How long does it take to upload things to this kind of service? It must be very slow.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Storage Solutions for our OUT-OF-CONTROL iTunes Libraries
- Thread starter fivepoint
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
How long does it take to upload things to this kind of service? It must be very slow.
Well, I use MTR before every rip, mainly because it allows a more efficient workflow. MTR can rip a DVD in probably 15-30 minutes depending upon size, whereas with HB I'm looking at usually 2 hours plus for the encoding. So, I usually rip 6 or seven DVD's in the evening with MTR and then queue them up overnight with HB. A pretty painless process, and as I have about 500 DVD's to rip and encode, the only way I would consider doing it.
I also have a Drobo (v2) with 4x1TB Seagate drives providing about 2.7TB of actual useable space connected by FW800 to my Intel 2.4Ghz aluminium iMac with 4GB of Ram. I expect to run out of this space in the next three months and will upgrade to 1.5TB drives, or will wait for the rumoured 2TB's coming out in 2009. I use it mainly to store Aperture and iPhoto libraries as well as iTunes files. I use it as a scratch disk for streaming content to my Apple TV (which it does very well) and have about 500 DVD's which I will be ripping and encoding to it.
Like you I'm also considering a backup for the Drobo for a number of reasons; 1)it is not a mature technology yet and I'm scared to death that I will lose my data on the thing, 2) it won't protect from file deletion or fire, flood and theft and 3) if Data Robotics goes to the wall and the Drobo unit fails, I've lost my data as it is stored using proprietary technology. I did a total cost of ownership analysis of using Blu-Ray as a backup, but after I hit $3600 to backup 4TB of data over 80 50GB discs (including the burner) it became apparent that until another disc technology becomes price competitive, another hard disk solution would have to suffice as a backup for my Drobo.
I had some good conversations with Rick over at Macgurus (I have no association with him) and he provides Burly RAID enclosures which are pretty much bullet proof as far as quality goes, so what I intend to do is buy a 4bay enclosure and put 4 1.5 to 2TB discs in using Disk Utility in a RAID0 configuration, have SuperDuper backup the iMac and the Drobo to the Burly and then rotate the disk sets periodically for offsite storage. It also has the added benefit of not having a proprietary RAID controller as it will be using the software RAID provided by Disk Utility, so if the Burly did fail for some reason, I should be able to drop the disks in another enclosure and read the files with no difficulty.
It's the only solution that I can think of that is both simple and cost competitive while ensuring offsite redundancy for such large amounts of data in a non-proprietary way. Over time as the disk sets increase on the Drobo I'll increase the size of the disks on the Burly. As the Drobo will always have less capacity than the RAID0 Burly due to its RAID5 like redundancy requirement, the Burly will always have more than sufficient space as a backup if I keep parity with the disk sizes.
Hence the reason I said: "unless you're ripping many DVDS in one night with MTR and encoding them while you sleep with Handbrake."
My thoughts on Drobo and Mozy:
The Drobo, as matters currently stand, is a buggy piece of you-know-what. The potential is huge, but the execution is somewhat lacking. Mine has *issues* staying connected via USB, and is completely hopeless via Firewire 800. In addition, the Firewire speeds were not much faster than the USB speed, indicating a poor implementation thereof. Given several firmware revisions it will likely be the best solution available, but right now I'm contemplating the purchase of a enterprise level Raid solution to contain the library. I know that it will "simply work," unlike the Drobo.
Mozy, by contrast, is worth every cent it costs. I began uploading by iTunes library (~800 GB at this point in time) around a week ago ago. It's currently about 20% done uploading, and a test restore download worked perfectly. If you have a large library, I highly recommend this as an offsite backup. It will suck up your time, but little else. Consider this a strong recommendation for this service. If you currently don't have offsite backup for an iTunes library in the TB+ range, this is what you've been waiting for.
The Drobo, as matters currently stand, is a buggy piece of you-know-what. The potential is huge, but the execution is somewhat lacking. Mine has *issues* staying connected via USB, and is completely hopeless via Firewire 800. In addition, the Firewire speeds were not much faster than the USB speed, indicating a poor implementation thereof. Given several firmware revisions it will likely be the best solution available, but right now I'm contemplating the purchase of a enterprise level Raid solution to contain the library. I know that it will "simply work," unlike the Drobo.
Mozy, by contrast, is worth every cent it costs. I began uploading by iTunes library (~800 GB at this point in time) around a week ago ago. It's currently about 20% done uploading, and a test restore download worked perfectly. If you have a large library, I highly recommend this as an offsite backup. It will suck up your time, but little else. Consider this a strong recommendation for this service. If you currently don't have offsite backup for an iTunes library in the TB+ range, this is what you've been waiting for.
