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We are using that kind of system here for our internal data. Devices are
available from various manufacturers, and we have had excellent performance
over the last few years and no data lost. The device (called NAS for Network
Attached Server) is basically a scaled down computer with huge hard disks.
The hard disks can be configured to various RAID levels, so that one can
decide between maximum storage, security or speed. If you select highest
security, the drives save the data redundantly and one can rebuild the data
even if one hard disk dies.

Our box is administered through a web interface via TCP/IP, so that it can
be connected to pretty much any platform.

I would consider these an excellent storage for any kind of data, but it is
not portable. You still need a backup for disaster recovery (when the
chemistry lab next door blows up). If you need to take data with you, you
can simply burn a CD or DVD from the data on the NAS and take it with you.


Michael Bode, Ph.D.
Soft Imaging System Corp.
12596 West Bayaud Avenue
Suite 300
Lakewood, CO 80228
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-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Wessendorf [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 8:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: DVD data storage


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Is anyone out there using large networked RAID arrays for data storage?
If so, what do you see as their advantages and disadvantages?  From what
little I know, it sounds as if the data is backed up and (given the
right networking) is accessible to any OS that can hook onto the net.  I
think the cost per gigabyte is probably higher--$8/GB is what sticks in
my mind--but reliability should be excellent.

Anyone out there whose actually tried it??

Thanks!

Martin Wessendorf
--
Martin Wessendorf, Ph.D.                       office:  (612) 626 0145
Assoc Prof, Dept Neuroscience                     lab:  (612) 624 2991
University of Minnesota                 Preferred FAX:  (612) 624 8118
6-145 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE        Dept FAX:  (612) 626 5009
Minneapolis, MN  55455              e-mail:  [log in to unmask]