Recommended Backup Solutions for 4K Storage

I've recently started shooting in 4K on my UMP. These files are obviously much larger that HD. I have a Promise Pegasus R6 (Thunderbolt 1) with 18TB. I have it configured as RAID 5, so I have 15TB of usable space. I've had this unit for many years backing up all of my work, and I only have about 1.5TB left, so I need to figure out what to get.

I'm working on a new 2016 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C. I want reliable storage. I'm likely not using the array for editing. It's really just for backup. Any recommendations on manufacturers?

I think I should get something with 24TB that could last me a couple years. Any thoughts?

Adam

I'd go a lot bigger than 24TB. If you got an 8-drive RAID, you could easily go 64TB or 80TB (less overhead) with 8TB or 10TB drives.

I'm with Marc! If you're going to take a step up, make it a big step. Depending on how technical you are, you might even want to consider a custom built NAS, or double wide caselabs style case that will let you mount a lot of drives internally.

I guess I better start saving up fast. Some of these solutions are pretty expensive.

Adam

I guess I better start saving up fast. Some of these solutions are pretty expensive.

Adam

Like I hinted at earlier that really depends on how technical you are, or how much you are willing to learn. Excluding the drives, a DAS/NAS can be built fairly cheaply. If you go the software raid route, you can get a 10 drive-setup just by using the appropriate motherboard. If you add in dedicated raid cards you can easily end up with a 2 or 3 dozen drive raid.

Hey Dan,

I'm on a 2016 MacBook Pro, so I'm looking for solutions where I can connect to my MacBook Pro. Those are pretty interesting solutions though.

Adam

Hey Dan,

I'm on a 2016 MacBook Pro, so I'm looking for solutions where I can connect to my MacBook Pro. Those are pretty interesting solutions though.

Adam

I'm not overly versed in network/transfer protocols, but I'm pretty that with the proper drivers you should be able to connect you MacBook Pro to a custom build nas/das running windows or unix via Thunderbolt 3.

Hey Dan,

I'm on a 2016 MacBook Pro, so I'm looking for solutions where I can connect to my MacBook Pro. Those are pretty interesting solutions though.

Adam

I'm not overly versed in network/transfer protocols, but I'm pretty that with the proper drivers you should be able to connect you MacBook Pro to a custom build nas/das running windows or unix via Thunderbolt 3.

Oh okay. I got you, Dan. I just wanted you all to know that I can't install and PCI cards on my computer. I'm looking towards another Promise Technologies array, since they are so easy to use and extremely reliable. They are just more money than I want to spend.

Adam

I've got two Areca 8 bay enclosures running Raid 5 (can lose one drive and recover). One 28TB with 4TB (3 yrs old) and latest with 56TB using 8TB. Hard drive prices have dropped enough that they were the same price.

Last 2hr 4K movie we made consumed 20TB, but probably would have been 15TB if I'd done everything. (making smaller footprint copies of the clips, etc)

BH Photo
Areca ARC-8050T3 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Storage is $1900,
8 x 8TB WD Red drives is about 2,000, so ~4,000 for 56TB Raid 5

Red Pro drives ($370 each) would add about $1,000

not hard to set up and very easy to assemble. Have to use their utility to format the drive as a RAID 5, but not that bad. And support was good when I outsmarted myself setting up the first one.

OP, I would not go cheap on storage if you care about the data. I wouldn't do it yourself either, if you're not already comfortable with the technology.

I've got two Areca 8 bay enclosures running Raid 5 (can lose one drive and recover). One 28TB with 4TB (3 yrs old) and latest with 56TB using 8TB.

Be very careful using RAID 5 with such large disks. The WD Red drives have 10^14 URE, which means rebuilding the array with a new disk is almost guaranteed to fail. Red Pro is closer to a coin flip.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-raid-5 ... s-usually/