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CNET to the Rescue: Slicing and dicing mass storage

CNET Labs guru Dong Ngo joins us on Rescue today to explain why you want network storage in your house, which products to look at, and which to avoid.

Rafe Needleman Former Editor at Large
Rafe Needleman reviews mobile apps and products for fun, and picks startups apart when he gets bored. He has evaluated thousands of new companies, most of which have since gone out of business.
Rafe Needleman
4 min read

This week, we're talking about storage. What with people using multiple ways to access their data, and new technologies coming along to store it, managing the storage of your digital assets is now more complicated and interesting than ever. So today we're covering those issues, and taking your questions on the topic as well, with our special guest CNET labs technology editor Dong Ngo.

If you have a tech question for CNET to the Rescue, e-mail rescue@cnet.com or call us to get on the next show: 877-438-6688. No question is too basic.

Watch this: CNET to the Rescue Ep. 26: Mass Storage for the masses

Podcast



Episode 26: Storage

Network storage
Why do I want it?

Speed and convenience

Multi-platform support

Streaming - to Roku, AppleTV, Tivo, Sonos, etc.

Web access and sharing

Products: Windows Home Server, PogoPlug, Synology, Ximeta, Drobo

Solid-state drives
Silent but expensive

What about hybrid drives?

Your questions answered
Ralph: I now have two computers that back up daily to a non-RAID NDAS 1T external drive. What are the Pros and Cons of NDAS vs. NAS? I would like my drive to be accessible for media files when my computer is turned off. Can I do that with a NDAS setup? If not, how do I change this to a NAS and set it up to be accessible.

Dong: NDAS = nonstandard (doesn't support TCP/IP), this means you'll need to install software on the clients (which might slow down the clients) to be able to access the device. Advantage (maybe): faster throughput.

NAS = standard, using TCP/IP = work out of the box, no software needed. Disadvantage: maybe slower, though currently can get over 100MB/s via Gigabit Ethernet, which is super fast.

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Lawrence: I have a Drobo 4 bay with FW and USB 2.0. I am considering the Drobo FS but it is a 5 bay configuration. Can I take the four drives from the original Drobo and mount them into the FS and add the extra drive, or do I have to start from scratch and buy 5 new drives.

Dong: Physically you can, but you will lose all the information currently stored on the 4-bay. Consider a different NAS server (Synology or Netgear ReadyNAS).

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Ivan: I was wondering if hibernating your PC will harm it in any way Because my PC hibernates rather abruptly with the hard drive spinning off way too fast , basically it doesn't sound too good. Is this something I should be concerned about or am I just too paranoid?

Dong: Some hard drives make a mild click sound when they turn off, that's normal. Hibernation is the same as turning off, the only difference is the computer saves information from RAM onto the hard drive before it turns off and then reloads that into RAM from the hard drive again, when it's turned back on.

Rafe: Your system might not be hibernating. It might just be going into standby.

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Salvo from UK: Can hard drives be recycled? What is the best way to destroy the data on a faulty one before dumping it?

Dong: They can be only recycled as scrap metal. Format / erase it first. That's enough for all but the most determined or richest data thief.

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Non-storage question
Kyle: I have a MBP 13-inch, last year's model, and I want a monitor for it. I need help because I love the Apple cinema display but it's way too much. I would like to spend between 200 and 300. I like something to have good ergonomic features and a sleek design. Please help me find the right one!

Rafe and Dong: Get a Dell or whatever looks good. Spend $49 for the adapter. You will save a bucket of money.

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Comment
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