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T O P I C R E V I E W
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atayarani
Member # 4268
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 posted February 13, 2007 11:21
I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but my forum search didn't find anything. Google wasn't very helpful either.
In a JBOD storage system (array?), do the disks need to be formatted first or can they have content on them when being set up?
I have a disk that has pretty much all my media files on it, which I don't want to lose; however, I also want to join it to several other disks, so I can increase my storage capacity.
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TheMoMan
Member # 1659
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posted February 14, 2007 06:08
atayarani_________________What are you trying to do?
What OS are you using?
What hardware are you going to do this with?
Please provide us with those answers so that we know how best to help.
I my self have a generic PC with a full ATA card one CD_ROM and three hard drives, and a SCSI card with three hard drives all of these show up on the linux desktop.
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atayarani
Member # 4268
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posted February 14, 2007 07:34
The OS is windows XP pro, the hardware is:
1) 300gig SATA HD
2) 160gig PATA HD
3) Addonics Storage tower (converts four drives into one USB connection, controls combining the drives on a hardware level)
4) I'd like to add future HDs
5) IBM Thinkpad T42/T43 hybrid (I custom built it)
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TheMoMan
Member # 1659
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posted February 14, 2007 08:23
atayarani_____________________To my way of thinking that is too much to get much use out of a USB set up.
My thoughts and I will probably be corrected, get a cheap tower, with a passable CPU put in an extra ATA card, enough power supply to run every thing and populate it with drives, then use a simple linux OS and connect to the Windows box via NIC cards.
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atayarani
Member # 4268
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posted February 14, 2007 08:31
A dedicated tower uses too much electricity to be worthwhile. The desktop would cost me $10/month over my current electric bill. I actually dismantled the one I have, so I can save money.
I can see how you'd think a USB set up might not work, and I somewhat agree; however, since I'm primarily using the drives for storage rather than heavy I/O, I'm not sure I need a separate machine.
Unless there is another reason that i am missing that would make USB a poor choice for my purpose?
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Steen
Member # 170
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posted February 14, 2007 08:32
Combining drives into an array usually (but not always) requires formatting them. The manual for the storage system should tell you whether this is necessary or not.
Even if you do have to format, you can copy the data to a separate drive first, then copy it back once the array is set up and you'll be set.
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atayarani
Member # 4268
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posted February 14, 2007 10:53
Thank you.
I'm not sure if you're familiar with addonics at all, but their manuals have very little in common with their products.
It would be hilarious, if it weren't so frustrating.
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Steen
Member # 170
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posted February 14, 2007 11:17
No, I'm not familiar with Addionics. If their manuals are that bad, I don't think I want to be, either.
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TheMoMan
Member # 1659
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posted February 15, 2007 06:03
atayarani___________________________I am wondering if thumb drives (large thumb drives) would be your cure get a couple of USB hubs, daisy chain them and plug in the drives. Just label them as to the contents. Really portable and lots of space, in a very small form factor. My brother inlaw does this. He uses a striped down laptop with his apps, on the thumb drives.
Just a thought
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