eSATA or iSCSI storage

[Pfriar]

I want to add an external Storage device to my home network that I can connect directly to my home machine for. Backups, Storage, and running Virutal Images from (if possible) for when I am working from home.

I've bought a little 500MB external drive that my wife uses to backup her photos too, and such. But I want a device I can either use a Raid 0 against or maybe Raid 10? (10 is 0+1 right? so you are Striping two drives and then mirroring that to another set?)

On NewEggs site I've found Sans Digital has a number of eSATA and iSCSI devices that are lower then $600 in different flavors. Some have OK reviews other reviews rip them apart. I'm looking for advice as to what others might have done if anything, either for work or personal.

I'm currently running my machine in Raid 1.. Over the years I've lost to much that I didn't have else where so.. I want something that can do some sort of Protection raid.


Here is a run down of the system I have.

MSI X58 Platinum SLI Intel X58 Core i7 Extreme/Core i7 Socket 1366 PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333) ATX Motherboard

2x CORSAIR TR3X6G1333C9 6GB PC3-10666 (DDR3-1333) DDR3 Memory

2x MSI N260GTX-T2D896-OC V2 Geforce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (2.0v) Video Card

INTEL BX80601920 Core i7-920 2.66GHz Intel QPI 4.80 GT/s Socket 1366 Desktop Processor

2x SEAGATE Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB SATA 7200 RPM 32MB Hard Drive

LITEON iHAS422-08 22X DVD Burner Black Drive

THERMALTAKE VI1000BWS Steel Mid Chassis Black Mid Tower Case

PC Power and Cooling SILENCER 750W QUAD S75CF Power Supply

[Aradorn]

you sir have one wicked setup...

[Oakbone]

I would look into Raid 5 if you plan on using more than 2 HDs, gives you redundancy you want with less wasted HD space. I am using raid 0 for my programs / OS and just have a 1.5 TB drive for storage which I can backup online or to Bluray DVD or what not for stuff i want to backup. This gives me the performace of raid 0 without any lost HD space. There are plenty of ways to backup data now unless you have very sensitive info standard backup to an online service or Blu Rays should be fine.

[Pfriar]

I would look into Raid 5 if you plan on using more than 2 HDs, gives you redundancy you want with less wasted HD space. I am using raid 0 for my programs / OS and just have a 1.5 TB drive for storage which I can backup online or to Bluray DVD or what not for stuff i want to backup. This gives me the performace of raid 0 without any lost HD space. There are plenty of ways to backup data now unless you have very sensitive info standard backup to an online service or Blu Rays should be fine.

Yep, raid 5 would give me a great option for overall protection. But I also want speed, as in I want to be able to run a Vritual Image from that location too.

Do you think something like one of these Sans Digital devices would work? To run a Virtual Image from either VMware (Workstation) or Virtual Box?