Looking for a cheap, expandable, safe storage solution

[davestar_delux]

Hey, my 250GB external drive is reaching it's capacity now and I'm looking to replace and expand upon it. Previously the drive was meant to be my backup and now it is the only copy of all my data so looking for something that could maybe have a RAID backup as well somehow? Also got family in the house that occasionally use music off the drive so a few easier media or network facilities would be handy but this is the least important thing.

I am thinking some kind of NAS box thingy and just going to look at them now.

Can anyone recommend anything? Is there any factors I am overlooking or not considering?

 

[rpstewart]

Is there any factors I am overlooking or not considering?

Yes, RAID is not a backup, it's an availability solution. If you want a backup you need two separate copies of the data.

The best bet will probably be a large internal disk and a similarly sized external one. There's nothing wrong with using a NAS as the external device, having the primary copy of the content on there and using an internal disk in your own machine as a backup of the NAS.

 

[lopkinfop]

it all depends on how critical the data is really. if its pictures or home movies that could never be replaced i would have a main copy, a backup copy, maybe some optical copies and upload everything to an online storage site. if it is mp3s ripped from cds or downloaded videos that would be annoying to replace but very easy to then i would be happy with a raid solution

 

[davestar_delux]

The backup is really just in case of a hard drive failure rather than any other disaster? So I figured RAID would be alright for that? The one where you have each disk with the same data on so if one goes then the other still has it all.

 

[Ch3m1c4L]

RAID is fine for that(RAID 1 with 2 drives), its just some people are overly paranoid, well, I know its good sense to have 3 backups but pshhh
Online storage + main copy + external drive + optical does seem overkill though, when you consider the fact that online storage is going to be backed up by the company as well.