This sounds like a tailor made fit for a Drobo S... SATA, 5 bays for drives.<br><br><a href="http://www.drobo.com/products/drobo-s.php" type="url">http://www.drobo.com/products/drobo-s.php</a><br><br>Not free, but possibly best solution.<br><br><span style="font-family:Prelude, Verdana, san-serif;"><br><br></span><span id="signature"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;color: #999999;">Kris Browne<br>kris dot browne at gmail dot com<br><br>-- Sent from my Palm Prē</div><br></span><span style="color:navy; font-family:Prelude, Verdana, san-serif; "><hr align="left" style="width:75%"><b>From:</b> Randy Clarksean <rclarksean@arvig.net><br><b>Date:</b> Jan 9, 2010 13:21<br><b>Subject:</b> [tclug-list] SATA External Storage<br><b>To:</b> tclug-list <tclug-list@mn-linux.org><br><br></span><html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I am looking for suggestions on a “cheap” storage
system. I would like it to be <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>+ RAID 5 or 6 capable<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>+ easily used as backup for Windows / Linux<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>+ form factor does not matter (i.e. 2U vs. Tower does not
matter)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>+ want to use “cheap” SATA drives<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>+ sits on network or attached to dedicated server<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>+ capacity of 1+ TB minimum (nearly 500-750 GB of
useful information for backup at present)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Yes … I know I want everything and do not want to pay
anything. This is for a home office type environment, not a production or
high availability server environment. Everything runs over Gigabit
network. I have too much information to back up via burning a DVD, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I have looked at Dell and HP storage solutions and they are
a BIT pricey to say the least – even used. I have a Dell SC1425
with ESXi on it that I can easily attach it to as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thoughts or suggestions appreciated. Thanks in
advance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Randy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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