Direct Attached Storage homemade

[jackwhitter]

I've seen network attached storage all over, but I wanted to know if there was any way to configure a linux box (or any OS, but i figured linux would be easiest) to run or to share its drives as a block level device over firewire, usb, and esata ports?

i realize there are plenty of boxes that can host an external drive or 2 for simple raid purposes, but I need 4+ terabytes of space for portable HD video. The enclosure needs to be transparent to the user, as we send these to outside producers. dedicated boxes that can do a parity raid are ~$1200+.


alternatively, where could i buy a DIY block device board? most of the manufacturers use the same chipsets.

 

[Gillbot]

freenas?

 

[jackwhitter]

freenas = free network attached storage. it does support iscsi, which is block access over ethernet, but that is not transparent enough for my users. i need an installation or configuration which allows direct block access over usb, firewire, and esata (or at least firewire.) using the onboard PHY's of a mainboard would be ideal.

 

[taltamir]

The two protocols providing transparency are:

iSCSI (typically over ethernet, but can do other things)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iscsi

Fibre Chanel (typically over fiber optics, but can be used over ethernet or even telephone cable)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibre_Channel

However they require complicated setup. And cannot be easily sent to clients who just plug it and play.
If you want to actually make it ACT like a USB HDD so you just plug it into any computer and that computer sees a "USB HDD" then I wouldn't know where to start. Any company that I know that bothered to develop such a thing has went on and made it into a 1200+$ box as you said.

Can I make a suggestion? Since you are dealing with transporting a 4TB file (dear god WHY!)... Winrar multi part compressed file. You could make each part 1.5TB and put it on a separate and simple external enclosure.

 

[jackwhitter]

the complicated setup is what i'm trying to avoid. when we send this out to producers, they hook up the drive or drives directly to a computer. we are not needing a fibre layer or aggregated network connections in the field (i do not want to have to send someone out to setup every producer just to see the box...)

 

[taltamir]

well... what about the winrar suggestion? (do you actually use a single 4TB file?)

And btw, mapping a network drive is FAIRLY simple... and gigabit ethernet is decent speed...

 

[Ig]

ST4SAML/ST4SAML-B
http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/ast4.asp

AD4SAML-PCI
http://www.addonics.com/produc...ultilane/connector.asp

1M Extended SAS Cable SFF-8470 to SFF-8470
http://www.provantage.com/tripp-s522-01m~7TRPA1Q2.htm


So AD4SAML-PCI goes in the main computer hooked up to the 4 port raid-5 card of your choice. ST4SAML/ST4SAML-B is filled with 4 1.5TB HDs. And it's all connected with the SFF-8470 to SFF-8470 cable.

Or

ST5X1PM
http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/ast4.asp

ADSA3GPX1-2E
http://www.addonics.com/produc...ntroller/adsa3gpx1.asp

ADSA3GPX1-2E in the main computer hooked up to ST5X1PM via eSata cable.

 

[jackwhitter]

Ig,
that is a pretty good idea, except some of our field producers use laptops, and even the ones with desktop would be hard pressed to put anything in their system. i was trying to keep it very simple (ie, firewire 800/400 or usb hookup.) thanks for all the help!