How do you store your photos?


merkava74

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NAS? Raid enclosures?

I would like to find out what is the preferred choice here, as I currently have 4 x 1TB HDDs, but cannot seem to find the logical solution to photo storage.

In order to access via Firewire 800 (I'm using Mac), the only option seems to be NAS. But I don't really need a server as there is only 1 computer accessing the photos.

Also, there are several issues associated with Raid. All my disks will give me only 2.7TB with Raid 5. And the array is fixed, I cannot dismount any drive or upgrade in future.

Any advise is appreciated.
 

Perhaps a Drobo would be something you could consider?
It uses its own BeyondRaid configuration.
You can remove and change any one of your 4 x 1T HDD anytime.
 

Do we really need yet another "how do you store your photos thread"??
 

Perhaps a Drobo would be something you could consider?
It uses its own BeyondRaid configuration.
You can remove and change any one of your 4 x 1T HDD anytime.

Thanks. I googled on the Drobo S. Quite pricey, but you're right, allows for easy reconfiguration and adding of HDDs.

Do we really need yet another "how do you store your photos thread"??

Maybe not, and you don't really need to comment too.
 

NAS? Raid enclosures?

I would like to find out what is the preferred choice here, as I currently have 4 x 1TB HDDs, but cannot seem to find the logical solution to photo storage.

In order to access via Firewire 800 (I'm using Mac), the only option seems to be NAS. But I don't really need a server as there is only 1 computer accessing the photos.

Also, there are several issues associated with Raid. All my disks will give me only 2.7TB with Raid 5. And the array is fixed, I cannot dismount any drive or upgrade in future.

Any advise is appreciated.

If you ever upgrade your NAS, change it to Netgear (previously Infrant) ReadyNAS system. 2 good models for home use - ReadyNAS NV+ or ReadyNAS NVX. The latter being more expensive.

It allows you to upgrade your storage on the fly ie change your disks one-by-one to say 1.5T each - they system will auto rebuild. You can do hot swap for this. Check it out.
 

NAS? Raid enclosures?

I would like to find out what is the preferred choice here, as I currently have 4 x 1TB HDDs, but cannot seem to find the logical solution to photo storage.

In order to access via Firewire 800 (I'm using Mac), the only option seems to be NAS. But I don't really need a server as there is only 1 computer accessing the photos.

Also, there are several issues associated with Raid. All my disks will give me only 2.7TB with Raid 5. And the array is fixed, I cannot dismount any drive or upgrade in future.

Any advise is appreciated.
so chim???

i just burn to DVD as backup and thats it.
 

Google about topics 'data redundancy', 'backup' and 'archiving. There are distinctive differences between them and each has its own purpose. Also, each has different context and different conditions to work in. Example: backup has to stay usable at minimum up to the next backup cycle. File format and application software do not change between backup cycles. Archiving data must consider compatibility of hardware, software, backup media, application software ... Especially RAW files of various camera types change over the time and in 3 years you might use a different post processing software. Hope you got the idea ... if RAID is the answer than the question was not about archiving.
There are already several threads of this type, either the Search function or Google will help you to find them.
 

i just burn to DVD as backup and thats it.
TS asked about archiving, not backup. But maybe he also needs to verify whether he is asking for the right thing.
 

just a thought.

got use high level surge protector or not, on 24hrs and so on.....who knows, one lightning strike can kiss the raid array goodbye.
 

Thanks to all (well most).

I searched on. Those topics listed, and here are my findings.

Firstly, I do not need NAS as it will be hooked to a standalone, and no other platform will share the data.

Next, I think it is in between archiving and backup for me. What i would need is a safer way to store my photos and maintain some assurance (never 100%) of recovery. So data redundancy, RAID seems to be the way to go. At the same time, in a format that is somewhat perpetual, like .nef or .psd.

My limitation is that
I am working on an iMac, and don't have the luxury of SCSI or eSATA, and USB just doesn't cut it. So the only option is Firewire 800.

Drobo seems the closest I can find.


I guess I have enough info to make a decision.

Thanks again to all (most)!
 

A copy in the following —
  1. DVD. Generally, I would burn a DVD every two months or when I reach 4.7 GB.
  2. A copy on the hardisk, needs no explaination
  3. A copy in my external hard disk, a single stand alone one
 

Thanks to all (well most).

I searched on. Those topics listed, and here are my findings.

Firstly, I do not need NAS as it will be hooked to a standalone, and no other platform will share the data.

Next, I think it is in between archiving and backup for me. What i would need is a safer way to store my photos and maintain some assurance (never 100%) of recovery. So data redundancy, RAID seems to be the way to go. At the same time, in a format that is somewhat perpetual, like .nef or .psd.

My limitation is that
I am working on an iMac, and don't have the luxury of SCSI or eSATA, and USB just doesn't cut it. So the only option is Firewire 800.

Drobo seems the closest I can find.


I guess I have enough info to make a decision.

Thanks again to all (most)!

I use the MacBook Pro.
And the Firewire is really really very fast.
I surprise even myself.
 

I normally just transfer them to my external hard disk when I run out of space. And I don't really back up my photos, just archive them
 

NAS? Raid enclosures?

I would like to find out what is the preferred choice here, as I currently have 4 x 1TB HDDs, but cannot seem to find the logical solution to photo storage.

In order to access via Firewire 800 (I'm using Mac), the only option seems to be NAS. But I don't really need a server as there is only 1 computer accessing the photos.

Also, there are several issues associated with Raid. All my disks will give me only 2.7TB with Raid 5. And the array is fixed, I cannot dismount any drive or upgrade in future.

Any advise is appreciated.

Good that you started this thread, I was wondering about better photo storage other than my burn to DVD and store on an external HDD. I'm looking forward to see what other forummers' solutions to this issue. :)

Found an older thread 6 months ago that may yield some good solutions too.
 

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I backup my photos into 2 sets 3.5" External USB harddisk.

Create folders like Camera Model > Date with descriptions e.g. \F30\2010-06-21_Kids

I used to backup my photos into CD and then DVD. Later I realised my storage of CD/DVD are compiling up. I find use external harddisks is cheap, portable and save storage space.
 

Last edited:
I backup my photos into 2 sets 3.5" External USB harddisk.

Create folders like Camera Model > Date with descriptions e.g. \F30\2010-06-21_Kids

I used to backup my photos into CD and then DVD. Later I realised my storage of CD/DVD are compiling up. I find use external harddisks is cheap, portable and save storage space.

I used to use CD/DVD in the past when external harddisk is expensive. Storage will be a big problem.

Now with cheaper external harddisk...buy more for backup is cheaper and save a lot of space.
 

just a thought.

got use high level surge protector or not, on 24hrs and so on.....who knows, one lightning strike can kiss the raid array goodbye.
The power cables in Singapore leading to your home are buried, the chance of damage as a result of current or voltage surge from a lighting strike is very, very minimal if not improbable. ;)
 

Since you have 4 1TB harddisk, the most cost efficient way is to get a NAS and run RAID 5. A great cheap and good NAS would be D-Link 343. It's hackable, so you can install custom firmware for your need(torrent, nfs, as a web server, etc)

RAID 5 basically prevents your any data in your harddisk to be lost of it's damage. However, one of your 1TB harddisk space will be use for parity data (backup data). If any of your harddisk is damage, simply replace it and all the data will remind the same.

More technically explaination here
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/raid/levels/singleLevel5-c.html