1x Zotac ZBOX ID 83 Mini-PC, x3 Mediasonic USB 3.0 Enclosures, x12 WD Red 3TB Drives, x1 Anker USB 3.0 Hub

[JazJon]

EDIT:
I'm throwing in the towel on this whole external enclosure hardware setup.

It's time I put together a REAL server with REAL sata connections.

http://community.covecube.com/index.php?/topic/419-building-a-proper-whs-server-need-advice/page-2&do=findComment&comment=3008

 

Here's my new setup on the way:

http://community.covecube.com/index.php?/topic/507-my-new-lian-pc-v2120b-full-tower-home-server-setup-drivepoolscanner/

 

 

 

 

Here is my rock solid fast stable setup.  

 

I'm running Windows 8.1 x64 on all my computers including my DrivePool server.

 

I get greater than 100Mbps transfers across my gigabit network!  

 

 

x1

ZOTAC ZBOX ID83 [ZBOX-ID83-U] w/ Intel Core i3 3120M 2.5 GHz Dual-Core

http://www.zotacusa.com/zbox-id83.html

http://r.ebay.com/DL54aU

 

x1

Crucial m4 128GB 2.5-Inch (9.5mm) SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive CT128M4SSD2

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-128GB-2-5-Inch-9-5mm-CT128M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JKZI/

 

 

x1

Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3 1333 MT/s (PC3-10600) CL9 SODIMM 204-Pin Notebook Memory Modules CT2KIT51264BC1339

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DZJQQI/

 

 

 

 

x1

Anker® Uspeed USB 3.0 4-Port Hub with 12V 2A Power Adapter and 3ft USB 3.0 Cable [VIA VL812 Chipset]

http://www.amazon.com/Anker®-Uspeed-4-Port-Adapter-Chipset/dp/B005QWY3PU/

 

 

x3

Mediasonic HF2-SU3S2 ProBox 4 Bay Hard Drive Enclosure with USB 3.0 & eSATA

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HF2-SU3S2-ProBox-Drive-Enclosure/dp/B003X26VV4/

 

x3 USB 3.0 to Esata Adapter Support Port Multiplier - U3esata
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DCCMII/

 

x3  Monoprice 108791 6-Feet SATA 6 Gbps External Shielded Cable, eSATA to eSATA Type I to Type I, Black

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009GUL1VM

 

 

 

 

 

 

x11

WD Red 3 TB NAS Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, SATA III, 64 MB Cache - WD30EFRX

http://www.amazon.com/WD-Red-NAS-Hard-Drive/dp/B008JJLW4M

 

 

 

It all fits in a Ikea BESTÅ BURS Wall shelf in High Gloss Black.  This is all in my bed room suspended above the TV floating on the wall.  

(nice and quiet,  custom vented USB powered fans)

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60133931/

[Christopher (Drashna)]

It's nice to see your setup. 

 

Very small, and likely fairly power efficent (especially compared to mine).

And I'm glad that you're using a POWERED USB hub. 

[Alex]

^{Absolutely awesome. USB 3.0 and Zotac are amazing.}

 

^{This is why I wrote DrivePool}

[JazJon]

UPDATE:

 

The MediaSonic USB 3.0 interface is not stable long term.   It was suggested I get  DATOptic U3esata adapters, and plug those into the Media Sonic eSATA ports.  

http://community.covecube.com/index.php?/topic/419-building-a-proper-whs-server-need-advice/?p=2837

 

 

So far so good!  Transfers are still >100-140'ish    Drives also spin down now since the MediaSonic No-Spin-Down firmware update only applies to the USB interface. 

 

EDIT: Looks like I lost S.M.A.R.T. monitoring ability in Scanner via the new U3esata. :-(  I opened up a support ticket.  Hopefully they can add support for it quickly.  :-)  

 

 

[JazJon]

I'm throwing in the towel on this whole external enclosure hardware setup.

It's time I put together a REAL server with REAL sata connections.

http://community.covecube.com/index.php?/topic/419-building-a-proper-whs-server-need-advice/page-2&do=findComment&comment=3008

[Christopher (Drashna)]

As I said, I'm sorry to hear that. 

But unfortunately, this is basically why I don't like USB for long term storage. Too many issues.

 

Hopefully, the next build will be 100% stable!

[dbailey75]

I'm throwing in the towel on this whole external enclosure hardware setup.

It's time I put together a REAL server with REAL sata connections.

http://community.covecube.com/index.php?/topic/419-building-a-proper-whs-server-need-advice/page-2&do=findComment&comment=3008

sorry those USB to esata adapters didn't work out, i'm guessing your going to be having a fire sale on Ebay soon.