Comments on: The Raid Array http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/ Michael W. Geoghegan's Weblog Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:07:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: RAID 0 Back Up and Running at MWGblog http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-123415 RAID 0 Back Up and Running at MWGblog Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:51:20 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-123415 [...] Two years ago I experimented with an external RAID array made up of two disks. A few months later I built a second and combined them for an external 1.2 TB RAID 0 array. I built it mainly as a fun project and for video editing and as an audio scratch disk, though I now also use it for my EYE TV recording and to store all my miscellaneous media. Of course, I back it all up to a separate 1.0TB external FW800 drive. RAID 0 can be a bit risky… It is kind of like cars, the horsepower and speed are awesome. Once you get one, it is hard to go back. [...] [...] Two years ago I experimented with an external RAID array made up of two disks. A few months later I built a second and combined them for an external 1.2 TB RAID 0 array. I built it mainly as a fun project and for video editing and as an audio scratch disk, though I now also use it for my EYE TV recording and to store all my miscellaneous media. Of course, I back it all up to a separate 1.0TB external FW800 drive. RAID 0 can be a bit risky… It is kind of like cars, the horsepower and speed are awesome. Once you get one, it is hard to go back. [...]

]]> By: Michael http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8898 Michael Sun, 16 Jul 2006 16:40:42 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8898 If you look at the top picture of the empty enclosure you will see two flanges that run parallel to the top and bottom of the enclosure. They have a horizontal orientation in the picture above. The holes and slot on those flanges are used to secure the drive from the underside. At least that is how I remember it. Hope that helps. If you look at the top picture of the empty enclosure you will see two flanges that run parallel to the top and bottom of the enclosure. They have a horizontal orientation in the picture above. The holes and slot on those flanges are used to secure the drive from the underside. At least that is how I remember it.

Hope that helps.

]]> By: Pete http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8897 Pete Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:08:38 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8897 How did you get the first drive secured into the enclosure? I was only able to get the second drive secured with the screws. I couldn't find anyway to physically mount the first drive. I left it sitting on its side. How did you get the first drive secured into the enclosure? I was only able to get the second drive secured with the screws. I couldn’t find anyway to physically mount the first drive. I left it sitting on its side.

]]> By: Sue http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8504 Sue Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:41:50 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8504 Thanks for both of your answers. I do have two internal 400GB SATA disks, but am using them separately and then also (2) 140 GB, (1) 100 GB external firewire hard disks for backup- so I am really looking for an additional 1 TB. I have to dump about 30 hours of digital video somewhere and it's amazing how fast the space goes. I was looking at the Lacie Biggest F800 1 TB Raid 0 or 5 but if an external SATA drive is considerably faster I'd go that route. The F800 transfer rate is up to 55MB/sec so it would seem Michael's setup is considerably faster. Thanks for both of your answers. I do have two internal 400GB SATA disks, but am using them separately and then also (2) 140 GB, (1) 100 GB external firewire hard disks for backup- so I am really looking for an additional 1 TB. I have to dump about 30 hours of digital video somewhere and it’s amazing how fast the space goes. I was looking at the Lacie Biggest F800 1 TB Raid 0 or 5 but if an external SATA drive is considerably faster I’d go that route. The F800 transfer rate is up to 55MB/sec so it would seem Michael’s setup is considerably faster.

]]> By: Michael http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8503 Michael Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:14:01 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8503 Sue, I set this up more as an experiment than anything else. Charlie is right, SATA is the way to go for speed, performance and flexibility. There are also number of solutions for mounting the drives internally. I went with RAID 0 because I was interested in speed. I have come close to adding a second enclosure with two more drives on many occassions. I can say that the drives have performed flawlessly and I am very satisfied with the setup. I am sure that there are some industrial stregth steups for people who make their living editing video etc., but this particular setup has worked well for me. Sue,

I set this up more as an experiment than anything else. Charlie is right, SATA is the way to go for speed, performance and flexibility. There are also number of solutions for mounting the drives internally. I went with RAID 0 because I was interested in speed. I have come close to adding a second enclosure with two more drives on many occassions.

