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hanguolaohu · Jan 15, 2009, 12:54 AM

Hi,

I have a Macbook Pro with 250GB HD and I want to get an external hard drive to store my large video files. I already have a 1TB Time Capsule that I use to backup my laptop. I would like the external drive to be big, either 1TB or 1.5TB, so I don't believe the Time Capsule would be large enough to completely back up the laptop and the external drive. I also would like a drive that would power up/down depending on my laptop's wake/sleep status, so I don't always have to power it manually. I have several options:

1. Buy 750GB firewire external drive and have laptop and drive backup to 1TB Time Capsule. I'm not sure if Time Capsule allows multiple drives to backup to it. My concern though is if my drives get near full, the 1TB still won't be able to fully backup both drives as they cycle large files.

2. Buy 2 external hard drives, connect 1 directly to the laptop and 1 to the USB port on my Time Capsule. I'm wondering whether Time Machine could perform 2 simultaneous backup paths: A. laptop to Time Capsule; B- external drives to each other.

3. Connect a Raid 1 drive setup to USB port on Time Capsule via the Guardian Maximus:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer.../GM8U27H10G64/
This would be an elegant method that would enable redundancy in one place. Only concern is performance would be bottlenecked by USB 2.0 as I'm used to performance of Firewire 800 or Gigabit ethernet (I do video work)

Also, I've noticed some NAS storage enclosures but I'm hoping the Time Capsule is the best option for my needs.

I think option 3 is my best solution, but was just curious about other peoples' setups. Mac users never cease to amaze me with their creativity and innovation.

Thanks,
Alexander

mduell · Jan 16, 2009, 05:52 PM

All of your options seem to be orthogonal to each other.

With that much storage space you're probably going to want the performance of local storage (USB, FW, or eSATA) for the files you're dealing with.

Time Machine can backup any/all local disks, so that's not a problem, but it can only have one backup target per machine. You can't backup to both the TC internal volume and an TC external drive.

As with most things at OWC, that enclosure is overpriced; buy a $70 2 bay enclosure and a pair of $100 hard drives to save 35%.

USB won't be a bottleneck for an external drive attached to a TC; the TC's sluggish internal processor is the bottleneck.

hanguolaohu · Jan 16, 2009, 06:39 PM

Whoa, I had to look up "orthogonal". Been a while since I took my SAT's.

Yeah, I see your point. I could always just connect the enclosure directly.

This is very good information, thank you.

I believe that OWC has good value for the money. Sure I could get a no-name brand but who knows about the warranty and the chipsets they use. There are so many cheap enclosures out there but I think to pay a little bit more is worth it. My pro video friends swear on RAID systems that cost in the thousands. I think $130 is very cheap for a RAID 1 that I don't have to configure. A Drobo costs $500.

Good point about the Time Capsule. I will have to run some tests.

Thanks mduell.
Alexander

mduell · Jan 19, 2009, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by hanguolaohu

I believe that OWC has good value for the money. Sure I could get a no-name brand but who knows about the warranty and the chipsets they use. There are so many cheap enclosures out there but I think to pay a little bit more is worth it. My pro video friends swear on RAID systems that cost in the thousands. I think $130 is very cheap for a RAID 1 that I don't have to configure. A Drobo costs $500.

I'm not suggesting you get the $35 "special" two drive enclosure. You can get an enclosure with the same chipset as that Newer Tech thing for $120 from a name brand manufacturer. The warranty on the drives is the same. OWC is generally a scam no matter how you look at it.

I have no problem suggesting blowing thousands on the right setup (I've done it here plenty of times, even when people didn't want to hear it) for the right application. Drobo is a poor performer and a poor value; you'd have to have a really strange mix of drives on hand to make it make sense.

hanguolaohu · Jan 19, 2009, 08:38 PM

Well, lemme know if you hear of any good ones similar to the Guardian Maximus in function.

I went against the Drobo because I heard about problems with the NAS external add-on, plus I think for the price it should include eSata.

mduell · Jan 21, 2009, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by hanguolaohu

Well, lemme know if you hear of any good ones similar to the Guardian Maximus in function.

I went against the Drobo because I heard about problems with the NAS external add-on, plus I think for the price it should include eSata.

The AMS DS3r uses the same Oxford 924 chipset.

eSATA wouldn't help the Drobo in any way; like the TC, the Drobo's performance limitation is the internal processor, not the connectivity.