How to set up multiple external HDs in enclosures

[robjv1]

I'm interested in putting together about 6 TB of storage space for video editing / video backup. My current setup includes two internal drives (250 GB and 500 GB) and a 1TB external drive. Both of these backup to a 2 TB external HD. The external drives are connected via firewire (I have a PC). I'm running out of space though, and the Western Digital Premium drives are taking up a lot of desk space...

So I am thinking I'd like to get 4 1.5 TB drives and a drive enclosure. However I can't find any of this size that use firewire, but I have been reading a little and I see eSata is very popular now. I've seen a few enclosures on Newegg that can accomodate this many drives as well. I have a Dell Dimension e510 computer, which does have SATA drives, so would I just need to purchase a eSata PCI card in order to do what I outlined above?

Thanks so much!

[Krispy Kritter]

For eSATA, yes, all you need is a PCI card with eSATA support. Drive storage, for that many drives, you are likely looking at a NAS, but they aren't cheap. You can buy a new PC for the cost of a good NAS and that is without HDD's.

I seriously doubt you want/need all of the storage space online all the time. You would be better served just getting single external inclosures (or even an internal enclosure that uses a 5 1/4" bay), and simply attach a single drive at a time.

[Jim44]

I've got a 4-drive eSATA enclosure that I use. Currently only has 2 drives in it. They're used primarily for storage of my video files once I'm done editing/working on them. I only power up the enclosure when I need to get to those drives, and they just show up as E: and F: drives. Works pretty well for my requirements, and I don't need a NAS setup as they only need to be accessed from the one computer.

Jim

[robjv1]

Jim44 -- How much did you pay for that? I see one on NewEgg for about $239 which doesn't seem too bad. The single enclosure idea sounds workable too, and then I can just add as needed. It may be awhile before I would be anywhere near capacity of 6TB, so I can just grow into it -- I just don't want to run out of eSata connections in the process.

Yeah, I don't need network attached storage either, as I am just using it for editing and as a backup for my original discs. The only issue I can forsee is that I don't use a RAID configuration right now, I just use SynchBack to copy everything on three of my drives to my one bigger drive. I suppose this won't work any longer, since I will have several smaller drives instead of one big one. Can this be done with RAID? I am really pleased with SynchBack though, as it makes great comparitave backups and I can automate it.

I figure I will eventually need about 3TB of workspace and 3TB of backup space, which is how I arrived at my 6TB figure that I spoke about. Right now I am about 80% of the way on my 2TB setup, and I have a ways to go.

[aedipuss]

some of the AMS boxes at newegg come with the pci esata card and the seem to be priced fairly well. check the specs, some will allow all drives in the box to be accessed as one big drive, jbod(just a bunch of drives), or any other raid config.

[Jim44]

Jim44 -- How much did you pay for that?

I honestly don't recall. Maybe less than $200 for the enclosure, and $90 or so for the 4-port PCI card? I already had one drive, and bought a 500GB one on sale at the time.

I can check if I have more accurate info when I get home.

[jstewart]

I just caught the other day a eSATA card that had two connections for under 10 bucks on newegg. You may have to sort.

If your handy, You could build yourself an enclosure yourself out of Acrylic and put the setup next to your machine and run the sata right to your mobo. Of course your Power supply would have to have cables long enough to reach the enclosure and have enough to power 4 1.5tb drives. You can always purchase this separate also....just a suggestion.

Awesome case modding site:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=38