Multiple-drive enclosures

[shinji]

I'd like an external hd enclosure that supports 2-4 drives, but lets each drive show up as a separate drive. I don't need a RAID.

Can you a configure a Drobo to be like this, or a Drobo will always appear as if it were one large drive?

Will JBOD allow the drives to appear separate? Or JBOD makes them appear as one large drive?

For the sake of desk space, power outlets, and firewire ports I'd rather have one unit instead of lots of small ones.

 

[itickings]

You can make a Drobo appear like several drives, but you can't have them appear individually. Drobo will always mess with tem.

JBOD will make them appear as one large drive.

Mapower have multiple-bay towers for storage. I have a coupe of older ones, with four individual drives each connected by a single firewire cable to the computer. There are probably more suitable options nowadays, but they've worked for me.

 

[dukebound85]

this may work for you but granted, it limited to 2 drives
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153112

but it does show both drives indivdually

 

[itickings]

Right, had forgotten about that type, thanks for reminding me.

SSI is another manufacturer that may be of interest, http://ssi.com.tw/products06.html but I've only tried their single-bay docks so far. No specific reseller to recommend either...

 

[dukebound85]

true, there is quite alot of differnt makes

here is a usb 3.0 compliant one if and when apple does implement it you could use it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145078

 

[shinji]

Is it safe for the drives though to leave them exposed like that in the drive docks?

Or is that actually better because they won't cook up inside an enclosure?

 

[dukebound85]

Is it safe for the drives though to leave them exposed like that in the drive docks?

Or is that actually better because they won't cook up inside an enclosure?

I have for the last 6 months with no ill effects

 

[shinji]

I have for the last 6 months with no ill effects

You're not a smoker, are you? Cigarette smoke prob not a great thing for a bare hard drive or?

 

[dukebound85]

You're not a smoker, are you? Cigarette smoke prob not a great thing for a bare hard drive or?

No, I am not

 

[itickings]

You're not a smoker, are you? Cigarette smoke prob not a great thing for a bare hard drive or?

Cigarette smoke prob not a great thing for people either

Unless an enclosure is really tight, smoke will get in as well. Second hand smoking is hazardous to computers as well, and they're in cases (the smoke makes for a much messier dust buildup than otherwise).

Could actually even be an advantage not sticking the drive into an enclosure in these cases. In theory.

 

[nanofrog]

eSATA card + Port Multiplier enclosure (example 4 bay kit). The drives aren't exposed, but if they're to remain permanent, who cares. And there's usually a fan involved as well to cool them.

The card is a SIL3132 based card, and does work with OS X.

 

[hamlinspahn]

Smoker

You're not a smoker, are you? Cigarette smoke prob not a great thing for a bare hard drive or?

Have you ever look inside a computer enclosed or bare Cigarette smoke is hard on them.