New comptuer, Drobo, SSD, RAID, ahh!

I'll preface this by saying that while I'm not computer illiterate, I'm also no expert, so if what I'm saying doesn't make sense or won't work, please set me straight!

So the time has come for a new computer and backup system. I started a photography business last year, and now that things are getting busier, I can tell that the speed at which I can edit is definitely the weak link in my workflow. I currently have a late 2009 iMac with a 500GB HD, and two external HD's - one 1.5TB and one 2TB. The 2TB drive is used just for Time Machine backups, and I store all my Lightroom catalogs/libraries on the 1.5TB HD. They're both connected via USB 2.0, so editing with LR4 is super slow - and I mean super slow.

I want to set up my new system right and not half-ass it - something that keep up with the growth of the business and will be able to stay fast as there are new versions of programs, thousands more photos being added, etc. I'm planning on getting a new 27" iMac (I hear an update is just around the corner) and a Drobo to store and backup all my stuff, but I had some questions that I was wondering about before I plunge right in and spend a boatload of money.

I was thinking of configuring the computer with an internal SSD which would be just for system files, programs, and applications - with all my photos, music, videos, etc. being stored on the Drobo. The Drobo 5D with thunderbolt comes out in September, so I was planning on getting that with a handful of HDD's to take advantage of the thunderbolt speed. Although the current Drobo has firewire 800, which I understand is pretty fast (and less expensive than thunderbolt). Would the thunderbolt speeds be "wasted" if I don't use SSD's? I was planning on getting a bunch of 2TB 7200rpm HDD's...

How fast would LR run with a firewire 800 connected HDD vs. a thunderbolt connected HDD? A "wow" difference or a "meh" difference?

Or would it be best to edit my current project (I mostly shoot weddings, so each project is a couple thousand photos) on the computer's internal SSD, then transfer it over to the Drobo's HDD when I'm finished? Would that be much faster than editing on a drive in a Drobo connected via thunderbolt? Connected via firewire 800?

Speaking of Drobo, how exactly does it store and backup data? I've read up on Drobo a little bit and it looks pretty failsafe, but they don't really go into how things are stored and which drives are backups and if there's an "original". Or is it like a RAID array where there are bits and pieces on each drive? Let's say I have 3TB of files and 5 2TB drives. Obviously there's enough room to back everything up (twice over), but how does it distribute the data amongst the drives?

Lots of questions, I know. I just want to be able to edit quickly and backup reliably and easily. I've lost a hard drive before and it wasn't pretty (luckily it was before I had any clients or their photos on my computer). I'm looking to keep the whole setup under $4000, and wouldn't mind buying a used or refurbished computer if a good deal came up. Any suggestions, tips, pointers, or knowledge you want to bestow on me is greatly appreciated! TIA

Some blogposts about Drobo not exactly being failsafe:

http://www.stuckincust​oms.com/drobo-review/
http://scottkelby.com/​2012/im-done-with-drobo/

A bit of perspective on that last link: http://24moves.com/nod​e/217

Not sure how much of a real issue it is, as a lot of people seem to be pleased, but something to be aware of…

StephenAndrew wrote in post #14760896
I was thinking of configuring the computer with an internal SSD which would be just for system files, programs, and applications - with all my photos, music, videos, etc. being stored on the Drobo. The Drobo 5D with thunderbolt comes out in September, so I was planning on getting that with a handful of HDD's to take advantage of the thunderbolt speed. Although the current Drobo has firewire 800, which I understand is pretty fast (and less expensive than thunderbolt). Would the thunderbolt speeds be "wasted" if I don't use SSD's? I was planning on getting a bunch of 2TB 7200rpm HDD's...

How fast would LR run with a firewire 800 connected HDD vs. a thunderbolt connected HDD? A "wow" difference or a "meh" difference?

Or would it be best to edit my current project (I mostly shoot weddings, so each project is a couple thousand photos) on the computer's internal SSD, then transfer it over to the Drobo's HDD when I'm finished? Would that be much faster than editing on a drive in a Drobo connected via thunderbolt? Connected via firewire 800?

Speaking of Drobo, how exactly does it store and backup data? I've read up on Drobo a little bit and it looks pretty failsafe, but they don't really go into how things are stored and which drives are backups and if there's an "original". Or is it like a RAID array where there are bits and pieces on each drive? Let's say I have 3TB of files and 5 2TB drives. Obviously there's enough room to back everything up (twice over), but how does it distribute the data amongst the drives?

Lots of questions, I know. I just want to be able to edit quickly and backup reliably and easily. I've lost a hard drive before and it wasn't pretty (luckily it was before I had any clients or their photos on my computer). I'm looking to keep the whole setup under $4000, and wouldn't mind buying a used or refurbished computer if a good deal came up. Any suggestions, tips, pointers, or knowledge you want to bestow on me is greatly appreciated! TIA

I recently switched to SSD drives. Samsung 830 128GB for my system drive and apps. Sandisk Extreme 240GB for the current projects I am working on. Another Sandisk Extreme 240GB for Adobe Bridge Cache, ACR cache, and Photoshop CS5 scratch. I have LR 4.1, but hardly use it, but I have my catologue on this drive as well.

Let me tell you, the difference is like night and day. No contest. I use 2TB WD Caviar Black 7200rpm drives for permanent storage and honestly, there's no comparison. The SSDs just make my PC fly.

My workflow is like this:

• Copy CF card to Internal Hard Drive and 2 external ones. I use bare drives and use a USB 3.0 drive dock for backups.
  
• Copy the files I just copied to from the Internal hard drive to the "Photo Editing" SSD drive.
  
• Edit and backup (obviously also back up to the 2 external drives) as needed.
  
• Once the project is closed, then delete the files from the SSD.

