Documentary filmmaker here. Following advice from this sub regarding my 10TB+ of work files, I opted against LTO and purchased two 18TB Seagate Evo X NAS drives (refurbished, 219€ each) instead of a full NAS setup due to budget constraints.
Current situation:
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Two 18TB drives
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Single apartment room
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Limited budget
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Main workstation PC
Proposed setup until I can afford a proper NAS:
- One drive constantly connected to my PC (warm storage)
- Second drive as cold backup, only connected during backup operations
- Both drives physically stored in my PC case
My reasoning:
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Cold backup drive protected from malware/cyber threats when disconnected
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Similar physical security whether stored in PC or nearby drawer
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PC can act as makeshift NAS for network transfers from laptop
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Cost-effective intermediate solution
Questions:
- Any recommended software for checking drive health on arrival?
- Is this a reasonable temporary solution?
- Anything crucial I'm overlooking?
Long-term goals include proper 3-2-1 backup (2 local + 1 cloud), but need to work within current budget constraints.
Appreciate any feedback on this approach!