Hello!
Just waiting for my replacement unit to arrive from Drobo. They've no idea when its due....
I wholeheartedly agree; just make sure you use the latest Mozy client as there were some issues with a previous one marking all of your files as deleted (they were still there as Mozy keeps them around for 30 days). I had to downgrade for a week or so while they fixed this issue.
Well I just mailed my original unit back to them and I'm running on a replacement. If you get a Drobo that doesn't have the light-chart on the inside front cover then you got mine.
LOL
Hello everyone! I'm trying to decide between a V1 or a V2 drobo. I've been hearing songs of praise and songs of woe for both units and I'm not really sure what to do.
I've got an iMac and a ton of 1080p movies on it. I want a redundant external drive to house the movies on and be able to stream them reliably. Theoretically, USB should be enough. However, by some accounts the V2 has much better performance while other accounts say that it's not much better.
I'd like to save the $150, but I don't want to cheap out on this large of an investment if it'll bite me in the ass later.
I've got an iMac and a ton of 1080p movies on it. I want a redundant external drive to house the movies on and be able to stream them reliably. Theoretically, USB should be enough. However, by some accounts the V2 has much better performance while other accounts say that it's not much better.
I'd like to save the $150, but I don't want to cheap out on this large of an investment if it'll bite me in the ass later.
As an interim measure, I've chucked a load of disks in to an old Power Mac G5 tower we had here and am doing a manual, weekly copy to it from the Drobo. I've go 4 * 1TB disks in there, so there's more than enough space for even a full Drobo, 2.7TB or so.
Long term I'm actually thinking of replacing the iMac for a Mac Pro and putting 4 * 1TB disks in to that. Then I can use the internal storage for everything and the Drobo to back that up externally.
Or I keep the iMac and buy another external NAS or disk array to back up the Drobo. Let's face it, I've got the disks already, so maybe that's the most cost effective way to go about things.
Long term I'm actually thinking of replacing the iMac for a Mac Pro and putting 4 * 1TB disks in to that. Then I can use the internal storage for everything and the Drobo to back that up externally.
Or I keep the iMac and buy another external NAS or disk array to back up the Drobo. Let's face it, I've got the disks already, so maybe that's the most cost effective way to go about things.
As regards the Drobo v2 itself, there do seem to be serious problems with it, particularly over FW800. I've just received a replacement unit from Drobo, so I'll see how that performs over the next while before making a judgement as its always difficult to know if you've just been unlucky, or if there's been a faulty batch, or if its just flawed.
Like others have said, the potential is there, but as things stand, it seems flaky at best.
Like others have said, the potential is there, but as things stand, it seems flaky at best.
I will anytime go with a Qnap 409 Pro (or 509 Pro) instead with a Drobo. Same pricepoint, zero management, LCD for seting it up, NFS, RAID, JBOD, online expasion, Twonky media installed, Linux power embedded, robust ext3 filesystem inside, etc, etc, etc. The Qnap is what Linn is offering as storage for their DS line (the high-end digital music servers), highly recommended.
well i'm a happy chappy - just lost 1.8TB of Data over 3 hard drives 1TB 500Gb and a 320 Gb sat on my kitchen floor all just died all at the same time!
what are the odds
since they are all WD Mybooks - i suspect that i've had a power spike and it's fried em -
great 800+ movies and some TV shows down the drain
does anyone know if power spikes just kill the power supply on the external HDD's or the disk also ?
what are the odds
since they are all WD Mybooks - i suspect that i've had a power spike and it's fried em -
great 800+ movies and some TV shows down the drain
does anyone know if power spikes just kill the power supply on the external HDD's or the disk also ?
Terrible terrible luck. Very sorry hear. From my experience I would *hope* that it is just the power supply that has gone. I would suspect the physical drive is ok. You can check by picking up a USB to IDE/SATA off ebay for about £15 and ripping out the drive from the MyBooks. I've done this with several external HDs bought to me and I've managed to save the data about 80% of the time.
This makes me very very happy to have bought a Drobo ten days ago. Phew!
just picked up a USB - SATA dock thing from maplins - for £30 i'm hoping it's just the Power Supply.
