SSD Optimizer and first time questions

[xazz]

Hi

 

1. I'm running Beta 754. Is this the most stable version to use?

 

Have just signed up and replaced by WHS v1 with an old PC with six connected USB drives. The PC only supports USB 2, so I installed an SSD into the PC to take advantage of the SSD Optimizer.

 

I see now from my reading, that I should actually have two SSDs, but that is not possible because this (Slimline HP) only has a single SATA connector. But the second SSD drive is only needed for real time duplication. This is not something I need (delayed duplication is fine for me, after all the drivepool is for backup files, so the duplicate is actually the third copy).

 

2. So is the method to disable realtime duplication, still to set FileDuplication_AlwaysRunImmediate to False? (and then restart)?  Because the entry FileDuplication_AlwaysRunImmediate does not exist in DrivePool.Service.exe.default.config.

 

 

3. It would be cool if I could make DrivePool Balance and Duplicate as the end of the day, and then automatically put the PC to sleep. I assume that is not possible?

[Christopher (Drashna)]

Version 2.2.0.754 should be fine to use. 

 

 

For the SSD Optimizer, if you're using duplication, then yes, you'd generally want to use two SSDs.

 

 

As for the real time duplication, you do this from the UI.  Click on "Pool Options" -> "Performance" -> "Real time duplication"

This will disable the real time duplication.

 

 

 

Actually, it does this already.

If real time duplication isn't enabled, it runs a duplication pass at 2AM.  This is set by the "FileDuplication_DuplicateTime" setting. 

As for balancing, this is managed by the balancing settings.  Which defaults to running once every 12 hours. Though you can set this to run at a specific time, as well (defaults to 1AM)

http://stablebit.com/Support/DrivePool/2.X/Manual?Section=Balancing%20Settings

[xazz]

Thanks Christopher,

 

I did not notice that option. DP could really benefit from a more Windows standard UI. Specifically, important options should not merely be checkboxes in a drop-down menu. You should really have one Pool Settings dialog (which also includes hover hints and could promote some settings like FileDuplication_DuplicateTime).

 

Can you clarify Q3, which you say it already does. Do you mean it wakes the computer to perform the tasks? Or do you mean it will prevent sleep from occurring while tasks are active/pending?

 

4. Do I understand that if I install DP on a second computer, I can see the status of a DP on the LAN? Does that require a second license?

 

 

Thanks for your advice and great software :-)

[xazz]

5. Also, I'm trying to make DP "prefer" to use certain drives for certain folders using the file placement options. But this has resulted in the error "1.93TB could not be moved because a suitable destination could not be found" (I have around 6.5GB free). Is this not possible without manually managing it?

[Christopher (Drashna)]

I did not notice that option. DP could really benefit from a more Windows standard UI. Specifically, important options should not merely be checkboxes in a drop-down menu. You should really have one Pool Settings dialog (which also includes hover hints and could promote some settings like FileDuplication_DuplicateTime).

 

well, the pool options are there for quick access, and ... well, the names describe what they do pretty well.  So I'm not sure they'd benefit from a change here.

 

As for "important:, most of these really aren't. They're edge cases, and we don't generally recommend changing them unless there is a very specific reason.

 

 

As for the additional settings, yeah, we do want to move these advanced settings into the UI.

 

 

Can you clarify Q3, which you say it already does. Do you mean it wakes the computer to perform the tasks? Or do you mean it will prevent sleep from occurring while tasks are active/pending?

 

It runs these tasks automatically, and it should wake the system to do so, and prevent it from going to sleep if it's running, IIRC.

 

 

Do I understand that if I install DP on a second computer, I can see the status of a DP on the LAN? Does that require a second license?

 

Yes.  And no, you don't need a second license.  you only need a license for the systems that you plan on running a pool on. 

 

 

5. Also, I'm trying to make DP "prefer" to use certain drives for certain folders using the file placement options. But this has resulted in the error "1.93TB could not be moved because a suitable destination could not be found" (I have around 6.5GB free). Is this not possible without manually managing it?

 

That's a bit more complicated and depends on a number of factors.

 

 

First, make sure that you're selecting both the SSD drive and the destination drive.  This way, the files are handled normally.

 

Also, make sure you have enough space on the drive for the folder and it's contents on the drive in question.

If you don't, then you may want to clear out the drive in question, and then reconfigure the file placement rules.  Otherwise, it may take a few balancing passes to optimize things properly.

[xazz]

> So I'm not sure they'd benefit from a change here.

 

It's only my opinion, but as a new user, I do not find the UI intuitive. Hunting for options in a cascading menu just does not seem as logical (or indeed, quick) as a dialog that groups all of the pool options, and allows you to logically progress through them.

 

It also does not align with Windows standards. Great article by Joel:

 

https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2001/10/24/user-interface-design-for-programmers/

 

But as an old software designer, I'm probably too set in my ways ;-)

 

 

>  And no, you don't need a second license

 

Great, thanks.

[Christopher (Drashna)]

Well, everyone has their own opinions on the topic of UI. 

 

But I've let Alex (the developer) know.  We do appreciate feedback.