Yeah,I explored this, but I am wanting a DAS and not a NAS, for the reasons in the previous post, i.e. a Backblaze cloud backup.

 

i understand none of this thread , but appreciate the heavy acronym usage that makes it all sound so futuristic .....carry on

 

Any attached storage requires similar scrutiny as mentioned. A DAS would ideally connect at USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 at a minimum on both sides.

Here is some easy to understand info that you may or, may not have come across:

NAS vs DAS: What Are the Differences and Which One to Choose?

 

I understand all this. The point I 2as trying to make is that with Backblaze, they offer unlimited computer backup for $9 per month, which includes any attached storage, such as external hard drives, including DAS.

However, it does not include NAS device. To includes NAS, they charge around $9 per month per TB I believe, which will be super costly when talking about 4 x 16TB drives being used potentially.

Therefore, using a DAS is my preference so that it provides the local backup (critical content version is use will be on the computer's internal NVMe and SSDs) , with Backblaze's affordable option providing the off site cloud backup.

This is why I am opting for a DAS over a NAS, rather than anything to do with the technicalities of how they work etc.

I have just purchased a GC-Titan Ridge 2.0 Thunderbolt 3 PCI add in card for my machine, and am trying to work out the best DAS option.

Something like a QNAP TR-004 as a USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps or a Terra Master D5 Thunderbolt 3 or OWC ThunderBay 4 Thunderbolt 3 enclosure are what I am considering to house the drives.

However, the best format to set up the drives may dictate the option I select. JBOD, RAID0, RAID5 etc all affect the option. For example, JBOD and RAID5 will probably struggle to saturated the 5Gbps limitation of the QNAP as I understand it, whereas RAID0 will be able to saturated it and reap the benefits of the Thunderbolt 3 connections of the Terra Master or OWC.

 

Last edited: May 25, 2024

I have multiple DAS system, and some iscsi NAS systems - i can help on it if you have a direct question about it. May i ask why you seek for DAS system(s), you need block level access for the storage? I mainly use external SAS (serial attached scsi) DAS system if i see this in server side but this go toward to the client(s) with 10 or 100GBe.

 

This kind of basic external raid box like that qnap work as an external disk in raid mode. I mean if its properly configurated it will work a single disk to your computer direction and the rest happening in the box like not work as DAS mode, you can remove/attach the unit to any computer and it will work.

 

I am mainly looking for DAS as the content will only ever need to be accessed by my desktop and my 2 laptops (one at a time, depending which is in use). I also want to use Backblaze as my cloud off-site backup solution, with it's $9 per month level including unlimtied data including DAS solutions (but charging per TB for NAS solutions).

 

I have just purchased 4 x 18TB Seagate IronWolf Pro drives, so am decided on that. What I'm not decided on yet is the enclosure setup.

My main machine has a Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master motherboard, and so has 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) and 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) on the rear, with a header for front 3.2 Gen 2 ports too. It also has 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A). I also have a GC-Titan Ridge 2.0 Thunderbolt 3 PCI add-in card too, meaning I do have 2 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports too.

However, my Asus ROG GL503GE laptop (used for mobile music production) has 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C), 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB-A) and 1 x USB 2.0 (USB-A).

My Dell Latitude 7390 laptop (used for DJing with Rekordbox) has 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB-A) and 1 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C).

Therefore, if I go for a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, my Asus laptop won't be able to access it, as I don't believe Thunderbolt 3 is backward compatible with USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C)?

Therefore, as I see it, my favoured options are:

OPTION 1

Purchase 2 enclosures with hardware RAID (either 2 or 4 bay, depending on price/performance). Populate each with 2 x 18TB Seagate IronWolf Pro drives. Set up both in RAID0, and use a cloning/sync software to copy one to the other. This means speed benefits of RAID0, and in effect creating a hardware-like RAID1 mirror, with the RAID controlled by the enclosure, i.e. hardware. This required 2 cables to connect to computer and 2 power supplies. This allow one smaller enclosure to be taken with laptop if need be, leaving other at home.

OPTION 2

Purchase a single 4+ bay enclosure and place 4 x 18TB Seagate IronWolf Pro drives within it. The use a software/Windows RAID controller to set up the 4 drives as 2 x 2 x 18TB RAID0 setups, meaning same redundancy as above, but all within a single enclosure and managed by software. This requires 1 cable to connect to computer and 1 power supply. This is much bulkier and heavier to try and take with me if using laptop.

