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Storage Solutions for our OUT-OF-CONTROL iTunes Libraries

LaCie Drives

ironjaw
I have two LaCie drives. One 11 months old in for repairs. The other one the power adapter is dead and I am having a heck of a time getting a new one. I am very disapointed in them. They are very solid well built on the outside but their looks betray their performance. Have had many issues with them not mounting on my desktop as well. I will not buy them again. Customer support is awefull as well.
 
First time I came across this thread so I thought I'd post the solution I'm using for my media library:


All of this is connected to a Mac Pro. The RocketRaid card has four (4) eSATA ports, each supporting port multiplication, so you can theoretically have 4 enclosures, each with 5 drives in it. I went with this card for precisely that reason: expansion in the future will just involve getting a new enclosure and a set of hard drives.

It's the best solution that I could come up with that factored in cost, scalability, and some level of data protection.
 
Cuthbert said:
Just to let people know... I've finally decided to buy a drobo with 2, 1 TB WD green drives. I went to buy them at Buy.com who have a 5% off deal right now. However, I noticed some bad opinions about Buy.com. I therefore went to the Drobo website and then called the company asking them if they price match. They gave me a $50 off coupon code! Which is even more off since the Buy.com coupon maxes out at $15. Sweet baby!

Just so you all know...
Click to expand...

Well don't hold back <big grin>....what is the coupon code?

- Phrehdd
 
I have a 3.0Ghz Mac Pro with 3HD bays full at the moment(1 left). The first is a standard 320GB for OSX and the other two are both 1TB. The second one is full and the third is getting close. Do you guys think this a bad idea to set it up this way? I have about 600GB of movies and about 550GB of tv shows.
 
Chad H said:
I have a 3.0Ghz Mac Pro with 3HD bays full at the moment(1 left). The first is a standard 320GB for OSX and the other two are both 1TB. The second one is full and the third is getting close. Do you guys think this a bad idea to set it up this way? I have about 600GB of movies and about 550GB of tv shows.
Click to expand...

You're signature indicates you have a 500GB Time Capsule. I'm going to assume you use that to backup your 320GB OSX applications/boot drive.

So the big question is: "what is your backup strategy for the two 1TB drives?"

If the answer is "I don't have a backup of my two 1TB drives." Then I think you probably need to invest in some additional storage space. Since you have a MacPro and a lot of extras, a two or four-bay storage array probably isn't out of the picture. You can use Time Machine or similar backup software to dump data there. If you just want redundancy, then you could go with RAID1 on one of your empty drive bays.
 
So I can buy some external HD's and use time machine to back them up there? Can you do that if my time machine is already backing up leopard/osx from the 320GB drive?
 
I was wondering if people had a preference between XBOX 360 and PS3 for use as the input source to TV from NAS.
 
Samsung 1TB drives

I've had the Drobo installed with 3x1TB Samsung Spinpoint drives for about 2 weeks now, with great results. The combo is quiet, F/W access is as fast as my other standalone F/W drives, and the drives don't get very hot to the touch. Occasionally the Drobo fan comes on which makes it a bit louder, but not substantially so. I paid about $120 ea, but they're going for $104 on newegg.
 
What does everybody think about a iTunes Library solution built around this type of hardware? What sort of practical applications would this device provide? How would you utilize it in your setup?

http://gizmodo.com/5100929/voyager-...uad-interface-sata-hard-drive-docking-station

voyager.JPG
 
Chad H said:
So I can buy some external HD's and use time machine to back them up there? Can you do that if my time machine is already backing up leopard/osx from the 320GB drive?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can backup multiple drives to different Time Machine drives. Just set up the settings properly.
 
fivepoint said:
What does everybody think about a iTunes Library solution built around this type of hardware? What sort of practical applications would this device provide? How would you utilize it in your setup?

http://gizmodo.com/5100929/voyager-...uad-interface-sata-hard-drive-docking-station
Click to expand...

I'm going with "really bad idea". Just get a cheap enclosure with a fan. Such a docking station is best used for making copies of drives or pulling data off. It saves having to completely assemble anything. More a workbench type tool. If you want to use something as your systemic solution, make sure it is protected from a few elements.

It might be convenient to have something like that for cheap, off-site storage. Just make a fast copy of your library. Put it on the disk, pull the drive, put it in a static bag, and then in your safety deposit box. That's what I would use it for...
 
Only for backup purposes

I juts found this application called DV Backup, haven't tried it myself as I don't have a camera with DV-in

"DV Backup is a shareware application for MacOS X 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5
which lets you backup any data files to a MiniDV, Digital8, DVCAM or HDV camcorder." Website
 
If you are happy waiting 1 hour to backup 12 GB of data, then DV Backup is for you.
 
fivepoint said:
What does everybody think about a iTunes Library solution built around this type of hardware? What sort of practical applications would this device provide? How would you utilize it in your setup?

http://gizmodo.com/5100929/voyager-...uad-interface-sata-hard-drive-docking-station

voyager.JPG
Click to expand...

Have to agree with the other poster - this is really just a temp tool and not a full on day to day long hours type of drive set up. I have one of these types of units and the drives do get hot. Fortunately, its for emergencies and odd jobs only of data transfer.

