Networked external hdds question

[perdomot]

I wanted to ask if the hdds in external storage solutions like Apple's Time Capsule are contantly spinning or do the only turn on the hdds when a file is requested. Thanks.

 

[JackMDS]

It is Not a Network feature. It is up to the HDD's Manufacturer and it choice of firmware/drivers of the device.

 

[perdomot]

Aside from Time Capsule, is there an enclosure that keeps the hdds from spinning up until accessed to save on hdd wear and power?

 

[JackMDS]

The Network related enclosures are called NAS.
Go over the pscs of some og them you would find spin downs HDD.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...24&bop=And&Order=PRICE

 

[QuixoticOne]

The best devices for this kind of use are probably the newer sorts of hybrid hard disc that include some flash
memory which acts as a front end I/O cache for the rotating hard disc; the disc needs to mechanically spin less
because some of the I/O is taken care of by the integrated non volatile flash memory.
I've no idea what the cost effectiveness of these presently are, though, they're pretty new, and not all that commonly
used yet.

 

[JackMDS]

Spin Up/Down if used with an External Drive (Not BAS) can be a good feature.

With Entry level NAS it can be a source of destroying the Drive.

Very Frequent Spin Up/Down does not really save energy and because of the initial load on the Drive with the Spin UP can damage the drive.

Depending on the network, there are many activities related to the network that can end up with frequent action and are not necessarily generate by volition.

Using a computer as a NAS can solve this problem since the drives are managed more intellegtly by the OS Sleeping system.

I have a NAS consist on VIA C-7 and Win XP Pro takes only 40 watts when in full action and a 1TB drives is managed well by the OS sleeping aspect.