Suggest:
-i7 computer, 16GB RAM, a low end video card rather than built in graphics (so the memory card has its on memory, mainly, and doesn't use main RAM bandwidth)
- SSD for OS/programs, 60GB is enough for most people, 120GB if you install the Adobe Master Suite or games.
- SSD for cache and catalog. Again 60GB is probably enough.
- WD Black drive for images
- WD Black drive for other files.

Back the catalog up to the images hard drive via a script (scheduled task in control panel) every time you log in. Back up the images hard drive to another external drive. I keep three offsite copies of my data, one in my shed, one at a friends a few blocks away, one at a family members further away. I'm paranoid though. Back up small stuff like financials (images are too big) using Crashplan or similar (I don't recommend Mozy any more, it failed on me).

This system will give you a fast, reliable system. RAID/Drobo isn't worthwhile in my opinion, so long as you can do regular backups to an offsite disk, or even to an onsite disconnected disk.

If you really want data security, sure get a DROBO or similar in RAID configuration. Don't use it as a working drive, use it as a backup drive, as it'll probably be slower unless it's connected via eSata.

Nice, thanks for all the info, guys. Looks like I'll be going the SSD route for the computer's drive and using externals to store all my "stuff". Tim, what do you mean by using a low end video card rather than built in graphics? And I was actually thinking of the WD black drives - how would you recommend I connect them?

I do plan on doing regular backups too - to a drive that I'll keep in a fireproof/waterproof safe. I use Backblaze currently as well - I've heard some not so great things about it, but I do like the idea of off-site storage.

Externals shouldn't be used as working drives, just as backups. Put the WD Black drives inside your case, connected with SATA.

I mean get an nVidia 520/610/620 video card with 1GB ram, don't use the video card built into the i7 processors. The reason is the one built into the processor uses system ram, which uses main memory bandwidth. It's probably not a huge deal, but I prefer discrete video.

A fireproof safe may not keep a hard drive safe during a fire, it's rated for documents. Offsite is essential if your data is important to you.

Thanks tim, I'll look into that. The plan is to get an iMac, so I'm not sure how easy they are to "build" or change components (adding RAM was simple enough, but I'm not sure about cracking it open to add/swap other parts). I'll have to look into that. Thanks again

iMacs are great for people who want a simple, easy to use computer. They're powerful, and simple. They're expandable using thunderbolt, which is a fast way to attach hard drives and such, and reduces apples support costs. You're doing it about the most expensive way you can though, iMac + expensive external disks.

Not much choice besides the Mac Towers (EXPENSIVE!) if you want to go beyond the iMac I guess. Stephen, are you allergic to Wintel PCs?

Tim, I guess he can maybe get a bigger SSD, like a 256GB one and stick it in the iMac and use it as a OS + Apps + Cache/Scratch disk? It still has to be better than a hard drive no?

Yeah a single modern 256GB SSD will do wonders. You could even put your working set of images on it, and use externals once they're processed.

^^ That's pretty much what I had in mind - having a 256GB SSD installed, doing work using that drive, then moving it to externals when I'm finished.

Yeah, I realize I'm paying a premium for an Apple; I just prefer the Mac OS over Windows, and with the amount of time I'm on the computer I think it's worth it. That, and the last time I used a PC I broke out in hives

StephenAndrew wrote in post #14765681
^^ That's pretty much what I had in mind - having a 256GB SSD installed, doing work using that drive, then moving it to externals when I'm finished.

Yeah, I realize I'm paying a premium for an Apple; I just prefer the Mac OS over Windows, and with the amount of time I'm on the computer I think it's worth it. That, and the last time I used a PC I broke out in hives

How much space does OS X usually take?

Just to give you an idea with my PC, after Windows 7 and all the photo editing software I have about 60GB of 120GB left. 256GB sounds like it would be plenty for you. Definitely a great upgrade over a hard drive.

It's unbelievable the amount of boost these SSD drives have given my PC.

The thing about the Drobo firewire, you have to constantly swap the cables from computer to computer if you want to "share".

I have the Synology DS212+ which allows network sharing so I can use my laptop for photo editing if anything happens to my desktop, which I hope doesn't. This also has the ability to host website (just imagine my shock, cheaper than DROBO firewire and can host websites) with other functions thrown in that are too long to list here

tim wrote in post #14763386
Suggest:
-i7 computer, 16GB RAM, a low end video card rather than built in graphics (so the memory card has its on memory, mainly, and doesn't use main RAM bandwidth)
- SSD for OS/programs, 60GB is enough for most people, 120GB if you install the Adobe Master Suite or games.
- SSD for cache and catalog. Again 60GB is probably enough.
- WD Black drive for images
- WD Black drive for other files.

Back the catalog up to the images hard drive via a script (scheduled task in control panel) every time you log in. Back up the images hard drive to another external drive. I keep three offsite copies of my data, one in my shed, one at a friends a few blocks away, one at a family members further away. I'm paranoid though. Back up small stuff like financials (images are too big) using Crashplan or similar (I don't recommend Mozy any more, it failed on me).

This system will give you a fast, reliable system. RAID/Drobo isn't worthwhile in my opinion, so long as you can do regular backups to an offsite disk, or even to an onsite disconnected disk.

If you really want data security, sure get a DROBO or similar in RAID configuration. Don't use it as a working drive, use it as a backup drive, as it'll probably be slower unless it's connected via eSata.

I just finished up my first computer build and almost went this exact route... Except I went i5, 2 SSd's one for OS and Programs the other for LR4 catalog, and a 1TB drive for general stuff... GTX 550 Ti GPU. Let me just say the whole system is REALLY FAST! Still getting it all setup but so far so good...

A suggestion made to me by someone was to rotate your internal drive with your backup drive, as this will keep you informed that it's working properly