nas Help with RAID/NAS

[edbay]

Hey everyone, 

Im looking at setting up RAID storage and could use some advice on what RAID system and what set up?

 

So I am a videographer and I need around 14-20TB of useable space to store all my footage. I use around 12TB a year then wipe it clean, So having extra is always a bonus, Especially with 4K, soon to be 8K. I want this to last me a few years.

 

So I have been advised to use RAID 10, because I want that redundancy. Is it true that if I had 4 bays, 2 HDD could die and I still wont loose any data?

 

I have been recommended going with 6 bays, over 4 bays, Not sure why? 4 bays works out cheaper which is great because im on a budget. Is the only benefit on 6 bays more storage? or do I gain an extra drive of redundancy? So could 3 HDD die and I still wouldn't loose any data?

 

For 6 bay set up,I was looking at going for:

Synology DS1618+ DiskStation 6-Bay Network Attached NAS Enclosure (4GB RAM)

6 X 6TB WD Red or Seagate IronWolf or Seagate Exos  Advice needed on which HDD Please

 

For 4 bay set up:

Synology DS918+ DiskStation 4-Bat Network..

4 x 8TB WD Red or Seagate IronWolf or Seagate Exos  Advice needed on which HDD Please.

 

Im using an iMac too, Just incase that weighs into the choice? I would like to connect to the storage via USB-C or USB 3.

 

Any advice would be massively appreciated, I really dont know much about RAID/NAS.

[Radium_Angel]

5 minutes ago, edbay said:

2 HDD could die and I still wont loose any data

Not *entirely* true....

Read this:

https://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/RAID-10-redundant-array-of-independent-disks

You *could* lose 2 drives, provided each drive was from a different mirror. If you lose two from the same, you're toast.

So, having said that, let's talk RAID.

 

RAID, as you know, isn't backup, it's redundancy. How are you backing up that much data? If you have a solid backup plan, then RAID 5 is just fine.

If you have no backup plan, I suggest you look into that first. Losing a RAID box (and thus everything within) can suck. 

[edbay]

Ahh ok, So I didn't realise that I can still loose footage. Im still working on a backup plan. Im thinking G-drive, Upload speed is a bit of an issue tho.

 

Would a 6 bay set up give me an extra bay of redundancy then a 4 bay? 

 

 

[Radium_Angel]

3 hours ago, edbay said:

Ahh ok, So I didn't realise that I can still loose footage. Im still working on a backup plan. Im thinking G-drive, Upload speed is a bit of an issue tho.

 

Would a 6 bay set up give me an extra bay of redundancy then a 4 bay? 

 

 

Redundancy is measured by your RAID setting. My NAS devices use RAID 5. I can drop a drive and not lose anything. Good NAS boxes will e.mail (or can be configured as such) you when a drive starts showing issues. My suggestions? Go RAID 5, and keep a single external drive that is big enough to hold all the data as a just in case issue.

[edbay]

So am I right in thinking out of a 6 bay NAS, RAID10 looses 3 bays to redundancy (50%) . Raid 16 will loose how many?

Just trying to work out how to get the most of my storage and best redundancy haha.

[Radium_Angel]

7 hours ago, edbay said:

Raid 16

Nevr heard of such a thing.

Stick with the standard. 1, 5, 10. The NAS devices you buy may not support oddball RAID configs

[Electronics Wizardy]

8 hours ago, edbay said:

So am I right in thinking out of a 6 bay NAS, RAID10 looses 3 bays to redundancy (50%) . Raid 16 will loose how many?

Just trying to work out how to get the most of my storage and best redundancy haha.

Really with 4 to 6 drives, id run raid 5. The chance of a dual failure is pretty low, and there are many other failures other than a complete hdd failure, so focus on better backups(external hdds?) than getting the most hdd redundancy.

[edbay]

 

On 12/17/2018 at 2:16 AM, Radium_Angel said:

Nevr heard of such a thing.

 

Sorry, I meant RAID 10*

[Radium_Angel]

Just now, edbay said:

 

Sorry, I meant RAID 10*

The difference between RAID 5 and RAID 10 is the difference between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. Both get the job done in style, it's all down to a matter of preference.

If you were running a huge data center, then we'd talk details, but for home use? Doesn't matter. Pick one that your NAS box supports and be happy.