Buffalo Terastation

After a laptop crash last year, I've become paranoid about losing data. I copy important files to multiple computers and assembled several D.I.Y. external USB HD's (thanks to generous rebates from Western Digital, et al). This distributed method of backup seems alot more reliable than putting everything in one place. But it does make collaborative projects (not to mention finding old files) a little cumbersome.

Fry's Electronics had a rebate on the Buffalo Terastation, a single device for network attached storage (big storage). It's a file server in a box.

It's conveniently accessible from Windows or Mac and can even do FTP. You can set up separate secure shares with user accounts and groups, all set up with a web-based admin page.

You get 4 250GB drives and can configure them in different ways:
-• Standard - 4x 250GB drives (aka Raid-0)
-• Spanning - 1 1TB drive
-• Mirroring - 500MB with a 500MB mirror (aka Raid-1)
-• RAID-5 - 1 750MB drive with parity

Learn about RAID Arrays on the Wikipedia.

The best option (and the default) is Raid-5 which gives you the best of both speed and redundancy. If one drive fails, you can replace it and your files are still intact. And the RAID architecture means you have 4 hard drives working in tandem.

It also has cool lights on the front cover.

Key Features
-• Four operational modes: Standard, Spanning, Mirroring and RAID 5
-• Removable hard drive rack to allow quick swapping of hard drives should a drive fail
-• Advanced RAID system to continually check hard drive performance
-• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet port and Jumbo Frame capability for higher transfer speeds
-• Heat-release conscious design with smart layout and ventilation supply
-• Memeo™ Easy Backup Software Included
-• Large silent fan to release HDD heat effectively and quietly
-• Four USB 2.0 ports, allowing 4 simultaneous USB connections
-• Built-in print server for sharing and managing a USB printer on the network
-• Built-in FTP server functionality
-• Easy setup wizard and management through intuitive web interface

I'll still use the external drives for backups, but the Terastation will be my new place for active and recent projects.