Basic set up

Posted by: BigH47 on 23 March 2011

I was going to get a D-link NAS from E-Buyer(OOS).
My question can it be run with 1 HD to start with?
I assume 2 drives are required for RAID setup? 

I am primarily looking to move my iTunes in AIFF off the iMac. 

Obviously a moot point until they are back in stock.
Posted on: 23 March 2011 by kev 1966
Howard, Dabs had stock last time I looked Regards Kevin
Posted on: 23 March 2011 by PJT
BigH47,

Your assumptions obout Raid are correct.  However please note that if you are purchasing a 4 bay NAS, then to use RAID 5, all drives will have to be used.
Also dont be fooled into thinking RAID 0, or striping is going to protect your data in the case of a disk failure - it wont, in fact you will lose ALL of your data instead.
Posted on: 24 March 2011 by 0rangutan

And with RAID0, you lose all your data if either disk fails, so you double your chances of doing so!
RAID0 is only used where you need the fastest access speeds and no resilience (ie. not for home audio!)

You can run a RAID5 array on 3 disks, it does not have to be 4.

Posted on: 24 March 2011 by Phil Harris
Just my £0.02...

The only "RAID" that I would suggest running on domestic kit is RAID 1 (Mirrored) - RAID5 will protect you in the event of a single drive failure but whilst that drive is dead then your entire array is very susceptible to damage - I've seen too many sets of RAID5'd data get trashed where maybe a power glitch or some other issue on a degraded array ends up trashing the whole lot. The only time I would suggest running RAID5 is if you have a second NAS that is backing up the first NAS.

I have a very paranoid attitude to data in that in my opinion it has to exist as a viable self contained entity in at least two locations before it is safe - so a drive that is mirrored would be "safe" as the drive contents exist twice and both drives are viable in their own right.

Cheers

Phil
Posted on: 24 March 2011 by BigH47
OK guys thanks? for the replies, so me using the word raid was simple case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing.

Too complicated for me to assimilate via a screen, I shall attempt to get an idiots version from friends if they can KISforS.

Why does everything get so complicated when computers are in the picture? 
Posted on: 24 March 2011 by PJT
Originally Posted by 0rangutan:


You can run a RAID5 array on 3 disks, it does not have to be 4.

0rangutan,
Yes I know that, but the majority of smaller home NAS boxes have a restriction disabling RAID 5 on 3 drives.
Please check your Raid Controller.  Most NAS boxes will only let you run RAID 5 with all (4) drive bays full.
Posted on: 24 March 2011 by Guido Fawkes
Not wishing to light a fuse, but .........I'm not totally convinced RAID is necessary in a domestic set-up - if you write rubbish to one disk then it will go on the other disks too - two or three corrupted disks are not great. By all means multiple disks, but back-up one to the other as a clone (easy on a Mac, probably is on PC but I don't know for sure). If one disk fails just mount the other one. OK, you;ll get a short break when listening to extended SHM of Snooker Loopy, but life is like that

RAID 1 and 5 are designed for non-stop working in data centres and yes they do work, but unless you need this level of redundancy at home then I'd revert to a simple back up.

RAID 0 has its place, but not for playing music, as pointed out it is worse than a single disk. 

Got to go and continue backing up my vinyl to cassette.

All the best Guy.