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[DrizztD0Urden]

I have a DNS-320, and have been using it as JBOD and have a backup script which runs on my computers to back specific data up to my Volume_1, and copying that to Volume_2 (2 older irregular sized disks).

I have recently bought 2 WD red's (3TB), and will be setting them up soon.  Is there any advantage with going raid 1?  I've read downfalls, where if your NAS box dies, you need to buy the exact same one in order to retrieve your data (needs the same raid controller).  If my NAS died, I would probably want to get a better one instead of the same unit, and JBOD should work in any NAS I assume.

So basic questions
1) Are RAID 1 reads faster than JBOD on the DNS-320, or are we limited by gigabit connection/other hardware?
2) If my NAS dies, can I access data on either of the RAID 1 disks without buying another DNS-320?
3) If my NAS dies, can I access the data on the JBOD disks using any NAS/External enclosure?
4) Redundancy should be the same either way, 1 drive fails, and use RAID 1 built in functionality, or my current scripts to reimage the new drive, so there is no real data integrity issues here, correct?
5) Since I bought WD Red drives which are specifically built for RAID setups, are there any forseeable issues setting them up in a non raid configuration?

Thanks for any input.

[JavaLawyer]

If you haven't checked out this thread, it describes the pros and cons of RAID-1 vs. JBOD, from a data security/integrity perspective: DNS-320 - Data Backup vs. Redundancy

1) Are RAID 1 reads faster than JBOD on the DNS-320, or are we limited by gigabit connection/other hardware?

RAID-1 should not necessarily read any faster than JBOD. Individual files on a RAID-1 and JBOD are maintained on one HDD within the array, unlike RAID-0 and RAID-5 which stripe data across HDDs. JBODs have the potential for some files to cross HDDs, but individual files are generally confined to one HDD in the JBOD. That said, reading a file stored on one HDD, whether RAID-1 or JBOD, should theoretically make no difference in terms of read speed.

2) If my NAS dies, can I access data on either of the RAID 1 disks without buying another DNS-320?

DNS-320 - Data Recovery (Windows PCs)

3) If my NAS dies, can I access the data on the JBOD disks using any NAS/External enclosure?

Unknown. . . .  Another DNS-320 owner will have to chime in here...

4) Redundancy should be the same either way, 1 drive fails, and use RAID 1 built in functionality, or my current scripts to reimage the new drive, so there is no real data integrity issues here, correct?

Not necessarily. RAID-1 creates a mirror of your data in real time to both HDDs. From your post is reads as though your current configuration runs a scheduled backup. If this is the case, your current configuration will not necessarily have the same exact data on both Volumes in the event of a failure. Again, I refer you to this sticky post: DNS-320 - Data Backup vs. Redundancy

5) Since I bought WD Red drives which are specifically built for RAID setups, are there any forseeable issues setting them up in a non raid configuration?

Non-RAID configurations (i.e. standard volume) will always be easier to recover than a RAID array in the event of a failure. In general, the simpler the HDD configuration, the easier the data recovery.

[DrizztD0Urden]

Thanks.  Since it looks like Raid 1 should be recoverable in the event of a failure, I think I'll go that way, since these drives are apparently designed for RAID.

I'm mostly concerned about NAS failure, or drive failure, not user incompetance (deleting a file and complaining that it no longer exists)

[DrizztD0Urden]

Also, I may have misquoted myself there.  When I said JBOD, I actually meant 2 standard formatted drive which I mirror with a script.

[JavaLawyer]

Also, I may have misquoted myself there.  When I said JBOD, I actually meant 2 standard formatted drive which I mirror with a script.

As simple as that configuration is, that's precisely how I maintain my two DNS-343s. All 8 HDDs are configures as standard volumes. I use the on-board backup software to perform nightly incremental backups, and a third party app on a client PC to run monthly syncing to delete files that were removed from the source volumes. Sometimes simpler is better.

Since your source data seems to be stored on other PCs/storage devices and the DNS-320 is used strictly for backup, then RAID-1 should provide the redundancy you're looking for. If the RAID-1 is the only source for your data storage, then maintaining standard volumes with a scheduled backup may be a more preferable storage schema.

[DrizztD0Urden]

Ok Thanks.  I have the important data spread out on many computers, and use the NAS to keep each computer updated.  But my NAS is also the only source for my media files, so 2 standard drives may be preferable.

I'm in the process of copying my old 2tb to one of my new 3tb's (started last night).  There is still at least 1 more day of copying before I have to make a decision on how to set up the 2nd 3tb drive.  As for the transfer speeds.... that will have to be another post.