External storage for iMac?

[definitive]

Can anyone suggest which would be my best option for external backup?

Would a RAID setup be good? I have two exactly the same hard drives laying around collecting dust, and would like to put them to use for an iMac. Could someone recommend a good external enclosure for these two? Which would be better - FireWire or USB2.0?

I'm also interested in mirroring since I'd store important data on them, and want both drives to have a copy of each. Is there a disadvantage to that in terms of system's performance?

 

[mstam]

Look at OWC and Icy Dock products. FW800 is over twice as fast as USB2.

Keep in mind that for Time Machine backups you want about 1-1/2 times the capacity of your system and files. In your case I would go for a fresh new single drive. The chance that both the drive and your Mac fail at the same time is extremely small.

Currently w/ MIR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817198006
Get a 640GB or 1TB Western Digital Green hard drive with it. I have the 1TB disk and it's super quiet.

RAID solution:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817198031

 

[Tumbleweed666]

I'm also interested in mirroring since I'd store important data on them, and want both drives to have a copy of each. Is there a disadvantage to that in terms of system's performance?

If you are that paranoid, then I suggest instead of using RAID you use two different backup methods. one for each disk, perhaps TM on one, and a scheduled backup via a utility to the other.

My reasoning is that its far more likely that a software bug will cause a restore to fail when you need it (in which case the fact its RAID wont matter a jot) , than that at the exact same time your main HD fails, so does the backup HD.

Of course, if the data is really important, you should also be using an offsite backup, perhaps one of the internet backup options, because keeping all your backups of valuable data within a few feet of each other isnt a good plan

 

[definitive]

If you are that paranoid, then I suggest instead of using RAID you use two different backup methods. one for each disk, perhaps TM on one, and a scheduled backup via a utility to the other.

My reasoning is that its far more likely that a software bug will cause a restore to fail when you need it (in which case the fact its RAID wont matter a jot) , than that at the exact same time your main HD fails, so does the backup HD.

Of course, if the data is really important, you should also be using an offsite backup, perhaps one of the internet backup options, because keeping all your backups of valuable data within a few feet of each other isnt a good plan

with time machine, could i use any external hd that's compatible with a mac?

 

[mstam]

with time machine, could i use any external hd that's compatible with a mac?

You mean compatible w/ firewire or USB. Yes!

 

[definitive]

You mean compatible w/ firewire or USB. Yes!

what i meant was does any external hd that's mac compatible work with time machine. i guess it does though.

thanks everyone for your input. i'll be looking into icy dock products when i'll be ordering an external enclosure. they seem to have a lot of good reviews at newegg, and support firewire 800.

 

[trip1ex]

I picked up a 1TB WEstern Digital My Book external hard drive at STaples for $82 shipped after tax. Go to slickdeals and search for that deal. I think it is still going on.

It's USb 2.0 only, but for backups I don't think it matters much. It hasn't bothered me yet even though my last backup drive was FW400.

 

[spencecb]

I picked up a 1TB WEstern Digital My Book external hard drive at STaples for $82 shipped after tax. Go to slickdeals and search for that deal. I think it is still going on.

It's USb 2.0 only, but for backups I don't think it matters much. It hasn't bothered me yet even though my last backup drive was FW400.

Wow, that is an incredible deal!! I definitely need to get a 1 TB external drive. Just got an iMac with the 640 GB drive, and nothing to back it up with yet. I have an older external drive I used on my old iMac, but it is FW400 only, which won't work with the new iMacs, plus the drive just isn't big enough. I think it's like 120 GB or something.

 

[mstam]

I have an older external drive I used on my old iMac, but it is FW400 only, which won't work with the new iMacs

It will. All you need is a FW800->400 (6-pins) cable ($6-$10). Still much faster than USB2. You could put a new HD in the enclosure. The $82 drive is USB2 only but that's sufficient if it's for backups only. For storing files I would suggest a new HD in your enclosure or a new enclosure. The Icy Dock now has a mail-in rebate and the WD Green drives are super quiet and fast enough for FW800 (max 85MBs practical speed).