RE: Cheapest way to achieve RAID5 ?

["Nigel Giddings" <nigel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have for a while now been looking at creating a 'File Server' or NAS.

I would like to use an existing Tower PC (933MHz PIII) but although I have
=
been googling I have not found an idiots guide...

The price of 250G Hard Drives make it viable to store things on H/D rather
=
than CD or DVD even from a cost per Gig point of view. The added
convenienc=
e of it been instantly available make it a no brainer ( I suppose the PC
wi=
ll draw power 24/7 where as CDs & DVDs don't though....)

What I would like is a solution that would allow H/Ds to be added as
requir=
ed. Initially 2x250G but moving on to 4 plus if possible.

I would like to be able to use NTFS as I use this at the moment to
restrict=
access to certain files.

Any pointers to any good 'How To' sites? I would be happy to use MS
Windows=
or could try other OSs if it made sense.

Thanks in advance

Nigel

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan @ Home [mailto:jonathan@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 13 April 2005 08:44
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Cheapest way to acheive RAID5 ?


RAID5 is reliable because you can lose one disk from an array and still
maintain data integrity. Down side is you always lose 1/n disks where n is
the number of disks. RAID5 is only good if you replace the lost disk before
you lose another on, then you are stuffed. I think SATA2 support hot swap
which has been around the SCSI for yonks. We use on all our data servers
bu=
t
most of our clients have deeper pockets than I do.

Best option might be to buy a tower case and build yourself a file server,
it is what me and my fellow geeks do.=20=20

Cheers
Jonathan (who got burgled at the weekend and is now fitting an alarm)

-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Barrett [mailto:dean@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 13 April 2005 08:26
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Cheapest way to acheive RAID5 ?


As im now a fully fledged Cinemar convert i'm starting to grow my hard
driv=
e
based DVD collection. Reading about reliable solutions i've noticed RAID5
mentioned a few times as the safest way to keep your collection.
=20
Had a quick Google and look round EBay, and see a selection of controllers
from =A330 up - on overclockers there are a couple of RAID 0,1,5,10 JBOD
ca=
rds
at =A370.00 which look good - in both SATA and Standard, as i have a
standa=
rd
250gig i guess i should stick with the standard one.
=20
Has one got any advice on this type of thing ? - i assume i shall have to
scrap my Shuttle to get 5 drives in a box, i also assume i'll need a bigger
PSU etc.
=20
Suggestions appreciated, and is RAID5 the best way to protect them ?
=20
Is anyone else using Amazon to boost their DVD collection ? - 6 DVD's for
=A39.99 a month, should have a good collection by the end of the year ;)
=20
=20


Dean.
=20


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=20