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[JavaLawyer]

Adding to my last post, if you look at the results of the User Poll posted as a sticky at the head of this board, you will see that 40% of users opted for Standard Volumes, while 51% use RAID 1. Based on these results, we can say that the road is essentially split between using Standard Volumes vs. RAID 1. Although, I hope that those users who are using RAID 1 are also maintaining a separate physical copy of their data (for the reasons laid out in my prior post).

[georgechr]

@ JavaLawyer

I have checked your stickies, and i think now i understand the difference of RAID 1 and Standard Formatting. And i basically don't know why anyone would choose RAID 1. Basically you should either fo with the performance option of RAID 0 or standard formatting with local backups.

My data consists of i marked the importance in brackets:

- Personal Pictures & Videos [HIGH] - Memories cant be re-downloaded
- General Files [HIGH] - All the other stuff
- Music [HIGH] - My metal collection
- Movies [LOW] - Movies can be re-downloaded, no probs.

Like i said, i have all this data except movies stored on an external Buffalo LinkStation, that its almost always turned off and safely in my drawer for safety reasons.

So what i am thinking is the following. If i use Standard Formatting, i will place all the data on Volume 1, and backup only the [HIGH] importance ones on Volume 2, using the Local Backups and SyncBack you mentioned. Therefore i will only be using Volume 1. I will not backup the data on my external hard disk often, due to big amount of data. Isn't it possible though that if one disk fails the other will too? I always found that having the disk turned off is the safest choice to guard your data. Is there any way that Volume 2, which will hold the data be turned off and on whenever i want?

Let me know what you think of my thoughts.

[JavaLawyer]

I have checked your stickies, and i think now i understand the difference of RAID 1 and Standard Formatting. And i basically don't know why anyone would choose RAID 1.

RAID 1 provides redundancy, which is different from a backup. Redundancy reduces system downtime in the event of a HDD failure. If HDD1 fails, then HDD2 is immediately accessible without losing productivity. Under this scenario, if a full backup is also maintained on another physical device, the backup is never used for daily work -- the sole purpose of the backup is to restore the RAID 1 array in the event the entire RAID 1 array is lost.

RAID 1 + full backup provides two layers of security.

If i use Standard Formatting, i will place all the data on Volume 1, and backup only the [HIGH] importance ones on Volume 2, using the Local Backups and SyncBack you mentioned. Therefore i will only be using Volume 1. I will not backup the data on my external hard disk often, due to big amount of data. Isn't it possible though that if one disk fails the other will too? I always found that having the disk turned off is the safest choice to guard your data. Is there any way that Volume 2, which will hold the data be turned off and on whenever i want?

If it gives you some peace of mind, I have two DNS-343s, and all 8 HDDs are formatted as Standard Volumes. The first DNS-343 backs up to the second DNS-343. I use Syncback once a week to ensure both DNS-343s are synchronized. For data that is "super critical" (if there is such a term), I have a tertiary backup to yet another device.

To answer your question regarding HDD failures, a failure of the first HDD should have no impact on the second HDD. Although there are exceptions to this rule, both HDDs are not likely to be lost unless there is physical damage to the DNS-325 itself (water damage, storm, electrical storm) or theft.

I'm not 100% sure how the hibernation rules work in the DNS-320 with respect to both HDDs, but in the DNS-343, HDDs that are not accessed stay spun down, reducing additional wear and tear. If this holds true with the DNS-320, then your backup HDD should remain idle unless you are actively reading/writing to/from the drive. You can test whether the drive is idle or not through physical inspection (i.e. listen for the HDD motor or feel the HDD for vibrations).

[georgechr]

RAID 1 + full backup provides two layers of security.

Well in my case i bought the NAS for backup + file server. Therefore i would like it to be my main backup.

Since you have them in Standard Formatting i will follow your choice

Volume 1 for the data
Volume 2 for the backup
External Disk for occasional additional backups

Hopefully that will help me sleep at night. One more thing, do i lose any performance by using standard formatting than RAID 1 or not?

[JavaLawyer]

I always follow the axiom that the simplest solution (i.e. least technologically complex) is the best solution for mission critical data/systems. Since RAID 1 has to write data to both HDDs in real time, I would think that Standard Volumes would provide slightly better performance.

[georgechr]

Then i guess its to time to restart the setup. Thank God i didnt copy all the data yet it would be a pain to move 400GB all over again. Will keep you posted on my thoughts after the setup.

One more question off topic. The disks  i use are 2 x Samsung SpinPoint F3 Desktop Class HD103SJ 1TB. Whats your opinion on them? are they considered good disks?

[JavaLawyer]

One more question off topic. The disks  i use are 2 x Samsung SpinPoint F3 Desktop Class HD103SJ 1TB. Whats your opinion on them? are they considered good disks?

I have no experience with Samsung HDDs, you'll have to get the experience of other users who tried them out in the DNS-325. You may want to look on the DNS-320 board as well since the HDD formatting is the same.