- Phrehdd
 
fridmanator said:
but what if I have 160 GB ipod and less than that on my computer???
can I sync without loss what's on my ipod???:confused::apple::apple::apple:
Click to expand...

You can store your music on an external drive and point iTunes to it or, simply use "add library" without files being moved locally. So the answer is technically yes. Just be careful.

Also when synching, make sure you are set up not to erase files on your iPod if they do not exist in your iTunes library.

If your music is stored on a direct attached external drive you are good to go and the same if you use a NAS.

- Phrehdd
 
The Voyager Quickport is a solution for offloading files, like backups, video and audio backups, etc. This is not a solution for online storage but to backup someting and then put the disk in your closet. If you use lot of disks you save on all the external cases and cables/switches/power supplies on your desk.

But if you need something to run your iTunes library on, then the Voyager is the wrong type of "interface". To anyone looking at a drobo, I can recommend the Qnap TS-409 Pro or even better the TS-509 Pro. It beats the drobo handsdown and the 409 with 4 disks is about the same in price. The Qnap is the Storage box LINN is offering together with its $20.000 top of the line DS series network player.
 
phrehdd said:
Well don't hold back <big grin>....what is the coupon code?

- Phrehdd
Click to expand...


I want to say it was something simple like "Drobo50," but I honestly can't remember and did not write it down. Just call the company if interested.
 
desenso said:
First time I came across this thread so I thought I'd post the solution I'm using for my media library:

Click to expand...
How do you like the Sans Digital TR5M? I am looking at getting this for my MBP (w/ eSATA card).

Also, does anyone know the difference between these enclosures? What one has over the other etc... I can't decide which one to get.
 
BrittQ said:
How do you like the Sans Digital TR5M? I am looking at getting this for my MBP (w/ eSATA card).

Also, does anyone know the difference between these enclosures? What one has over the other etc... I can't decide which one to get.
Click to expand...

Go to the bottom where the features are. One has a chipset that wont support later version of Leopard. Another comes with a raid card etc...

You should check out the "features" carefully. It really is self explanatory.

- Phrehdd
 
Starting anew

I'm looking for advice on storage for a new iMac setup.

I currently have an early 2006 iMac (160GB internal) with 4 external HDDs attached:
Seagate FreeAgent 750GB: Time Machine
Iomega Ultramax 750GB: iTunes
LaCie 160GB: Random overflow from internal
40GB portable laptop drive

I'll be picking up a new iMac when they come out, and want to simplify the new setup and be able to share iTunes music & movies with my old iMac in an adjacent room.

I'm thinking of either getting a 1TB internal (which could hold my ~500 GB iTunes library) in the new iMac and a 1TB external for Time Machine -or- the standard 320GB internal and a Drobo for my iTunes (which would back itself up) and Time Machine. (assuming it's possible to have both on the Drobo).

The initial cost of the Drobo is killer and the lack of backup on an additional device is worrisome, but the simplicity and expandability are sweet.

But then having everything on the internal and backing up w/Time Machine is really simple too.

What do you guys think?
 
jcosmide said:
I'm looking for advice on storage for a new iMac setup.

I currently have an early 2006 iMac (160GB internal) with 4 external HDDs attached:
Seagate FreeAgent 750GB: Time Machine
Iomega Ultramax 750GB: iTunes
LaCie 160GB: Random overflow from internal
40GB portable laptop drive

I'll be picking up a new iMac when they come out, and want to simplify the new setup and be able to share iTunes music & movies with my old iMac in an adjacent room.

I'm thinking of either getting a 1TB internal (which could hold my ~500 GB iTunes library) in the new iMac and a 1TB external for Time Machine -or- the standard 320GB internal and a Drobo for my iTunes (which would back itself up) and Time Machine. (assuming it's possible to have both on the Drobo).

The initial cost of the Drobo is killer and the lack of backup on an additional device is worrisome, but the simplicity and expandability are sweet.

But then having everything on the internal and backing up w/Time Machine is really simple too.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

It really depends on how much expandability you want. I have a NAS that i built and runs on a minimal slackware linux distro called unRaid. There forum and wiki can explain a lot. The thing i like about unRaid is its very expandable. If you have some question about it feel free to ask on the unRaid forum.
 
prostuff1 said:
It really depends on how much expandability you want. I have a NAS that i built and runs on a minimal slackware linux distro called unRaid. There forum and wiki can explain a lot. The thing i like about unRaid is its very expandable. If you have some question about it feel free to ask on the unRaid forum.
Click to expand...

Yeah thanks, I had thought about doing something similar to this, since it's basically the same idea as a Drobo, but it seems a bit beyond my tech ability. I wouldn't want to risk my data on my NAS/server setup abilities.
 
jwilcox09 said:
I was wondering if people had a preference between XBOX 360 and PS3 for use as the input source to TV from NAS.
Click to expand...

I personally like using the 360 as an imput source. The newest version of connect 360 has folder support so it makes it kinda bearable. I hope to get an apple tv when I get the money. I kinda like medialink for the ps3 but since I only have the trial I can't really use it that much.
 
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