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Question

Storage

Jun 29, 2015 3:48AM PDT

I want to know how to connect the HDDs of 5 desktops to form a single storage unit.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
with them remaining in their desktop cases?
Jun 29, 2015 4:34AM PDT

Might help if you explained why you wanted to do this.

Each desktop entire drive can be shared on the LAN just like any folder is. Probably need to convert to dynamic disks so they can be spanned to create the single storage unit.

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Answer
Re: single storage unit
Jun 29, 2015 5:12AM PDT
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Answer
Re: clarification request
Jun 29, 2015 7:40AM PDT

Not necessarily, they could be either in or out @James Denison

Yes @Kees_B

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Answer
Re: storage
Jun 29, 2015 7:48AM PDT

In my place of work, we want to create a central storage where departmental files and be stored and shared amongst users. So my boss said i should do a research on how to connect the HDDs of @ least 5 desktops that are mounted on a rack. They could either be in the case or out. Thanks

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Sure sounds like DFS
Jun 29, 2015 8:04AM PDT

Distributed File System.

My thought is this may be too rough on newer IT staffers.

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Re: file storage
Jun 29, 2015 11:55AM PDT

Why not buy a (file)server and give it enough storage space?

Don't forget to ask you boss to pay for a good backup solution! A 2 TB disk contains a lot of info, and it could be a problem if all is lost. Let alone if 5 disk of 2 TB (that's 10 TB) gets corrupted.

Kees

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Answer
covert it to dynamic disk
Jul 3, 2015 12:17AM PDT

if your 5 HDD doesnot have any data on it, you can use disk management to convert them to dynamic disk, and then create a spinned drive.
If you have important data on these five HDDs, you have to use third party software, such as AOMEI Dynamic Disk Manager, which won't cost data loss to accomplish this.