Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

I've got 4x 400GB drives which im constantly having to swap in and out of my PC (i only plug them in when/if required, to reduce unnecessary 'wear and tear'. I've been using some swappable bays/caddies, but i've had 2 die on me now, so i'm now looking to get something like this enclosure

They're totally separate disks and that's the way it's staying, in NO WAY do i want any kind of RAID setup!

Sooooooooo i just have 2 questions really:

1) Does anyone know WHERE i can actually buy the above product

2) Does anyone know of some good alternative brands? (Icy-box, Raidsonic, Stardom all seem to be the same OEM from what i can see... all of their sites are virtually identical, and the ONLY reseller they list, doesn't have an online store) :/

It's either that, or i buy 4x separate enclosures like [url=http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=543134]this one[/b]

Ohh and one last thing, all my drives are 3.5" PATA ones... so no SATA enclosures please :p:

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Not quite uk but:
http://tweakers.net/pwlev.dsp?leverancier_id=5226

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Hmmmm, don't 'really' wanna order from abroad, in case i have to return.

Gah, can't seem to find it ANYWHERE! Aria, Scan, Overclock, Overclockers (Pfft last resort!), Komplett, KustomPCs, Dabs, eBuyer........ :'(

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Not really sure, but might this do what you want?

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

I use one of these: IDE / SATA to USB 2.0 Adaptor
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...24m2#more_info

DW

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

http://www.span.com/catalog/spanstor..._3_4&x=57&y=12

probably be able to get a hot swap too check span more thoroughly than I just did

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

He needs PATA...

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

:) He can search :D

Sure there are a lot of solutions on that site.

EDIT
Something like this :

http://www.span.com/catalog/product_...oducts_id=4779

Span lets you configure what you want only thing about them is to ensure that what you get has a PSU.

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

They dont come cheap do they. Mind you I have been looking into NAS wich is a lot more expensive, though IMO a lot more flexible. Specifically im after a buffalo Terrastation 2TB. Though I think A normal 500GB would suit me fine :) .

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Well 170 for an 8 disk box with PSU is not too bad considering what you get.

Alternatively try using their bridge boards and building a case yourself but I get the feeling that will turn out more expensive in the long run.

NAS on the cheap Netgears SC101 : http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=3V6Q

Although the software has had great reviews the box itself seems to problematic with noted issues of overheating plus average transfer rates.

Yeh for real NAS I'd use a cheap linux box or maybe even a fast embedded solution with some NAS software. No way would I pay silly NAS prices and remember thats without the disks !

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Im currently using a windows box running MCE as my NAS. Only problems with that seem to be noise as its in my bedroom and does make a lot of noise even when idling. And for some reason windows setup decides it would be a good idea to destroy the whole partition table on my 300GB drive everytime I need to reinstall. It is recoverable but only with a Third party program so that means I cant install windows on the 300GB drive wich was what I originally wanted to do. As a precaution I unplug the 300GB during windows installation now.
Doesnt the netgear SC101 only support FAT 32 though? I really need either NTFS or Linux partition table support as I do have several large files that are over the FAT 32 size limit.

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

About the SC101 I ready this a year or so back linked from tomsnetworking:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/conte.../24757/75/1/2/

Quote

" however, is the drive format, which Windows reports as SFSZ. So when I tried to run the Windows Disk check and defrag utilities on the SC drive, Windows politely declined. My contact at Zetera explained that SFSZ is a enterprise-class SAN file system from DataPlow designed for "very high-end applications and supercomputing centers". "

Which for a cheap 70 quid machine is quite awesome.

Think people need to understand what NAS, SAN, Distributed Network File Systems are. I guess in its simplest form a windows share can be considered a NAS but I have always associated true NAS as being enterprise class.

With 10Tb at ones disposal one learns quickly the benefits of building a NAS cluster.

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

yah im not interested in a NAS solution, as this is purely for me to access my archives locally

Hmm getting 4x separate USB2 enclosures will be just under £100.... which is OK...

Just wondering if it would be better if i got that 4x 5.25" bay enclosure and bought 4 caddies like i currently have...

Hmmmmmmm decisions decisions!

It's annoying really, as i don't plan on having PATA drives for much longer (ideally im hoping this drives will hold out until SSDs become more mainstream.... larger.....and a hell of a lot cheaper!) :D

---------- Post added at 11:02 ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 ----------

Hmm just been looking around and due to shipping costs and various other factors, i'm most definitely NOT going to be ordering from abroad!

So if anyone can find THIS ENCLOSURE to buy from a UK online retailer, I will love you long time! $5? :D

(Got my hopes up with Span, but they seem to have everything BUT) :(

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Might be an idea to check out eBay, I've bought a few really cheap USB caddies there before and they're still going :tu:

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

www.specialtech.co.uk stock Stardom products, although that particular model isn't on their website.

Might be worth ringing them on 0870 460 5676?

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Thanks, i'll give them a try.

Managed to find the 5.25" 4x bay enclosure on overclock here.

But for £156 + 4x HDD caddies (~£80) = £236......

Screw that i'd probably just stick with 4 of these for less than half the price!

So i'm kinda hoping that the Stardom 4x 3.5" bay enclosure is around £150... but somehow i can see it being quite a bit more than that now!

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Though you where not initially after a NAS it may infact be more suitable to you, especially if you have a router as you allready have the needed infrastructure to add as many as needed. And if you bought two of those SC101's that CrC-3rr0r posted to fit 2x drives each it would also be cheaper.

---------- Post added at 15:47 ---------- Previous post was at 15:39 ----------

The only other real downside I see about that one then since it does support large file sizes is the method in wich drives are shared on each machine. Sepperate IP's for each hdd or rather each partition and no built in network share does make it a lot more complicated and messy to set up.

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Really dont wanna go down the NAS route.

http://www.raidsonic.de/en/pages/sea...tID=3774&pid=0

REALLY wanna get that one, but the only place i can find it, is on German sites :/

SOMEONE must sell it over here! :'(

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Could try this solution?
http://www.raidsonic.de/en/pages/pro...=2571#techdata
It does only take 2 drives, but they are stackable, takes 5.25 and optical as well.
Can be got at Scan
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=81537
for £82 each. Get an Y-split power cable & only one power socket needed.

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Hmmm that's going to total around £200 (after i buy separate caddies as well), plus id rather have it all-in-one, for ease of transportation etc :(

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

:blush: Didn't price comparisons - sorry.
Have you tried asking Nanopoint (UK distributor), they may be able to get a price/supply one?

---------- Post added at 14:24 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

Had a look on a few German price comparison sites, price ranges from €300-400 (£200-£270). Carriage is only €20 tho. Could also be asking nanopoint if they will support it if you buy it abroad - returns etc

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Yah i think that's the going price :/

http://www1.hardwareversand.de/6V_F1...aid=5848&lid=2

Including shipping, i was quoted €325 (~£220)

Not heard of Nanopoint

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

Why not just plug them all in?

Re: Multiple HDD enclosure question
 

How about this one?

http://www.nanopoint.co.uk/en/pages/..._objectID=2203

Nonopoint are based in Telford I think...

Lenx