CCTV HDD

Telecaster · 3 Nov 2019 at 20:32

The 3TB HDD in my Dad's CCTV box has failed, I have a spare known good WD Green I suggest we try to confirm this is the problem (I'm certain it is anyway, it's coming up as drive not recognised etc) he has said if it works just to leave it in and to use that but I don't know if the Green is suitable for this application or not?

I see WD sell "surveillance" class drives, any suggestions for what will be the best option? he obviously thinks a drive is a drive so my (free) spare one is his cheapest option but I'd rather put the right one in.

Hyburnate · 3 Nov 2019 at 20:42

Greens are not designed for 24.7 write applications.

I'd buy a specific drive, Seagate's range are my go to.

agw_01 · 3 Nov 2019 at 20:55

I've been running a pair of 3TB WD Reds in my Synology NAS for both storage and surveillance. The drives were purchased in 2012 and 2015 and have been running pretty much 24/7 since then. I've just replaced the older drive with a 3TB WD Purple (which is apparently better suited for the constant writes of a CCTV NVR) after it failed the WD Extended drive test. I don't think ~6.5 years 24/7 runtime is too bad for a consumer grade drive.

Hyburnate · 3 Nov 2019 at 20:57

agw_01 said:
I've been running a pair of 3TB WD Reds in my Synology NAS for both storage and surveillance. The drives were purchased in 2012 and 2015 and have been running pretty much 24/7 since then. I've just replaced the older drive with a 3TB WD Purple (which is apparently better suited for the constant writes of a CCTV NVR) after it failed the WD Extended drive test. I don't think ~6.5 years 24/7 runtime is too bad for a consumer grade drive.

To be fair though, the Reds are designed for 24/7 use, a Green isn't.

agw_01 · 3 Nov 2019 at 21:01

Hyburnate said:
To be fair though, the Reds are designed for 24/7 use, a Green isn't.

I agree! Sorry, maybe my post wasn't too clear. I wasn't recommending he use a Green. As you mention, WD (and other manufacturers) now make drives specific to 24/7 and CCTV based applications and this is the option I'd be choosing.

Telecaster · 3 Nov 2019 at 21:16

Is my option of trying the green just to confirm that the drive is the issue ok though? Shouldn't hurt to use it for a test I'd have thought.

agw_01 · 3 Nov 2019 at 21:21

No, not an issue at all to try it. The green would probably run quite happily 24/7 in the short term but the chances are it will die sooner than a drive designed to run 24/7.

Telecaster · 3 Nov 2019 at 21:44

Cool I'll probably do that, he'll not stump up for a drive without me showing him that's definitely the problem first.

Trig · 3 Nov 2019 at 21:56

Vote for WD Purple here.

Psycho Sonny · 4 Nov 2019 at 11:56

Telecaster said:
Cool I'll probably do that, he'll not stump up for a drive without me showing him that's definitely the problem first.

Make sure you get a drive that is quiet as possible. I can hear my CCTV from the downstairs hallway and the NVR is upstairs in the spare bedroom. I can even hear it from my bedroom which is across the hallway and down a bit.

I have exceptionally good hearing though.

CCTV drives get abused constantly. I'm going to look into de coupling it from the chassis and using rubber mounts, etc. Then sticking rubber mounts on the chassis too to de-couple it from the table some what.

keylion · 4 Nov 2019 at 12:01

Been using a WD Red for several years with the camera set to permanently record. Certainly use the Green to diagnose and then try and get him to stump up for one suitable to the application. My nas is in the loft so can't really comment on the noise level.

Telecaster · 5 Nov 2019 at 21:00

Psycho Sonny said:
Make sure you get a drive that is quiet as possible. I can hear my CCTV from the downstairs hallway and the NVR is upstairs in the spare bedroom. I can even hear it from my bedroom which is across the hallway and down a bit.

I have exceptionally good hearing though.

CCTV drives get abused constantly. I'm going to look into de coupling it from the chassis and using rubber mounts, etc. Then sticking rubber mounts on the chassis too to de-couple it from the table some what.

They're both half deaf, it sits under the TV which is always cranked up to 11, they can't hear it now so I doubt they'll hear it regardless of the drive.

Have ordered a 2TB Purple anyway so will give it a go when I get chance to nip round.