Hotway H8R2-SU3S2 8-bay USB 3.0 RAID Enclosure

[thedirkdiggler]

does anyone know much about this one. Just saw it on pc case gear.

Looking at raid 5.

am also thinking of getting the syn 12 bay.. there is a thread here on it.

Since this is only 500 bucks.

I could buy 4 3tb drive and this for roughly same price as the othere ( with no hdd)

All i store is movies and tv files. Dont stream of the array just raid 5 it.

Apart from price.

Would this unit be good for a raid 5 back up?

Does anyone know if more drive can be added to the array ( in raid 5)?

[CHINNO]

Yeah i just noticed it on pc case gear. Also looking for info. From what i have found so far it will need 4 drives for raid 5 and if you want to add more you will need 4 more drives but it will want to make it a raid 50 and it will clear the data. But thats just from a quick google. Also would like to know drive compatibility?

[Chris McMahon]

I wonder if you'll be putting out a NAS version like they do with their 4-drive enclosures?

[thedirkdiggler]

link...
as i am looking at per ordering this...

[bwodie]

these do look interesting. I was also thinking of getting the syn 12 bay.
The biggest problem with one of these is it needs to be attached to a PC. I really want to take way its dependence on a PC hence the beauty of a NAS.

[-Sk3tChY-]

I too was very interested in this device. Keen to hear peoples opinions on it.

What's the Synology unit you guys are referring to? The DS2411+? There's a big difference in price there. ($1,499 compared to $479)

[thedirkdiggler]

yes that is it ^^

i dont need it to run solo... so i will be getting this when it comes out.

[-Sk3tChY-]

It's already out mate - Here at PCCG for $479.

The fact it needs to be plugged into a PC though is a big downer, I was wanting it so I could put all my PC's to sleep and still be able to access file across the network, so prob not interested in it anymore.

And for those considering the DS2411+ for home use, you'd be much, MUCH better off just building your own NAS box and installing something like FreeNAS - You'd end up with a much better product.

I was just considering this as a cheap alternative.

[bwodie]

Originally Posted by -Sk3tChY-

It's already out mate - Here at PCCG for $479.

The fact it needs to be plugged into a PC though is a big downer, I was wanting it so I could put all my PC's to sleep and still be able to access file across the network, so prob not interested in it anymore.

And for those considering the DS2411+ for home use, you'd be much, MUCH better off just building your own NAS box and installing something like FreeNAS - You'd end up with a much better product.

I was just considering this as a cheap alternative.

Well the main problem with building your own is that you have another PC to maintain and build. I want a all in one that I can slot drives into and I am away. Maintaining another whole pc on my network is a pita

[-Sk3tChY-]

Originally Posted by bwodie

Well the main problem with building your own is that you have another PC to maintain and build. I want a all in one that I can slot drives into and I am away. Maintaining another whole pc on my network is a pita

Hate to break it to you mate, but all NAS boxes are pretty much miniature PC's, they all consist of a CPU, RAM, NIC, etc.

The main differences are:

• Pre-built solutions will usually only allow you to run a proprietary OS. Which whilst being simple, is also quite restrictive/limiting. (You better hope the OS they lock you into is damn good)
• Pre-built solutions in general are just very restrictive/limiting. You can't run your own software, you're limited to the amount of bays they have and can't really upgrade the hardware. (some may let you upgrade RAM)
• Pre-built solutions will usually be a hell of a lot slower than building your own box as the CPU's are usually only around the 1Ghz range and they typically only come with 128MB-512MB of RAM.

A pre-built solution in my opinion should only be considered as a cheap, simple or lazy solution when you're looking at the lower end of the scale and home use. Given this seems to be exactly why you're looking at the box, I'll elaborate a little:

Had this of had a good OS and been able to run on it's own, I would have definitely considered it as it would have been a nice cheap, simple option. The fact it requires being plugged into a PC to run is just renders it a superfluous piece of equipment. Your money would be much better spent just getting a full-tower case + a RAID card and putting the drives into your actual machine.

The negates the need to be running 2 pieces of hardware, negates the need to find space for both pieces of said hardware, gives you a cheaper alternative should your RAID controller die for any reason and gives you the option to upgrade hardware/RAID controllers with ease and cheaply.

Put simply, this thing is just a waste of space. Why have something piggy backing off your PC when it can run in it.

