at you. USB-Ware. Can’t have too many choices right?

https://www.usb-ware.com/5-bay-esata-port-multiplier-enclosure.htm

I’ve been using this enclosure for over a year daily and it’s been flawless.

Ernie Santella
Santella Productions Inc.
http://www.santellaproductions.com

[David Roth weiss]

[Paul Dickin] “Am I right in thinking that the Port Multiplier failure problems are focussed on the use of RAID+PM.
If you configure your Port Multiplier external box as JBOD (no RAID) then a bridge-board failure is inconvenient (swap the drive), but not fatal? “

That’s possible, but raids are all about speed, throughput, and RT performance. Having four separate drives setup as JBOD is, at least in my opinion, like buying your granny a Porche.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.

[Bryan Roberts]

I love options and had seen that enclosure too. I love the price, I think that’s more in my league, glad to hear your good experience with it.

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
Yes. I understand that, But…
I’m working my way through the argument, counter-argument and rebuttal in this 😉
Why RAID 5 stops working in 2009.
https://blogs.zdnet.com/storage/?p=162&tag=nl.e539

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Bryan Roberts] “Will it be able to pull enough power for all this from two SATA power plugs or two standard four prong power plugs? “

I think you will be fine.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Paul Dickin] “I’m working my way through the argument, counter-argument and rebuttal in this 😉 “

You know, in 2009, I bet my car will have a point of failure after so many RPMs on the engine as well.

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
But your car’s maximum RPM probably doesn’t exceed even half of the RPM of a reliable Honda motorcycle from the 1960/70s. So it won’t fail, given the advances in metallurgy and lubrication technologies.
Unless you’re a drag racer… 😉

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Paul Dickin] “So it won’t fail, given the advances in metallurgy and lubrication technologies. “

😀 Point well taken.

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
I think the article is saying that the inevitable failure-rate statistics mean that, as drive sizes get bigger, a RAID n:1 strategy is needed – 5/1, 0/1.
Unless drive reliability gets measurably better, as the drives get larger…

So whilst RAID speeds are essential for RT performance, backup strategies have to be more widely based.