Solid State storage Disc ...

SO, I guess the question means -- Which company builds the best storage 'closets', so I can store 'save as' files and folders? And I would store a group of smaller size, as opposed to one large size, so if it ever did fail, I'd only lose 'some' not all ... Like I'd collect several 250g's or 500g's, and add 250g's or 500g's, instead of buying one 5000g size ... know what I mean?

Kiwi_too wrote:
Dependability of the SSD depends on the make. Some are more dependable and some are not. SSD are more vulnerable to surges.

You can get the best of both SSD and Spindle HD if you use a product like Allway Sync. Sounds like you need something that constantly backs up your changes. Keep your working file/folders on SSD and backup to HD at 0 dark thirty every night, unattended.

Nope, doesn't need "working file back-up" every night, I have that handled. Once the original file hits the storage cabinet, I never need retrieve it unless I lose the working copy. Then I pull it out, copy it and that becomes a new working copy.

There is no need to store any working file - working files change constantly, and save only during that working period, then the final copy becomes another original 'final worked' file linked to that client then gets stored permanently.

But it's getting more complex, more explanation than needed. I just want to create a 'save as' file in a 'job folder' and store it in two separate locations in case I lose one ...

And to address the "Cloud" - too large files, and no way I'd trust a 'buncha vapor' in a company that might or might not be in business the next day ... storing my data in a hyperspace closet don't sit right with me. I'd be out of business overnight if the 'cloud' evaporated.

To clarify -- I'm not very technical, so setting up anything more complex than just "save as" is not necessary, nor useful. But the initial files is very large, and detailed. SO I need to store it only, not work with it. RAW files cannot be 'worked' it needs to convert to a .tiff or .jpeg in a working folder -- the RAW file is intense detail raw data, it converts to a photo.

I just need to back-up my photos (yes, they are important), valuable, well, each one, not so much, the collection of thousands, yes. It's like a huge tool cache - which I convert to magazine/book/journal photos, posters, photographs, artwork, Advertising Art, whenever a client has a specific need.

SO, I can't lose the individual RAW file -- I may never use it, or may use the same photo frequently. I never know until someone wants it. For example, a client might as for five or six photos of a (name) baseball player, I search it and pull it out of my working files. I want a back-up of all those working files in case I lose one (or a set) ... or a client might want a bear, a blue heron, Pikes Peak, a coyote, a mountain lion, a barn, and old stake truck, Yellowstone Old Faithful, or ten beaver shots. So, I hide it away until I need it.

I've recently lost some files on a HD, so was just looking for something easy and safer to store the files "just in case" ... and after I changed the LT to SSD, I thought about changing the storage too, as it's much faster to search and retrieve, and to actually store -- I store a several hundred at once (large file each) - and it take a while. So was seeking a faster way to transfer and a more stable 'storage cabinet' ...

Looking for a simple answer, and sometimes it comes out more complex than it needs. I appreciate all the advice, but am looking for very simple ... and want the best quality manufacturer, not a 'cheapo' ... If that helps.

Dependability of the SSD depends on the make. Some are more dependable and some are not. SSD are more vulnerable to surges.

You can get the best of both SSD and Spindle HD if you use a product like Allway Sync. Sounds like you need something that constantly backs up your changes. Keep your working file/folders on SSD and backup to HD at 0 dark thirty every night, unattended.

monkey44 wrote:
Mr Wizard hit closer than anyone here -- and I probably explained less that I should have.

I shoot images -- I use the images in my business ... and need to store the originals in case I lose it off the LT / PC -- so, generally, I have my current work on the current PC. It doesn't go into storage until I'm finished with it. "Well, it stores immediately, but the working copy stays on the LT /PC.

BUT, I won't access storage continuously time and again - and store time and again. I simply ADD a folder based on month/year. Store it twice, in two locations in two HD's now. But I worry about the HD failing (lost one actually) - so, believe SSD are more safe that traditional HD ... I store all images from a month/year once (double store), and continue using in PC / LT those without accessing that "back up" ... IF I should lose my working files / images from a shoot, I just need to go back into the HD and get what I lose (if I lose something) ...

The storage in the best case scene will not be accessed once it's stored unless I lose that specific working folder. The, I'd go get it, copy it into work folder, and never open the storage file again.

The only other time I'd open storage would be if I store it, finalize a set of images, and someone wants something from the 'history' -- that usually doesn't happen.

