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Raid
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Good point.
I’d want the expander unit.
I don’t know if the SOHOTANK can be expanded or not. I just re-read a description of the web at:https://www.stardom.com.tw/sohotank_st8_feature.html
but can’t find a mention of this.
By the way, here’s a link to the iStorage unit:
https://www.istoragepro.com/prod.php?id=it8sae6g
What do you think about these two units?
(sorry, I don’t know how to make the links ‘live’)
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Like you said, the ST8-U5 is not an expander; iT8SAE6G is; I actually didn’t know you could pool two MiniSAS cables together to an expander unit and increase the bandwidth – nifty feature! That said, one 6G MiniSAS cable delivers 24Gbit/s or 3GB/s (theoretical), more than enough headroom for 8 mechanical drives (at 150MB/s ea. – combined will be less than 1.2GB/s).
There are other expander units in the market but very few sell them diskless.
Where are you thinking of buying the iT8SAE6G from?
Alex (DV411)
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I appreciate the extra info. So drives don’t have to be screwed into trays? (which is what I do now with my eSATA enclosure).
I usually buy from B&H, but I don’t think they carry the iStorage unit. I’m checking other options and will post back.
If this unit is approx. $1500, do you think it’s worth it, over the SOHOTANK?
Malcolm
(glad to see that links become ‘live’ when you post) -
You would need screws to install drivers into trays unless they’ve changed their design recently.
It’s worth the extra money if you need the expansion capability. If you don’t, then it’s iT8MIS or the Sohotank. If you aren’t sure, there is still an option of going with the less expensive non-expander box, and then if you need to expand – sell it on eBay, replace it with the expander type. Yet another option is to buy a 3rd party expander (as long as it’s compatible with both the controller and the box) and add it in the mix when you are ready.
Nobody can make a decision for you, what it’s worth to you to have the expansion capability. 🙂
Alex (DV411)
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