Re: Expanding IDE drive set

z-man wrote:
Hi all,

All my 4 IDE drive channels are in use:
- 1 DVD-RW
- 1 CD
- 1 HD for GNU/Linux (160GB)
- 1 HD for Win-dose (120GB)
Now I need to expand such a configuration with at least 2 HDs:
- 1 HD for multimedia contents: sound and video recordings (fast RW and
capable memory, say 150/200GB);
- 1 HD for GNU/Linux backup: scheduled (automatic) backup unit (160GB);
- (further possible future requirements).

As I have no field experience that could let me make the right choice
(extended IDE card + internal drives? external storage units?), I'd like
to hear your wise opinion.

More than one IDE hard drive in a case can cause long-term reliability
problems, they vibrate each other to bits (SCSI drives have spindle
sync, so they're all running the same speed).

The backup drive might benefit from being external whatever else you do,
that way you can use multiple drives on different days (My compromise is
a SATA drive in a removeable bay that I can insert, mount, do the
backup, unmount, then remove). The other thing to check is whether your
motherboard has any SATA support - the cables are easier to manage and
in theory they're faster than standard IDE drives. You can get SATA
extender cards as easily as IDE ones, the only thing to check is that
your Linux system is happy with it - most of them will come with Windows
drivers or work out of the box so it won't be an issue in M$ land.

--
Dave
mail da ve@xxxxxxxxxxx (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org
So many gadgets, so little time
.

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