[Hidden-tech] External hard drive for Mac

[Will Loving]

I'm actually using a Drobo FS unit that connects directly to network (only,
no USB) and allows me to have multiple 'shares' (virtual volumes) on a RAID
5 system. I have one 'share' specifically for Time Machine backups over the
network, currently supporting three computers. We have a separate 'share'
for working video and audio files.

We currently have five drives installed with a total capacity of 7.5TB. With
the RAID redundancy, that become 4.93TB of functional storage. I can hot
swap out any drive at any time for a larger drive to increase capacity. It
takes a while (12-24 hours) to rebuild the new drive when you do that and
during that time you can access the drive but not add or delete.

The Drobo also support free "Drobo Apps" which allow you to turn the Drobo
into an FTP or media server, among other things. The only thing I don't like
about the Drobo is that it's on all the time. I would prefer - and have made
feature request for - the ability to schedule power-down periods to save on
electricity. I am using WD Caviar "Green" drives.

Will

Will Loving, President
Dedication Technologies, Inc.



on 7/20/11 10:37 AM, Jeff Rutherford at jeff at jeffrutherford.com wrote:

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> 
> What are people using/loving for external hard drive for Macs? I want an
> external hard drive that I will connect to a Mac Mini. I'll be using it for
> Time Machine backups from multiple Macbooks, etc.
> 
> Any particular brands or models of external hard drives that you'd recommend?
> 
> Jeff
> 
> Jeff Rutherford
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-- 

William M. Loving
Dedication Technologies, Inc.
7 Coach Lane
Amherst, MA 01002-3304   USA
will at dedicationtechnologies.com
Tel: +1 413 253-7223   (GMT ­5)
Fax: +1 206 202-0476