grawk Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 I'd go with a direct attached drobo, so you're not increasing your network load.
deepak Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 The only benefit I see with a NAS is some of them let you install Slimserver (if you use a Squeezebox or Transporter) on them directly since they are basically mini computers. Whereas the Drobo requires you to have it connected to a computer.
Voltron Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Posted March 24, 2009 Thanks guys. No need for a switch or anything with the Drobo: just plug into the Mac and that's that? Are they noisy or quiet?
aardvark baguette Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 I didnt get to finish typing my response earlier at work. I'd recommend a Drobo for music over any NAS or server. Drobo is by no means the fastest, but chances are you simply don't need all the bells and whistles of the usually-more-expensive servers. Lately my Drobo has been quite quiet, except for when waking up, where the drives initialize. But there have definitely been moments in the past where the fans were noticeable. For what its worth, they claim the Drobo 2.0 is much quieter than the first iteration. I can't confirm this, as I've only had the 2nd iteration. Without a doubt my favorite part of Drobo is the ability to mix and match drive sizes/brands. A kickass raid 1 setup isnt going to do me much good when I can no longer find a replacement for a specific make and model of drive, which will likely be obsolete by the time a replacement is needed. This whole scenario is moot with Drobo, just buy whatever drives you goddamn please. edit: I cant speak to video, havent tried it.
thrice Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Engadget's recession antidote: win a 1.5TB Drobo! Possible free DROBO.
aardvark baguette Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 you'd think they'd pony up more than 2 drives, but hey, the price is right.
tkam Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 I have a 1st gen drobo that I could sell you pretty cheap if you want it. I'm not really using it anymore.
Voltron Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Posted March 24, 2009 I have a 1st gen drobo that I could sell you pretty cheap if you want it. I'm not really using it anymore. Thanks. Either JP or I will PM you. Any idea what the Gen. 1 vs. 2 difference is (other than possible lower noise)?
Hopstretch Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Thanks. Either JP or I will PM you. Any idea what the Gen. 1 vs. 2 difference is (other than possible lower noise)? Gen. 1 is USB-only where Gen. 2 has Firewire 800?
penger Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Firewire support I think. Oops. You beat me to it.
IceClass Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Didn't the 1st gens have FW400 as well as USB?
grawk Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 1st gen was usb2 only. You can't use the duet with a firewire drive anyway, so for your use, I think that's probably ok.
IceClass Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 1st gen was usb2 only. You can't use the duet with a firewire drive anyway, so for your use, I think that's probably ok. %$#@! Is a big ass USB1.1 drive fast enough to use for itunes serving?
IceClass Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 usb2 isn't usb 1.1. Yeah, I know. I'm just desperately trying to figure out options on how to make some use out of an old G4 12" as the brains in a music server instead of packing it off to the landfill.
grawk Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 sell g4 12", buy mini. The g4 12" also has really slow wireless.
IceClass Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 If I don't have to buy a new Mini I can buy other toys. Besides the 12" is unsellable since I dropped it off the desk and dinged the optical drive entrance and bust a couple of keys out. That and if I had to get another computer I think I'd get another laptop as I like the idea of having a screen built-in. If I have to I'll scrap the Duet and use a big FW400 drive for music library storage while USB--->DAC ... and so far, I haven't noticed any issues with the G4s wireless being too slow to serve itunes. Still it sucks not to be able to use the Duet with a big drive fast enough to serve iTunes files. Blah!
IceClass Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 ...and the Drobo is cute too! ...although not as cool as the new cube thing from Lacie.
grawk Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 That said, 1.1 usb should be plenty fast to act as an itunes server.
oogabooga Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 Firewire is daisy-chainable... some enclosures come with two FW400 ports, so could you not do Mac --> FW HD --> Duet? I daisy chain FW HD's at work all the time. Also, USB 1.1 is 1.5 MB/s, correct? Would that not be enough for FLAC files, which are usually ~900 kilobits/s? (yes, I know data transfer would suck...)
grawk Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 Yes, you can daisy chain with a duet on the end. And every so often, the duet will lose it's mind and start outputing horrible noises.
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