SATA vs USB3 vs Thunderbolt (for external drives)

Would you be interested in a NAS (Network Area Storage)with raid support thats one option

I'm a single user also at my home, but I have a NAS cause it serves all the things I need it to do for i.e. Time Machine backup, Windows machine backup, personal data backup, itunes server, web server and so forth, plus it's redundant so I never worry about a harddrive failure, plus you can pop out the drives on your Mac Pro and just insert them into the NAS. On the topic about networking it's really simple, you plug in the network cable and connect it to your router and it will grab an ip address from your network (theres software that comes with the device to find the NAS on your network or you can set the address manually), just a food for thought!. But if you go with an external drive (USB3, Thunderbolt, etc.) how are you going to backup the external drives? for fail safe! Just a suggestion, look into it, you might it useful even though your a single user.

It use to be that NAS was found only in big corporations with alot of data, but as tech progressed, they made it available to home users.

WillFriedwald2 wrote:

I totally know nothing about NAS - I don't even understand the concept - how is everything connected? ??

How would I basically set-up a system that's a central computer and at least 10 hard drives of stuff??

w

It's your central storage system, it acts as a server for file sharing, backup, and other uses. In terms on how it is connected, it uses the same cable that you use to connect to the internet on your Mac Pro for i.e. your computer is connected to your router right? now all you do is the same thing for the NAS, you use another ethernet (RJ45) cable and plug that into your router, then on your Mac you go to the Finder menu >GO > connect to server and use the name of the NAS or the ip address and or share and wa la your folder / storage shows up on your desktop, or use the software that comes with the NAS.

Thats the beauty of a NAS it is a central computer that holds up to as many drives as you choose to buy ( i.e. 1 bay, 2 bays, 4 bays, etc.) Plus you can connect an external drive into the NAS. So all in all it all depends on how big your harddrives are in the NAS and you can have it as a redundant backup

Heres the def. of NAS

The Synology DS413j is very ideal for your needs, but there are many other manufactuers out there. If your router is in another room you can just leave the NAS with the router and your Mac can access it, you can also access it wireless if you have a wireless device such as a laptop. One cable is from room to room is all is that is needed ( your Mac Pro to your router), the NAS can sit next to the router.

No problem! 🙂