[bwodie]

Originally Posted by -Sk3tChY-

Hate to break it to you mate, but all NAS boxes are pretty much miniature PC's, they all consist of a CPU, RAM, NIC, etc.

Why do you hate to break it to me? lol I am completely aware that the hardware in NAS boxes are PC hardware. This is not a NAS box.
As above, I wouldn't buy the RAID enclosure for the exact same reasons as you. We can agree there. The price is great, thats about it for me.

Originally Posted by -Sk3tChY-

• Pre-built solutions will usually only allow you to run a proprietary OS. Which whilst being simple, is also quite restrictive/limiting. (You better hope the OS they lock you into is damn good)
• Pre-built solutions in general are just very restrictive/limiting. You can't run your own software, you're limited to the amount of bays they have and can't really upgrade the hardware. (some may let you upgrade RAM)
• Pre-built solutions will usually be a hell of a lot slower than building your own box as the CPU's are usually only around the 1Ghz range and they typically only come with 128MB-512MB of RAM.

A pre-built solution in my opinion should only be considered as a cheap, simple or lazy solution when you're looking at the lower end of the scale and home use. Given this seems to be exactly why you're looking at the box,

How do you know what I am looking for? I have 2 home built file servers with a combined total of 24 TB of useable space each using LSI SAS controllers. Not exactly cheap or at the lower end scale\home use.
The Synology 12 bay appeals to me because it is extremely simple, has decent specs (Dual core 1.8, 1GB memory upgradable to 3GB)
I don't want to play with the OS so I don't care about that restriction. Not having to maintain an OS is a great plus for me.
It is an all in one solution with a small footprint
I can have 30TB of useable space straight off the bat, with expansion up to 72TB with just two boxes....
So for that scalability and small foot print, It's worth it to me.
I could build the same thing in a case for probably half as much with a norco 4220 and purchased hardware, but the convenience is worth it to me. I have the spare money to spend on it

To be honest, the build your own NAS vs buy prebuilt arguments are tired and boring. It's horses for courses.

[thedirkdiggler]

this is what i need..

no stream or need to run any other pc's off this unit.

Just want to back up to the unit every once or twice a week. Want the raid 5 function for a little be more safety.
Dont want to have to do anything. Give me a 20 tb hard drive and i will buy it if under 1k.
Dont need a nas.. i have one at the moment. I only turn on once a week to backup stuff....so no point.

Going to strip it, sell the raid card 5805 and move the pc into a arcade machine I hoping to finish on oct holidays.

So this ticks all boxes. I know it is not for everyone but for simple... install hard drives ,make array...usb 3.0 copy.. great for me.

[thedirkdiggler]

Going to pre order ... after i decide on the hhd..

atm i have a 1.5tb x 4 raid 5...giving me around 4 TB


Going to buy the above unit and 4 x 3TB hard drive...raid 5 ....giving me around 8 to 9 TB..

Going to biuld that array.. then copy over my stuff. then pull the other drives out of my nas and put them into this case.. then raid 5 that...

So on the box i will have.


4x 3TB raid 5..... 9 TB

then a main 2nd back up ( cause i cannot think i can do with all these spare hard drives..) 4 x 1.5 TB back up...


So what 3tb drives should i buy...

Pccasegear.. ( which i am more likely to buy them from)

offer

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=17768

for 179 bucks.. then you have the cheaper cool spin for 165......

WD green model for 185..

Man i hate this green this that shit we live in today..

I DONT CARE about power ( my HT system on my tv cost me around 400 to 500 a year extra to run)

My speaker system for pc...looking at a few 100 more a year..

What shoudl i buy to run the usb 3.0 system ok....

[oli]

Heh thedirkdiggler is the new issa

Anyways, these do look interesting. In the picture it shows e-SATA as well as USB 3.0 though, but e-SATA isn't mentioned anywhere else.

http://www.hotway.com.tw/products/im...SU3S2-SPEC.pdf

That shows e-SATA as well.

[thedirkdiggler]

Originally Posted by oli

Heh thedirkdiggler is the new issa

Anyways, these do look interesting. In the picture it shows e-SATA as well as USB 3.0 though, but e-SATA isn't mentioned anywhere else.

http://www.hotway.com.tw/products/im...SU3S2-SPEC.pdf

That shows e-SATA as well.

issa? .... huh