CONSIDERATIONS

SPEED: Thunderbolt 3 enclosure would provide best speed and future proofing, but likely won't be any performance gain above USB 3.2 Gen 2 due to hard drive speed limitations anyway.

CONNECTIVITY: The USB 3.2 Gen 2 enclosures will allow for better compatibility with current or future systems, which will all likely be backward compatible with the USB-C port USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard for several years/decades to come. Thunderbolt 3 will be more limited to device with explicit Thunderbolt 3 connections as not backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C ports.

2-BAY vs 4-BAY+: 2 bay device will limit current use and future expansion. 4+ bays will allow for future expansion and extend RAID capacities when/if needed.

DISTANCE: I intend to place my drives away from my desk and computers to minimise any sound from the enclosure(s). This would be difficult/expensive with the Thunderbolt 3 enclosures as the distance of 5m+ would result in a drop of speed and/or extortionate costs for the Thunderbolt cable. USB 3.2 Gen 2 cables are much more affordable and can handle distances of 5m+.

FUTURE CHANGE OF DRIVES/ENCLOSURE: Having 2 separate enclosure provides better protection in the sense that one enclosure can be copied to the other. For example, if using 2 x 4+ bay enclosures, both in RAID0 with syncing between them, one can have additional drive(s) added to the empty slots and expanded to create a new RAID0 setup before then copying the other enclosure back, and then extending the other enclosure in the same way, meaning they can be expanded easily without significant risk of data loss.

POTENTIAL ISSUES: I do not fully understand how software RAID works for devices that either don't have hardware RAID onboard or are set up as single disks. For example, is I used a software RAID 'controller', be it third party software or Windows' Storage Spaces, does that only apply for that enclosure to that specific computer that has set it up? Or can it be connected to other computers, e.g. my other laptops, without issue? And what if I need to reinstall OS; how does that affect the RAID set up using software?

CONCLUSION

I am very tempted with the Terra Master D8 Hybrid offering currently on Kickstarter, but there a compromise in that it is frustrating that the hardware RAID onboard doesn't cover all 4 SATA hard drive slots, only the first 2 slots. If it did, this would be perfect to purchase 2 enclosures, populate with 2 x 18TB drives each in RAID0, clone them and sync them on an ongoing basis, and then ample space for future expansion with the extra 2 x 3." bays and the 4 x NVMe bays.

However, if I went this route, what/how does the software RAID work? For example, if I set up the D8 Hybrid to be just single drives, is there a safe software solution to then RAID0 them up, which allows me to connect it to the other laptops without messing anything up? Windows Storage Spaces perhaps?

I have also been looking at the Terra Master D5 Thunderbolt 3, the OWC ThunderBay 4 Thunderbolt 3, and the HighPoint RocketStor 6144V Thunderbolt 3 enclosures too, but not convinced they will provide any benefit over USB 3.2 Gen 2 enclosures for speed etc, considering they cost 2 or 3 times the price, so have all but eliminated a Thunderbolt option for now.

HELP!

Grateful for any thoughts on the above from someone who understand it better or has any experience

 

Last edited: May 28, 2024

I think I've narrowed down my options to one of these to buy 2 of them, house 2 x 18TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro drives in RAID0 in each initially, expanding over time, with one enclosure cloning the other as a backup (makeshift RAID1). Both are USB 3 Gen 2 10Gbps, which is plenty for 3.5" drives in RAID0.

Whixh one of these makes most sense?

TerraMaster D8 Hybrid

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/64664914/terramaster-d8-hybrid

PRO: New product, has expansion space for 4 NVMe, officially supports up to 24TB drives, $199 introductory Kickstarter price for next 7 days

CON: Software RAID only for all drives, only first 2 3.5" bays are hardware RAID, no connectivity expansion, NVMe drives will be faster, but limited by 10Gbps connection speed, $299 market price

Mediasonic HFR7-SU31CH

https://mediasonicstore.com/product...n-2-10gbps-usb-3-1-hub-usb-type-c-hfr7-su31ch

PRO: Hardware RAID on all bays, connectivity expansion with USB-A and USB-C port, $199 market price

CON: Older, only 4 3.5" drive bays compared to D8 Hybrid, officially only supports up to 18TB drives compared to D8 Hybrid

 

Last edited: May 29, 2024