Solid State storage Disc ...

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.