Does it exist?

JoshK · « **on:** 24 May 2004, 02:57 pm »

I have been kicking around some ideas (uh oh!) and I would really like to create an external storage array for adding HDs. I am trying to avoid the SCSI NAS prices and doing it much more effeciently and practically that getting a bunch of individual USB ext drives.

I have seen external drive cradles for individual drives, and of course there exists a plethura of external USB drives. So I have to imagine there is some sort of Drive controller to USB interface developed. What I am trying to find is this interface card that I could use for multiple drives.

I would like to take a case, add a powersupply, an array of HDs and then have those HDs attached to my main PC via a USB 2.0 interface. This interface has got to exist but I can't find it. Anyone have any ideas?

I don't need a hotswappable fancy schmancy setup, just what I described above.

Thanks,

Carlman · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 May 2004, 03:16 pm »

Why not do something low-tech... and mount a USB hub in the case with the hard drives so there's one USB cable from case to case. Would that work?

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 May 2004, 03:26 pm »

but you would still need a controller to USB interface for each of the HDs. expensive and redundant. I am looking for just one controller to USB interface so I could have just one USB cable to my main PC as you stated.

JoshK · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 May 2004, 03:57 pm »

Think I found something along the lines...

http://www.computerhq.com/products/partinfo-id-424138.html

but for more than one drive...

I found this cable...

http://www.computerhq.com/products/partinfo-id-197588.html

So I guess I could use this with an IDE splitter cable to connect multi IDE devices if it supports it.

cjr888 · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 May 2004, 04:00 pm »

Josh -- I've looked into a lot of stuff in this space and have them bookmarked away. I don't have time now but will try and put a large list together tonight or later this week. If you don't see a post or PM in the next couple days, shoot me a reminder via PM....

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 May 2004, 08:33 pm »

Must it be external? If your MOBO supports SATA you could hook up two SATA drives and two scuzzy drives. Not a *huge* array but pretty cheap.

EchiDna · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 May 2004, 11:55 pm »

how many drives do you want?
here is one for 2 drives:
http://drivecase.com/usb20raiden.html

and a 4 bay here: (scroll down) but no controller evident in that one)
http://www.pc-pitstop.com/external_enclosures/

there is prolly plenty more around....

don't you have an old pc you can set up as a server? this is probably the easiest way...

satfrat · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 May 2004, 09:37 am »

Take a look at the new Iomega 'Rev' 35/90GB USB 2.0 Drive that uses removable disks and has it's own software & encryption. Very simplistic but pricy. This product was found at www.dell.com/onestopshop

Regards, Robin

Xi-Trum · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 May 2004, 02:45 pm »

I'm now using my htpc exclusively for watching dvds. So, I tried to put my dvds on the hdd. I faced the same issue regarding hdd space. First, I looked at pc cases that have a lot of hdd bays. But I realized that even if I have 1+ terabyte of internal disk space, I still don't have enough for my dvd collection. Plus, having lots of internal hdd means having to deal with the heat issue. So, I looked for other solutions.

I did considered going the external route. But the cost can add up pretty quickly. I don't like having stuff hanging off the PC anyway. So, I decided to stick to an internal solution. Here's what I did:

I got a hard drive mobile rack:

http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?item=33626

It comes with a tray to put a hdd in. For more hdd, I got additional trays:

http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?item=33635

Problem solved! Now, I can use as many hdd as I want on the same PC. AND I can take the trays to any other PC that have the same type of rack. The rack and trays are aluminum and cheap. The fan on the rack is bottom mounted. It makes some noise. So, I removed it completely, leaving a nice big ventilation hole.

The downside is that it takes up one external 5.25" bay and is not hot-swappable. I guess if you want, you can splurge and get hot-swappable rack and trays. They cost considerably more, though.

JoshK · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 May 2004, 03:01 pm »

My PC is a large ATX case but I have 3 drives in it already and 3 of my 5.25" bays are used up. Extra drives cause a lot more heat and noise so I really want to do an external solution, so that I can also power the drives with a dedicated PS, and dampen the case for noise, etc. Plus the physical location can be more flexible. My office will be upstairs and I want to do all the storage up there, my music server will be downstairs in my system with little or no storage but networked to my PCs upstairs.

I'd like my solution to be able to support 4-8 drives. I currently don't have an old computer to use for this purpose, but if I can find one I can do that. It just seems like all the pieces are there currently to make for a really easy USB external solution, but so far it seems that the market hasn't offered it up for more than just one drive.

bubba966 · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 May 2004, 05:46 pm »

Josh, why don't you build yourself an external case & PS? It shouldn't be too difficult for you.

I don't know what you'd need for a controller, but the external case doesn't seem like a problem for someone that's got a drill press as well as a few other tools.

JoshK · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 May 2004, 05:57 pm »

It isn't the case I am after, that is the easy part as you say. Its the USB to Drive controller that I am after. I may end up buying one of these external USB cases for a drive and engineering that into my project.

DTH · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Jun 2004, 01:36 pm »

I'm curious to see what you come up with. I have been searching for and experimenting with various parts along these lines for projects similar to yours. I prefer Firewire to USB and have used several products from Wiebetech(http://www.wiebetech.com) and similar OEM suppliers. There are many sources for the 2-4 bay enclosures, I daisy chain the Firewire drives at the drive case, so there is only one cable between the array and the PC. A nice added feature is the ability to do various configurations of soft RAID.

Here is a page of various controllers/bridge boards(I have used a few of these), but I don't think any is exactly what you are looking for:

http://www.cooldrives.com/firewirecdrw.html
http://www.cooldrives.com/usbadapters.html

JoshK · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Jun 2004, 03:47 pm »

Thanks! Here is a nice solution for either you or me...it only supports 2 drives but it is cost effective.

http://www.cooldrives.com/13fioxcobo.html

JoshK · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Jun 2004, 05:59 pm »

Here is a killer case for someone who wants to make a large storage server!

ad on ebay

JoshK · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Dec 2004, 02:16 pm »

I just bought this case off ebay. $42 and holds 8 drives.

hard drive array case

Now I want to put a PSU in it for powering up the drives and get a drive array controller so that I can put regular SATA internal drives inside it. I'd like to do a RAID config and store all my CDs and LPs this way. Once it is built I am going to drop a LAN line from the upstairs office into the living room next to my system for using a local HTPC. That way no noisey HDs will be in this PC except a small one for the OS.

Anyone know of a suitable controller?

JoshK · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Dec 2004, 02:46 pm »

ahhh....I think it is called a "bridge board"

Now if they just have one for more than 4 drives, preferrably SATA and RAID mirroring I will be all set.

Thump553 · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Dec 2004, 04:24 pm »

Fascinating project. I could use a similar thing.

Query: If I use this for music storage, and the occassional movie, is there any real reason for having RAID in it?

JoshK · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Dec 2004, 04:31 pm »

For me it will be a music storage server but I may use it for PVR as well, but that won't take up much room (I never even get close to my now 80gig limit). The reason for RAID, I want to use RAID 5 by the way, is for security. Drives fail and it takes a really long time to rip all those albums to your HDs so I want to make sure I don't loose anything. RAID 1 is a little too bulky and expensive so I think I will try out RAID 5.

stevekim · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 Mar 2005, 11:16 pm »

JoshK:

The following sounds like exactly what you're looking for. USB, 1000Base-T, RAID-able, Journaling FS, the works!
I saw one at Fry's for ~$1000. Seems steep, but it's a semi-reasonable $1/Gb:

Buffalo Terrastation

They claim it's "super quiet", but I've never heard one myself. That would be my only real concern.

Steve