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Raid Array, On a budget for a Pro Res HQ/Red system.
Hi, I have spent the last 2-3 days searching the internet for information on Raid systems and…I think… I have come up with a solution, but I’d really like to hear some more experienced users opinions.
Basically I am looking to be able to handle multiple streams of Pro Res HQ and have the option of dealing with higher end formats in the future, even if it isn’t the fastest. you just never know what your going to run into…especially with the slew of cameras that I’m sure will keep coming out (I work in Commercial/Music videos so were on a different camera system every day ideally being able to handle a single stream of uncompressed 1080 if it absolutely had to happen would be great even if its slow)
Basically I have a absolute max (would like to spend less) of 1,500 and I’m trying to put together a fast safe editing system along with a solution to archive projects. What I have come up with after spending many hours drooling over high end external raid solutions like the cal digit is…
build an internal raid 5 with 4x1tb drives and a controller card from highpoint or possibly the cal digit card. (it seems the apple card is overpriced to me)
Then buy a simple lacie 2big drive which retails at $400 with 2tb in a safe Raid 1 so as projects are completed I can just toss them on the Lacie and when the drives fill up just shelve em and buy 2 more. Also gives the possibility of archiving things like raw footage for clients easily.
what do you guys think? what kinda of data rates do you think I will get with an internal raid like that, I know it obviously depends on the card, but what is possible and is it possible to have one raid card that is running both the lacie externally (via esata) and the Internal Raid 5. I would like to avoid the double cost of 2 cards…I know lacie sells a card they recommend, any thoughts on that.
another question, is there any good file management software that I can use to for example schedule the transfer of files?
thanks for any help…I think this is the best forum to put this in…if it is not mods should feel free to move and delete this post.
-jz
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8 Replies
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[Jake Zalutsky] “(I work in Commercial/Music videos so were on a different camera system every day ideally being able to handle a single stream of uncompressed 1080 if it absolutely had to happen would be great even if its slow) “
You’re going to need over 250MB/s for uncompressed HD. 325 and up is better. There’s no such thing as “slow” when it comes to uncompressed HD.
[Jake Zalutsky] “Then buy a simple lacie 2big drive which retails at $400 with 2tb in a safe Raid 1 so as projects are completed I can just toss them on the Lacie and when the drives fill up just shelve em and buy 2 more. Also gives the possibility of archiving things like raw footage for clients easily. “
RAID 1 is not exactly safe. RAID 5 is what I would consider safe. This requires a minimum of 3 drives in a RAID.
You say you want cheap but the flexibility to handle anything that walks in the door with a multitude of formats. Those two don’t really jive. Folks on here like to recommend building your own RAID’s with cards, boxes and drives. I never recommend those as I want something that has been pre-configured by someone and I have one vendor to call in terms of tech support. I run Maxx Digital Evo RAID 5 arrays here, both the 8TB and 16TB models which run well over 500MB/s giving us the flexibility to run anything from DV to 2k. In RAID 5 all our data is protected in the event of a drive failure. Sonnet and Dulce also make excellent arrays. You can get arrays starting at 4TB which are reasonably priced.
For archive, we have a have a WiebeTech RTX200 trayless SATA box so we can just slip the bare drives in and out as needed for archival purposes.
https://www.biscardicreative.com/blog/?p=56
My solutions cost more that 1500 up front, but for me the piece of mind is priceless. Those 8TB arrays have been running 2 to 3 years without failure and the 16TB unit has been running flawlessly on a SAN setup.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author.
Credits include multiple Emmy, Telly, Aurora and Peabody Awards.
Owner, Biscardi Creative Media featuring HD Post
Biscardi Creative MediaCreative Cow Forum Host:
Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Apple Color, AJA Kona, Business & Marketing, Maxx Digital. -
I’m selling a 2 yr old 4.5 TB G-Technology G-Speed eSata 6 drive Raid w an Atto UL5D PCIe card and a 750Gb spare drive. Perfect working order and Mint condition. All cables and original box included. The Atto card has been updated with the latest “Snow Leopard”. drivers. This array is formatted for Mac but can be reformatted for PC. I have it configured as a Raid 5 and I am getting Write speeds of 220mbs and read speeds of 197mbs. Much faster speeds can be attained in Raid 0. For more info:
https://www.g-technology.com/products/g-speed-fc.cfm
https://www.attotech.com/products/product.php?cat=2&scat=3&sku=EPCI-UL5D-0R0
Mike
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Walter –
Minor point, but you said “RAID 1 is not exactly safe. RAID 5 is what I would consider safe.” – Raid 1 is each drive being mirrored by another drive – it’s the safest Raid setup there is With 8 drives in Raid 5 you have 7 drives protected by 1 drive, in Raid 6 you would have 6 drives protected by 2, but the same box in Raid 1 would be 4 drives protected by 4 – the ratio is alays 1:1.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Herb Sevush] “Minor point, but you said “RAID 1 is not exactly safe. RAID 5 is what I would consider safe.” – Raid 1 is each drive being mirrored by another drive”
You are correct, I meant to say “Not fast…” Good catch Herb.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author.
Credits include multiple Emmy, Telly, Aurora and Peabody Awards.
Owner, Biscardi Creative Media featuring HD Post
Biscardi Creative MediaCreative Cow Forum Host:
Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Apple Color, AJA Kona, Business & Marketing, Maxx Digital. -
[Herb Sevush] “Minor point, but you said “RAID 1 is not exactly safe. RAID 5 is what I would consider safe.” – Raid 1 is each drive being mirrored by another drive – it’s the safest Raid setup there is With 8 drives in Raid 5 you have 7 drives protected by 1 drive, in Raid 6 you would have 6 drives protected by 2, but the same box in Raid 1 would be 4 drives protected by 4 – the ratio is alays 1:1. “
Yes Herb, it’s all a game of numbers, and it comes down to what level of risk you’re willing to tolerate.
“I know what you’re thinking: Did he fire six shots, or only five? Well, to tell you the truth in all this excitement, I’ve kinda lost track myself. But, being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?”
— Harry Callahan
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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Highpoint cards are garbage. The only cards I would use on a Mac are either Atto or Areca.
Atto’s tech support is 1st class, and that helps to justify the extra cost of the card. They also have a very well deserved rep for making great, reliable products. I’ve never had to use Areca’s tech support (knock on wood!), so I can’t comment.
I own an Areca 1100 series RAID card, and it’s very good. I’ve worked with Atto SCSI and fiber channel cards and they’re very good. I’ve used Highpoint cards and they are garbage.
Arnie
Post production is not an afterthought!
https://www.arniepix.com/ -
I have an Areca 1680x card for sale.
Warren
Warren Eig
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Hi Mike,
Are you still selling the Atto UL5D card?
Thanks,
Xavier
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