The safety of your pictures has always been of paramount importance
We’ve always had a back up strategy onto multiple hard disks. This was initially achieved using USB hard drives, which later progressed into a full blown 500GB Network Attached Storage, NAS, device.
The greatest advantage of the NAS was its Fast Ethernet connection and being able to access it via my Broadband Gateway’s Wi-Fi. The high speed connection is a delight when editing large image files that can easily excess 100MB!
However I soon discovered my NAS had a fundamental flaw because its backup facility deleted all the data on the backup disk before copying the files across. This defeats the whole object of having back up media as your back up is deleted before each back up – Grrr. This meant I had to manage synchronising data using third party software, which I did via Linux running on my laptop.
What I really needed was a NAS that also ran a RAID, Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. That essentially means two hard disks that mirror each others data. Then if one disk fails it can be replaced and the data on the remaining disk is then transferred back onto the new disk. No need to constantly backing up or synchronising disks as it all happens automatically.
Welcome the 2TB RAID NAS
After scouring some major photographic shops on the Internet I was surprised to find most of their external drives only offered USB connections. That means slow connectivity for accessing image files and having to move the disk between computers depending on where I’m working. And it means only one person can access it at a time!
Eventually I found a 2TB RAID NAS on eBay – perfect! It has two 1TB Seagate disks, which are the latest generation of hard disks. From almost 20 years in the IT industry I know Seagate disks are commonly used in systems that hold crucial data.
As the disks are a mirror image of each other it gives 1TB of disk storage, which is double that of the existing 500GB NAS. This is important now that I’ve upgraded my first camera to a Canon 5D Mk2 with 21MP images.
I believe this will allow images to be stored for at least 12 months after the photo session before being archived off onto a USB hard drive for long term storage. Although I’d love you all to prove me wrong so I fill it in 6 months!!! Then I’d have to double it up with another 2TB RAID NAS 
Yes. Your pictures are in safe hands.
Pat
Professional Boudoir Photography
Pat Bloomfield is your boudoir glamour photographer / artist. Years of experience and craftsmanship goes into every portrait he creates for you.
Imke Bloomfield is your make-up artist. A keen make-up practitioner trained by professional artists; she has a great flare for creating beautiful make-up especially for you.
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