Drobo Question - does it warant the price tag? £399 from Amazon UK
for the price of a Cheap Windows computer i could add the storage myself
I got a stupidly good deal on my Drobo. I used one of the coupons that eBay / PayPal do every couple of months and got 20% off! It meant I got a brand new sealed, v2 for £260 shipped. I've filled it with 4 1TB WD Caviar Green drives and I could not be happier. The Drobo just makes me feel safer about my data. Like a lot of people here I started getting literally paranoid about having so much data / music / video on one cheap external HD.
Good luck with restoring your data
Just pulled the trigger on a USB drobo and 2 1TB (refurbished) WD drives. I'll take the drive out of my current 1 TB WD mybook as well.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
Need your suggestions...
My setup: New Mac Mini is the hub for my home theater (hidden in my media cabinet), connected to a wall mounted 58" plasma. Also have a 1TB MyBook connected. This is where I have about 100 movies and 3000 songs. iTunes syncs to the external drive.
Issue/concern: As my movie and song libraries grow, it is concerning that the ONE external drive could go and I am hosed.
Question: Needing a backup solution, should I:
1. Just add another external HD? Is it even possible for one external drive to back up another external drive? Will Time Machine assist? OR...
2. Should I bite the bullet and go with a Drobo?
For $ reasons, option 1 is better (obviously). If you guys agree, can someone assist with the "How To" on backing up external with external?
THANKS!!!
My setup: New Mac Mini is the hub for my home theater (hidden in my media cabinet), connected to a wall mounted 58" plasma. Also have a 1TB MyBook connected. This is where I have about 100 movies and 3000 songs. iTunes syncs to the external drive.
Issue/concern: As my movie and song libraries grow, it is concerning that the ONE external drive could go and I am hosed.
Question: Needing a backup solution, should I:
1. Just add another external HD? Is it even possible for one external drive to back up another external drive? Will Time Machine assist? OR...
2. Should I bite the bullet and go with a Drobo?
For $ reasons, option 1 is better (obviously). If you guys agree, can someone assist with the "How To" on backing up external with external?
THANKS!!!
holy s---, that's a rip-off. For that price, I would think that there are several other feasible alternatives.
Mine solution is pretty simple. I'm running a 160GB 
TV, 500GB Time Capsule and 3 Gen MacBook (Black) all connected wireless.
On the MacBook my iTunes library is set to the Time Capsule (as a network drive; note: I am not using Time Machine at this time). I keep theTV pretty full to avoid streaming. When I do stream, there are no ill effects on the screen.
Future plans. Near term, I have a second 500GB Network drive (a Lacie) that I would like to set up as a Mirror to the Time Capsule (going to have to figure out how one of these days). Long term, probably a Drobo.
Things I learned along the way...
Tiger + File vault turned on = 80GB user directory... One of those cases where I ran out of room but still had space left on the hard drive. My best guess is that File vault was limiting my usable space... unconfirmed though.
18 DVD's is not a viable back up option.
The digital media (iTunes stuff) was the most valuable stuff I had on my computer!
- Kevin
TV, 500GB Time Capsule and 3 Gen MacBook (Black) all connected wireless. On the MacBook my iTunes library is set to the Time Capsule (as a network drive; note: I am not using Time Machine at this time). I keep the
TV pretty full to avoid streaming. When I do stream, there are no ill effects on the screen.Future plans. Near term, I have a second 500GB Network drive (a Lacie) that I would like to set up as a Mirror to the Time Capsule (going to have to figure out how one of these days). Long term, probably a Drobo.
Things I learned along the way...
Tiger + File vault turned on = 80GB user directory... One of those cases where I ran out of room but still had space left on the hard drive. My best guess is that File vault was limiting my usable space... unconfirmed though.
18 DVD's is not a viable back up option.
The digital media (iTunes stuff) was the most valuable stuff I had on my computer!
- Kevin
tv + Time Capsule: Safe to Stack?
Hey guys, I just picked up a Time Capsule and since it has exactly the same foot print as tv, I'm thinking of stacking one on top of the other.
Has anybody done this and is either system affected by the other in terms of heat or radio interference?
Both machines have a rubber pad so I'm not worried about scratching and it seems that the rubber guards against heat transfer.
Any advice?
Hey guys, I just picked up a Time Capsule and since it has exactly the same foot print as tv, I'm thinking of stacking one on top of the other.
Has anybody done this and is either system affected by the other in terms of heat or radio interference?
Both machines have a rubber pad so I'm not worried about scratching and it seems that the rubber guards against heat transfer.
Any advice?
I know my AppleTV gets VERY hot. If you had to stack them, I'd suggest putting the AppleTV on top so the heat doesn't as easily transfer to the Time Capsule.
However, if the Time Capsule gets as hot as the AppleTV, that would be a moot point.