NAS Wizards...
I'd like to ask for some informed opinions as to why this product is decidedly inferior to a straight-up, 2-bay NAS (either Synology or QNAP). (There are multiple versions, including those that mount into front-accessible drive bays in a desktop machine.)
https://www.accordancesystems.com/products/araid-t3500
Pro:
-- 2 copies of stored data automatically maintained in volumes with independent file systems (pre-formatted compatible with host OS).
-- data is accessible if either drive fails.
-- data is accessible while a replacement for a failed drive is automatically rebuilt from the surviving drive.
-- a backup drive (for offsite storage?) is instantly created by pulling one drive and swapping in a replacement.
-- data on a drive pulled from this unit is natively accessible on the host computer or any other running a compatible OS (I am assuming NTFS formatted drives).
-- attached to a host OS (Windows in my case), any program (backup, imaging, folder synchronization, editing, ...) can be easily installed and used.
-- interacting with and managing the host environment is reasonably straightforward (for me) as I am extremely familiar with Windows (I do not know the Linux environment).
Con:
-- expense...the drive-less price is somewhat higher than a celeron-based NAS unit.
-- expense...requires a host computer to maintain network connectivity for all users.
-- potential throughput decrease, especially if an external enclosure is attached to host machine via USB 3.0 (I think).
I need the data archive capabilities of a NAS system. I understand and fully accept the need to back up (3-2-1, got it!) that data...but I cannot get comfortable with how that backup will function in the NAS environment. I have read countless threads and posts returned by a search for "backup" in posts by "stevech". I rule out online options due to volume (2 - 3 TB). I don't need versioning capability. I am also leery of creating backups in a proprietary format that can only be read with NAS-resident software.
What I need...
-- mirror / replicate / synchronize folder structures from one drive to another (either between volumes within a NAS or from NAS to and external drive.
-- some subsets of data (I think they are termed "shares", but am uncertain) need regularly scheduled nightly synchronization (user data).
-- some subsets (digital music library) change infrequently so need synched only on demand.
I have investigated Synology. I find their documentation severely lacking and their online DSM demo crashed on me twice. I have leaned away from QNAP based on post that indicated Synology backup was more straightforward (a scary assertion).
Again...Is a NAS unit clearly superior to the ARAID unit, and, if so, why?
Your insights are greatly appreciated.
I'd like to ask for some informed opinions as to why this product is decidedly inferior to a straight-up, 2-bay NAS (either Synology or QNAP). (There are multiple versions, including those that mount into front-accessible drive bays in a desktop machine.)
https://www.accordancesystems.com/products/araid-t3500
Pro:
-- 2 copies of stored data automatically maintained in volumes with independent file systems (pre-formatted compatible with host OS).
-- data is accessible if either drive fails.
-- data is accessible while a replacement for a failed drive is automatically rebuilt from the surviving drive.
-- a backup drive (for offsite storage?) is instantly created by pulling one drive and swapping in a replacement.
-- data on a drive pulled from this unit is natively accessible on the host computer or any other running a compatible OS (I am assuming NTFS formatted drives).
-- attached to a host OS (Windows in my case), any program (backup, imaging, folder synchronization, editing, ...) can be easily installed and used.
-- interacting with and managing the host environment is reasonably straightforward (for me) as I am extremely familiar with Windows (I do not know the Linux environment).
Con:
-- expense...the drive-less price is somewhat higher than a celeron-based NAS unit.
-- expense...requires a host computer to maintain network connectivity for all users.
-- potential throughput decrease, especially if an external enclosure is attached to host machine via USB 3.0 (I think).
I need the data archive capabilities of a NAS system. I understand and fully accept the need to back up (3-2-1, got it!) that data...but I cannot get comfortable with how that backup will function in the NAS environment. I have read countless threads and posts returned by a search for "backup" in posts by "stevech". I rule out online options due to volume (2 - 3 TB). I don't need versioning capability. I am also leery of creating backups in a proprietary format that can only be read with NAS-resident software.
What I need...
-- mirror / replicate / synchronize folder structures from one drive to another (either between volumes within a NAS or from NAS to and external drive.
-- some subsets of data (I think they are termed "shares", but am uncertain) need regularly scheduled nightly synchronization (user data).
-- some subsets (digital music library) change infrequently so need synched only on demand.
I have investigated Synology. I find their documentation severely lacking and their online DSM demo crashed on me twice. I have leaned away from QNAP based on post that indicated Synology backup was more straightforward (a scary assertion).
Again...Is a NAS unit clearly superior to the ARAID unit, and, if so, why?
Your insights are greatly appreciated.