Setting Up OWC Mini Thunderbay With My Already Formatted Hard Drives

[Sossity]

Anybody have ay experiences with these?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094324S9...olid=370OA39V1PVN0&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0942XJWB...olid=370OA39V1PVN0&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I would like to plug it into my 2018 mac mini. It has what looks like 4 USB-C ports or thunderbolt ports. Will this enclosure plug into my mac mini?

I understand they come with RAID software, called softRAID.

I plan on loading my Crucial brand SSD drives, and they are already formatted and have content on them. So I do not want to format, wipe them clean or set up a RAID system with them. I just want to use them as they are in a JBOD set up.

Do I have to use the RAID software with them? or can I just load them into the enclosure?

Are my Crucial SSDs compatible with this enclosure?

Also the enclosure was used as a RIAD set up with hard drives.

 

[Shazaam!]

Just simply load your formatted Crucial SSDs into the enclosure. Use of the SoftRAID software to combine one or more drives into a RAID is optional (although the software may be needed to run to just install a driver for the OWC enclosure to be recognized).

Your Mini has Thunderbolt 3 connectors, the enclosure uses Thunderbolt 2 connectors (different shape)— so you need Apple's $45 adapter.

Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — external hard drives and Thunderbolt displays, for example — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro. As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3...

www.amazon.com

 

[Sossity]

Just simply load your formatted Crucial SSDs into the enclosure. Use of the SoftRAID software to combine one or more drives into a RAID is optional (although the software may be needed to run to just install a driver for the OWC enclosure to be recognized).

Your Mini has Thunderbolt 3 connectors, the enclosure uses Thunderbolt 2 connectors (different shape)— so you need Apple's $45 adapter.

Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — external hard drives and Thunderbolt displays, for example — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro. As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3...

www.amazon.com

Ok, so if the enclosure needs an update, how would I use the software to do that without it erasing and formatting my drives?

 

[Fishrrman]

I would NOT buy either of the above enclosures unless you absolutely KNOW IN ADVANCE that they can be used in a "JBOD" configuration WITHOUT having to re-format your drives.

(Actually, since these are all currently "stand-alone" drives", I wouldn't put them in any multiple-bay enclosure -- I'd just keep using them "as they are" with a hub or perhaps a USB3/SATA dock)

 

[Shazaam!]

I would NOT buy either of the above enclosures unless you absolutely KNOW IN ADVANCE that they can be used in a "JBOD" configuration WITHOUT having to re-format your drives.

I have two of these enclosures connected to my Mac Studio. One has four 1TB SSDs in RAID 0, the second has two SSDs connected in RAID 0, one additional 4TB SSD JBOD. and one open slot for expansion.

 

[Shazaam!]

There is an faster updated TB3 version that needs no adapter for your Mac mini.

OWC ThunderBay 4: Thunderbolt 4-Bay RAID Storage

Compact, high-capacity RAID storage solution perfect for handling 4K video, audio production, and high-volume photography with confidence and speed.

www.owc.com

 

[Shazaam!]

Ok, so if the enclosure needs an update, how would I use the software to do that without it erasing and formatting my drives?

You just load your drives as formatted into the enclosure and they just mount as before. If you want to use the SoftRAID software to recognize and test your drives, you obviously need to install the software.

 

[Sossity]

I have two of these enclosures connected to my Mac Studio. One has four 1TB SSDs in RAID 0, the second has two SSDs connected in RAID 0, one additional 4TB SSD JBOD. and one open slot for expansion.

Ok, if I get a used bay that was used with drives in a raid set up, will the enclosure be automatically be in a raid set up? will I have to use the raid software to format how I want? or will it apply that raid set up to new drives put in that are already formatted and with content on them?

or does the raid only go into affect if the software is used with the enclosure with my drives?

or does it need the software to do that with? or can I just load my drives in?

 

[Shazaam!]

Ok, if I get a used bay that was used with drives in a raid set up, will the enclosure be automatically be in a raid set up?

No.

will I have to use the raid software to format how I want?

No.

will it apply that raid set up to new drives put in that are already formatted and with content on them?

No.

can I just load my drives in?

Yes.

 

[Sossity]

There is an faster updated TB3 version that needs no adapter for your Mac mini.

OWC ThunderBay 4: Thunderbolt 4-Bay RAID Storage

Compact, high-capacity RAID storage solution perfect for handling 4K video, audio production, and high-volume photography with confidence and speed.

www.owc.com

Ok, thanks.

If anybody has this one, is the thunderbolt 3 cable that connects this unit to the mac secure? does it make a good tight connection? I have had external hard drive enclosures where the usb-c cable was a little loose in the plug in slot where the cable connects to the enclosure, and even the slightest bump would cause the hard drive to unmount, and I would get disk ejected improperly.

Based on that experience with the connector type, I am a little leary of this one, although it is the most current one. I recall thunderbolt 1 and 2 conncetors, and they feel a alot more solid.

 

[Shazaam!]

I'm done.

 

[Sossity]

I'm done.

Umm, Ok, good, fine, thanks for your input you have had, you don't have to reply to my stuff anymore if it bothers you that much. I will make sure not to ask you anything more, I have apparently crossed a line with you, and are now fed up with my questions.

I am not trying to be annoying, this is an important purchase for me, this is my crucial data, so yes, I am going to ask a bunch of questions, and I will ask as many as I please until I feel ok about this, and I think I have a right to do that.

This is a public forum, and I am not breaking any rules, I am being polite.

I am getting as much info as I can, I thought it was ok to ask things here, I think I am asking legitimate questions.

Anyhow, you are not the only one on here so maybe, or maybe not others might say something, but I will look elsewhere for anymore info on this, since it seems I have gotten as far as I can on this forum for this. I recall that is what a forum like this is for right? to ask technical questions?

I thought some questions about an enclosure were fairly benign, but I guess I have brought about some strong feelings here, webmasters, if I have done something wrong here, sorry, and feel free to close or delete this thread, I guess I have gone as far as I can on this topic here.