Flash drives along with SSD drives do not necessarily mean they will not fail just sitting unused on a shelf. Solid state memory storage can and does go bad just sitting. One would like to think otherwise but I HAVE personally had flash drives fail for no real reason. They were not abused, dropped, shocked or even plugged in for long periods of time. No they failed just sitting around.

Your using this for business purposes and that is a no brainer.. You NEED to use some sort of RAID storage, period. Not SSD drives alone.

RAID systems employ two or more drives, data is written redundantly across the drives. If one drive fails your data is still able to be retrieved.

You can start with a RAID1 which is a mirrored drive set, the RAID controller writes the same data to BOTH drives at the same time without you having to copy the files manually to another drive. It is done real time and seamlessly.

Raid5 takes that a step further by using three drives and striping the data across three drives WITH A PARITY BIT. Raid5 also increases your storage space. Three 1TB drives gives you 2TB of space plus data parity. If one of those drives in the array fails the data IS SAFE and if you replace the failed drive the array can rebuild the new drive data from the two existing good drives.

I employ RAID5 plus a hot spare where I work at, this allows me to ensure no data loss and 100% uptime for my company's production line.

I also employ an external USB drive enclosure which has a RAID1 drive set as an additional backup in case of total server hardware failure.

On edit..

I should also add if you are planning to use a SSD drive in a USB external drive enclosure.. Think again.

SSD drives REQUIRE MORE CURRENT than the equivalent spinning drive.

A 120GB SSD drive REQUIRES 1.7A at 5V, a standard 2.5" 250 gig laptop drive (spinning platters) requires a mere .45A at 5V.

Drive enclosures that rely on the USB port for powering the enclosure will not support SSD drives since the USB ports on a PC can only supply .5A (500 milliamps).

To use a SSD drive in a external USB drive enclosure will require one that uses an external powersupply capable of the power draw.

MrWizard wrote:
Gdetrailer
just for clarity
you are talking {imaging a pc hard drive}..correct..?

and the OP and others are talking Photo images

i agree RAIDS and NAS are great backup/storage

just your particular term use is TECH 'speak' and not photographer 'speak'

Imaging PC hard drives via Ghost..

To the tune of 8,000 PCs per year PLUS nearly 15,000 loose HDs per year.

Abuses the heck out of the server storage drives..

Granted storing photos will not be as intensive as my usage but I would not try using a single SSD drive for any long term backup or main storage.

I USED to think that solid state would be better.. until I had one of my flash drives fail for no reason at all.. That flash drive was only used a few times AS A BACKUP for some of my music files and spent most of it's life sitting on a shelf..

Plugged it in one day to add some music files and the computer refused to read the flash drive, gave the message it needed formated to be used :M Tried it on several other known good PCs with known good ports with the same result. Tried undelete 360 with no joy..

Ended up reformating and it works again, but I do not trust it...

Gdetrailer
just for clarity
you are talking {imaging a pc hard drive}..correct..?

and the OP and others are talking Photo images

i agree RAIDS and NAS are great backup/storage

just your particular term use is TECH 'speak' and not photographer 'speak'

Like you I keep a few copies of everything.
Every six months or so I review the pics I took and look at them with a fresh eye.
Why did I take that pic, what caught my eye?
Those are the ones I set asside and make sure I archive them well with multiple backups. The rest I keep but don't worry much about.

How important are these photos to you? Keep at least two copies at all times. One on optical disc(Bluray/DVD) as an archive. A second on a disk drive for access convenience. If you lose one source, make sure you restore it in a timely manner.

Mr Wizard hit closer than anyone here -- and I probably explained less that I should have.

I shoot images -- I use the images in my business ... and need to store the originals in case I lose it off the LT / PC -- so, generally, I have my current work on the current PC. It doesn't go into storage until I'm finished with it. "Well, it stores immediately, but the working copy stays on the LT /PC.

BUT, I won't access storage continuously time and again - and store time and again. I simply ADD a folder based on month/year. Store it twice, in two locations in two HD's now. But I worry about the HD failing (lost one actually) - so, believe SSD are more safe that traditional HD ... I store all images from a month/year once (double store), and continue using in PC / LT those without accessing that "back up" ... IF I should lose my working files / images from a shoot, I just need to go back into the HD and get what I lose (if I lose something) ...

The storage in the best case scene will not be accessed once it's stored unless I lose that specific working folder. The, I'd go get it, copy it into work folder, and never open the storage file again.

The only other time I'd open storage would be if I store it, finalize a set of images, and someone wants something from the 'history' -- that usually doesn't happen.