I can say that the drives have performed flawlessly and I am very satisfied with the setup. I am sure that there are some industrial stregth steups for people who make their living editing video etc., but this particular setup has worked well for me.

]]> By: Charlie http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8496 Charlie Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:52:19 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8496 Sue: A SATA/PCI disk array will have far better performance and flexibility than any Firewire setup on the G5. If you're just looking for the one TB, might I suggest two 500GB SATA drives in the internal drive bays, and an external enclosure for backups? Sue: A SATA/PCI disk array will have far better performance and flexibility than any Firewire setup on the G5. If you’re just looking for the one TB, might I suggest two 500GB SATA drives in the internal drive bays, and an external enclosure for backups?

]]> By: Sue http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8397 Sue Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:53:16 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8397 I'm setting up my DV editing setup and am currently using a Powermac G5 2.5 DP with FCP. I've been shopping for a RAID array to digitize all my tape to and can't determine whether to go the firewire or SATA + PCI card route. Is SATA that much faster? Looking to get about a Terrabyte of space. Also, do I need RAID 5? Any thoughts on software RAID setups? Sorry for all the questions but it is hard sorting through all the options. Was it hard figuring out the drive installation? I’m setting up my DV editing setup and am currently using a Powermac G5 2.5 DP with FCP. I’ve been shopping for a RAID array to digitize all my tape to and can’t determine whether to go the firewire or SATA + PCI card route. Is SATA that much faster? Looking to get about a Terrabyte of space. Also, do I need RAID 5? Any thoughts on software RAID setups? Sorry for all the questions but it is hard sorting through all the options. Was it hard figuring out the drive installation?

]]> By: Michael http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8182 Michael Tue, 20 Jun 2006 22:09:23 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8182 It works like a charm. It comes in really handy in video and audio editing. The speed is greatly appreciated. I often thinking of adding two more drives for even more speed. It works like a charm. It comes in really handy in video and audio editing. The speed is greatly appreciated. I often thinking of adding two more drives for even more speed.

]]> By: Jeff http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8176 Jeff Tue, 20 Jun 2006 20:46:50 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-8176 How is this setup working out for you? have you had any problems with it? Is this something you would recommend? Would this work good for audio and video editing? How is this setup working out for you? have you had any problems with it? Is this something you would recommend? Would this work good for audio and video editing?

]]> By: Eric Likness http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-246 Eric Likness Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:50:57 +0000 http://mwgblog.com/archives/2006/03/15/the-raid-array/#comment-246 Mike wrote: "I have no good reason, but I decided I needed to build an SATA RAID 0 array for audio/video editing." Speaking as one guy with disposable income to another guy with disposable income,. . . Don't even worry about it. If you can pay for it, then you deserve to have it. Now me, I did make a mistake of buying bunches of stuff off of Granite Digital (think expensive Fast/Wide SCSI cables). I spent over $150 and now that cable and card and drives are just laying around unused. Why? SATA drives are supported natively by the Mac OS. And Fast/Wide SCSI drivers for PCI cards has been sadly lacking ever since Apple moved to OS X. So in your case I think you won some, in my case I lost some. As long as you continue to use the RAID array, there's absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. Mike wrote: “I have no good reason, but I decided I needed to build an SATA RAID 0 array for audio/video editing.”

Speaking as one guy with disposable income to another guy with disposable income,. . . Don’t even worry about it. If you can pay for it, then you deserve to have it.

Now me, I did make a mistake of buying bunches of stuff off of Granite Digital (think expensive Fast/Wide SCSI cables). I spent over $150 and now that cable and card and drives are just laying around unused. Why? SATA drives are supported natively by the Mac OS. And Fast/Wide SCSI drivers for PCI cards has been sadly lacking ever since Apple moved to OS X. So in your case I think you won some, in my case I lost some. As long as you continue to use the RAID array, there’s absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

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