so over holiday break, im planning my new project., which will incorperate a few different projects intoone compact case.
what i want to do is creates a portable server (using a g3 logic board in a small case) a 1TB raid and a dvd burner. Im probably going to use this case http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1800612&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-yKTFz8i3d8YHZmZdkCFnBQ
my question is, im going to basically build an exrternal rad in the case, along with the g3, 2.5 inch boot drive, and usb 2.0 with internal port to hook up the raid to, there fore giving me the server. the reason i want to have it basically be a usb raid is i want to have the option wether or not to connect the raid array via ethernet (as network attached storage) or directly through USB, without powering up the g3 logic board.
is there anyway to do this?
keep the usb raid connected to the g3, but only power up the hard drive and have it connect via usb to another computer?
thanks
eric
IDE to USB/Ethernet enclosure
yea, but i will have 5 hard drives, and i want to have it connect to a whole computer
unless you get a specific RAID case with USB 2.0, and then a USB to ethernet server (much similair to the one I showed you, except with a buit-in USB Mass storage server. The case for USB would have to have it's own RAID host within itself.
Then again, even the G3 is not small. You might as well just carry around the whole computer, as it's going to end up being the size of one. either that, or get a micro-itx and outfit it with 2 RAID cards, or seperate USB to IDE Controllers with each one attached to the drive, then use windows to raid them.
This is not really feasale, unless you just want RAID 0 with two drives. Otherwise, it would just be a PITA to work with.
There is a reason why companies like LaCie doesn't build systems like this. It's just too complicated, unless you make a rom that is set to do the RAID within itself which is set to one or the other.
Create a that can house and cool 5 HDDs, a 5.25" optical and a suitable power supply and the USB/ethernet controller. Then, create a bigger case that will house those, and the computer motherboard and it's separate power supply, or one big enough to drive it and the drives. You need a full 5.25" bay, a 5 bay 3.5" chassis, and power supply on the order of a few hundred watts, and space for the mobo and air flow for cooling. Most of that can be had with a mini tower case. Maybe a tad lacking for drive space, so a mid tower might be the next step up. Dpending on case design the drives might sit in front of the mobo and the optical and PS go up top. Packing 5 HDDs and an optical with a mobo and a power supply just can't get all that small. That's a lot of stuff.
firewire is better then usb as the cpu load is a lot higher.