Re: [gentoo-user] Seagate hard drives with dual actuators.

[Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com>]

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Michael wrote:
> On Friday 15 November 2024 05:53:53 GMT Dale wrote:
>
>> The thing about my data, it's mostly large video files.  If I were
>> storing documents or something, then SSD or something would be a good
>> option.  Plus, I mostly write once, then it either sits there a while or
>> gets read on occasion.
> For a write once - read often use case, the SMR drives are a good solution.  
> They were designed for this purpose.  Because of their shingled layers they 
> provide higher storage density than comparable CMR drives.
>
>

True but I don't like when I'm told a write is done, it kinda isn't.  I
recall a while back I reorganized some stuff, mostly renamed directories
but also moved some files.  Some were Youtube videos.  It took about 30
minutes to update the data on the SMR backup drive.  The part I see
anyway.  It sat there for a hour at least doing that bumpy thing before
it finally finished.  I realize if I just turn the drive off, the data
is still there.  Still, I don't like it appearing to be done when it
really is still working on it.  Another thing, I may switch to RAID one
of these days.  If I do, that drive isn't a good option. 

When I update my backups, I start the one I do with my NAS setup first. 
Then I start the home directory backup with the SMR drive.  I then
backup everything else I backup on other drives.  I do that so that I
can leave the SMR drive at least powered on while it does it's bumpy
thing and I do other backups.  Quite often, the SMR drive is the last
one I put back in the safe.  That bumpy thing can take quite a while at
times. 

This is the drive model I'm looking at.  ST18000NM000J  I don't think it
has its own encryption or anything and is a drive that will work in my
situation.  I don't know what the last bits mean tho but saw somewhere
that 000 means no encryption.  Not sure on the J part on the end.  I did
find where I bought other sizes of drives with the same bit on the end. 
They seem to work fine, so far anyway.  I order my drives from here: 

https://serverpartdeals.com/

I've bought what falls into the used category and them have only a few
power up hours on them.  A lot of the time, it is less than 10 hours.  I
have seen 3 or 4 hours or less with SMART a few times.

Now to get my money saved up.  Won't be long.  Another $200 but lots of
data. 

Dale

:-)  :-) 

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