| Do you know that the wrong type of | | | | amount of storage to handle the image |
| storage can be harmful to the health of | | | | files that are replacing paper. An |
| your business? Do you know what type of | | | | individual might need a huge amount of |
| storage you need? Do you know how to | | | | storage for photos, music files, e-books |
| choose the best storage at the right | | | | and movies. Opening or retrieving these |
| price? | | | | files doesn’t need to be as fast |
| Many people choose the wrong type of | | | | as running a program or operating a |
| storage for their specific needs. The | | | | company’s email accessibility. |
| result can be slower access and | | | | Why do email and programs require a |
| operation of the system, it can be | | | | higher cost, lower capacity drive? You |
| slower boot time, or it can affect your | | | | need to understand that email and |
| bottom line because it costs more than | | | | applications must operate quickly. Email |
| you actually need to spend. | | | | is actually like a database everyone in |
| As I work with servers and individual | | | | the company uses. It must be fast and |
| systems for our clients, I generally see | | | | reliable. |
| one of three problems with storage | | | | Finally, many individuals and businesses |
| choices companies (or individuals) have | | | | do not have the proper redundancy to |
| made: | | | | protect them in the event of a failure |
| • They have the wrong type of | | | | of some sort. Redundancy is basically a |
| storage | | | | backup of what is stored on the drive. |
| • They don’t have enough | | | | If a client is storing important data or |
| storage | | | | applications on a drive, we generally |
| • They don’t have the proper | | | | create a redundant drive as backup. This |
| redundancy in case of a failure | | | | way if there is a failure, such as a |
| When choosing storage, you must first | | | | drive crash, the critical files are |
| look at your server and consider how the | | | | immediately available. Recovering from a |
| new storage will be used. Will it be | | | | failure with a non-redundant system will |
| used primarily for programs/applications | | | | require locating the correct backup |
| and email, or will it be used just for | | | | tape, which is stored offline, and |
| storage of images, documents and other | | | | running restore operations from the |
| files? | | | | tape. This is a much slower process than |
| If you are using the new drive (storage) | | | | switching to a different drive. |
| for applications, you need to choose a | | | | Choosing storage for your computer or |
| higher-cost, lower-capacity drive, such | | | | for a server is not just a matter of |
| as a SCSI. This type of drive will run | | | | cost. Don’t put your business or |
| much faster and will be generally more | | | | personal files at risk by choosing the |
| reliable. | | | | wrong storage hardware. The three things |
| If you are using the new drive just for | | | | to consider in choosing your storage |
| storage, you will want to get as much | | | | option are: |
| storage capacity as possible at the | | | | • What type of storage do I need? |
| lowest cost. You might want to consider | | | | Is it the right kind of storage for my |
| a SATA drive. This type of drive will | | | | needs? |
| run a bit slower and cost less than a | | | | • Will I have enough storage? |
| SCSI drive. The new terabyte drives | | | | • Can I set up the proper |
| might be an option if you are purchasing | | | | redundancy in case of a failure? |
| a drive simply for large storage | | | | Your answers to these questions will |
| capacity. A graphic artist, for example, | | | | help you make wise choices about getting |
| will need to store a large number of | | | | the right kind of storage at the best |
| images and both templates and files | | | | price. |
| containing images and other types of | | | | Stay tuned for my next comments: |
| graphic files, which use a lot of space. | | | | I’ll be writing about new Solid |
| If your business has moved to paperless | | | | State Drives, and this is huge news! |
| operations, you will also need a large | | | | |