Need more storage? - PhotoCamel

JDArt · 11-21-2006

This thing gives you room for four drives and lets you use them in a number of combinations, including two to four drives that look like one drive to the operating system (Windows), with the combined space of those drives. I got one and can recommend it highly.

Takes standard IDE drives (not SATA), so it's good if you have extra drives around from upgrading your machine.

I've got 2 400-gig drives and 2 300-gig drives in it. I've set the jumpers to combine the 400s--for 800 GB--and leave the 2 300s as they are. Your main limitation will be that Windows XP has a 2 terrabyte limit on individual volumes, and with this it's actually possible to bump up against that limit, if you were to combine 3 750-gig drives.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817332008

jgoeden · 11-21-2006

So it's looking like it just uses USB or Firewire to connect to the computer? And they all show up as different drives (ie. H:\, G:\, T:\, etc.)

JDArt · 11-21-2006

It uses USB. I'd prefer firewire, or both, but the USB 2.0 seems almost as fast. I use it as a backup device.

If you combine the drives using any of a number of jumper settings on the back (nicely diagrammed), your four drives will not show up as different drives but as one, two, or three, depending upon how you combine them.

You don't have to put four drives in it, btw.

jgoeden · 11-21-2006

Sounds like an awesome device, and I never even knew they made those. It's a really nice gadget and thanks for sharing.

JDArt · 11-21-2006

I had it for three weeks before I learned about the drive combining. This makes my life a bit easier. I just wish it had a handle on the top. I'll have to fashion one somehow.

danwolfgang · 11-22-2006

Of course, if one of those combined drives fails, there goes *all* your data!

TonyK · 11-26-2006

With this thing I could replace my two internal drives with a single large drive (reduce heat in my unit) and put the 2 exisitng HD in this thing. Maybe even buy 2 more drives and just have it for my music and media.

Thanks JD.

Peace,

skrubol · 01-17-2007

Does it only support JBOD for combining multiple disks? RAID0 and/or 1 would be nice (5 would be nicer, but not at that price.)

11-21-2006	#1 (permalink)
JDArt Camel Breath Location: Far out, man Posts: 12,943 CamelKarma: 1122 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Need more storage? This thing gives you room for four drives and lets you use them in a number of combinations, including two to four drives that look like one drive to the operating system (Windows), with the combined space of those drives. I got one and can recommend it highly. Takes standard IDE drives (not SATA), so it's good if you have extra drives around from upgrading your machine. I've got 2 400-gig drives and 2 300-gig drives in it. I've set the jumpers to combine the 400s--for 800 GB--and leave the 2 300s as they are. Your main limitation will be that Windows XP has a 2 terrabyte limit on individual volumes, and with this it's actually possible to bump up against that limit, if you were to combine 3 750-gig drives. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817332008 __________________ __________________ Members don't see this ad. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
	__________________ Join PhotoCamel

11-21-2006	#2 (permalink)
jgoeden Vicuna Posts: 78 CamelKarma: 14 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? So it's looking like it just uses USB or Firewire to connect to the computer? And they all show up as different drives (ie. H:\, G:\, T:\, etc.)
jgoeden Vicuna Posts: 78 CamelKarma: 14 Gallery \| Blog	__________________ You can call me Justin.<br /><br />-Always striving to learn more and be the best-<br /><br />Mamiya RB67<br />2x Canon AE-1P<br />AlienBee's lights<br />Accessories

11-21-2006	#3 (permalink)
JDArt Camel Breath Location: Far out, man Posts: 12,943 CamelKarma: 1122 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? It uses USB. I'd prefer firewire, or both, but the USB 2.0 seems almost as fast. I use it as a backup device. If you combine the drives using any of a number of jumper settings on the back (nicely diagrammed), your four drives will not show up as different drives but as one, two, or three, depending upon how you combine them. You don't have to put four drives in it, btw.
	__________________ Join PhotoCamel

11-21-2006	#4 (permalink)
jgoeden Vicuna Posts: 78 CamelKarma: 14 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? Sounds like an awesome device, and I never even knew they made those. It's a really nice gadget and thanks for sharing.
jgoeden Vicuna Posts: 78 CamelKarma: 14 Gallery \| Blog	__________________ You can call me Justin.<br /><br />-Always striving to learn more and be the best-<br /><br />Mamiya RB67<br />2x Canon AE-1P<br />AlienBee's lights<br />Accessories

11-21-2006	#5 (permalink)
JDArt Camel Breath Location: Far out, man Posts: 12,943 CamelKarma: 1122 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? I had it for three weeks before I learned about the drive combining. This makes my life a bit easier. I just wish it had a handle on the top. I'll have to fashion one somehow.
	__________________ Join PhotoCamel

11-22-2006	#6 (permalink)
danwolfgang Vicuna Posts: 55 CamelKarma: 11 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? Of course, if one of those combined drives fails, there goes all your data!

11-26-2006	#7 (permalink)
TonyK Llama Posts: 581 CamelKarma: 27 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? With this thing I could replace my two internal drives with a single large drive (reduce heat in my unit) and put the 2 exisitng HD in this thing. Maybe even buy 2 more drives and just have it for my music and media. Thanks JD. Peace,
TonyK Llama Posts: 581 CamelKarma: 27 Gallery \| Blog	__________________ TonyK

01-17-2007	#8 (permalink)
skrubol Alpaca Posts: 15 CamelKarma: 10 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Need more storage? Does it only support JBOD for combining multiple disks? RAID0 and/or 1 would be nice (5 would be nicer, but not at that price.) __________________ __________________ Members don't see this ad. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
skrubol Alpaca Posts: 15 CamelKarma: 10 Gallery \| Blog

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