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How to manage a big itunes library?

I have had a mac mini running itunes for about 2 1/2 years now. The inevitable has happened, my first drive has failed, at least it's icon has stopped showing on the desktop and I can't access the files.

I had a feeling this would eventually happen. I have the files backed up, but this does create a headache to fix it. The files were originally ripped on 250GB drives and the backups are on 500s. I have 5 250GB drives and one 500GB drive, all pretty much full. I have a pretty big collection, about 5000 or so CDs.

I need advise on a solid solution for this type of setup. There are some pretty big drives comming out but I just don't know what would be the best option.

Also this might seem stupid, but I am wondering if there would be any loss in quality in a copy of the original rip vs the original???
128x128ejlif
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I've had my eye on one of these for awhile and may pull the trigger before the year is out.

http://www.drobo.com/

It's basically a simplified RAID system that utilizes up to four drives of any size. There is redundancy built in so when one drive fails your data is protected and the bad drive can be replaced on the fly.

I'm thinking of buying the newer Firewire 800 model and buying four 1TB Seagate or Maxtor drives for total storage of 2.7TB.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif OP
1,370 posts
 
I am looking at the Drobo too. I want a solid solution. I am guessing I will have a library of well over 3 TBs when finished so I need something big which means 6-8TBs with backup.

Do you know if the Drobo is loud?

It is nuts to think this stack of drives I have is basically going in the garbage. Not really but I won't be using them, nor would I trust them.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
6-8TBs is one big library!

The reviewers at Newegg and Amazon don't seem to think the Drobo is TOO loud, however the new unit seems to be quieter AND runs cooler.

In your case, you may have to wait awhile for 1.5TB drives to become more affordable and even more reliable. That would give you a little more that 4TBs on a Drobo, but you may need to of them dark, shiny babies.
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
The Drobo appeals to me also. But I think it's loud enough that you wouldn't want it in your listening room.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Good point, Drubin.

I haven't actually heard a Drobo unit, but four spinning hard drives with a fan can't be dead silent.

Then again, any computer based system will have to contend with some level of hard rive or processor noise.
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