Clarification on eSATA Port Multipliers
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:16 pm
Hi,
I am considering the purchase of two QNAP NAS' for a home/domestic setup.
I have been reading how v3.3 of the firmware supports SATA Port Multipliers, but the information I have found is not crystal clear and somewhat confusing.
My "plan" is to buy two QNAP units (not 100% sure which ones yet, either the 219/419 or 259/459 (can't decide between Intel Atom or Marvell ARM Kirkwood - I really like the Kirkwood chip - and I really like the LCD on the NAS - why do you guy's make it so tough ), although my "ideal" basic configuration would be the same, as follows:
NAS_1 = 2 x Internal Drives, in mirror mode.
eSATA_1 connected to an external enclosure with JMB321 port muliplier chip and 5 x 2Tb SATA drives.
eSATA_2 connected to an external enclosure with JMB321 port muliplier chip and 5 x 2Tb SATA drives.
This box would then have 10 x 2Tb drives in JBOD mode and appear as a 20Tb device.
NAS_2 = exact same setup as above, so another 20Tb device.
Use rsync to keep NAS_2 in sync with NAS_1, or as a mirror of NAS_1
Will this work?
If not ... Do I need to find and use an eSATA box with in-built RAID using something like the JMB393?
If I have to of these boxes with one on each eSATA port, will each JMB393 box then appear as a "mountable" volume on each eSATA port?
If this won't work either, then what is the point/use of the 2 x eSATA ports on the QNAP NAS?
... And, would you please _clearly_ explain to us what Port Multipliers do work and how to use them!
If we are on a _winner_ (goodness, I hope we are)... One last question.
Which setup (219/419 or 259/459) will perform better with my "intended plan" and usage which is as a DLNA media server serving up to 4 or 5 WD TV's ?
Thanks, Brenton
I am considering the purchase of two QNAP NAS' for a home/domestic setup.
I have been reading how v3.3 of the firmware supports SATA Port Multipliers, but the information I have found is not crystal clear and somewhat confusing.
My "plan" is to buy two QNAP units (not 100% sure which ones yet, either the 219/419 or 259/459 (can't decide between Intel Atom or Marvell ARM Kirkwood - I really like the Kirkwood chip - and I really like the LCD on the NAS - why do you guy's make it so tough ), although my "ideal" basic configuration would be the same, as follows:
NAS_1 = 2 x Internal Drives, in mirror mode.
eSATA_1 connected to an external enclosure with JMB321 port muliplier chip and 5 x 2Tb SATA drives.
eSATA_2 connected to an external enclosure with JMB321 port muliplier chip and 5 x 2Tb SATA drives.
This box would then have 10 x 2Tb drives in JBOD mode and appear as a 20Tb device.
NAS_2 = exact same setup as above, so another 20Tb device.
Use rsync to keep NAS_2 in sync with NAS_1, or as a mirror of NAS_1
Will this work?
If not ... Do I need to find and use an eSATA box with in-built RAID using something like the JMB393?
If I have to of these boxes with one on each eSATA port, will each JMB393 box then appear as a "mountable" volume on each eSATA port?
If this won't work either, then what is the point/use of the 2 x eSATA ports on the QNAP NAS?
... And, would you please _clearly_ explain to us what Port Multipliers do work and how to use them!
If we are on a _winner_ (goodness, I hope we are)... One last question.
Which setup (219/419 or 259/459) will perform better with my "intended plan" and usage which is as a DLNA media server serving up to 4 or 5 WD TV's ?
Thanks, Brenton