The Reader

I moved my iTunes to a Synology DS210j NAS, the bottom of their 2-drive
range. I fitted 2 x 1 TB Seagate Barracuda drives, configured as RAID-1. It
is connected via ethernet to a Belkin wifi router (11g wifi, 100 Mbps
ethernet). We have 2 Mac laptops and an Apple TV all normally using wifi.

I used to do regular computer backups to DVD. These are now done to the NAS
instead.

Performance of the NAS is limited by the network. 11g wifi is adequate for
iTunes audio (Apple Lossless) and for incremental backups, but not for video
(frequent pausing) or full backups (take too long). For those, ethernet
throughout is needed. I did some tests using a 1.82 GB file. I got around
2.5 MB/s over wifi and 10 MB/s over ethernet. Note that 10 MB/s is 80 Mbps,
quite close to the Belkin's theoretical limit.

However, if you have just the one computer and no other device for streaming
iTunes media, it is much easier to use an external drive connected via USB
or FireWire. FW is faster, at least until USB3 arrives, but FW drives cost
more. Of course, you need to back up the external to another one.

What sort of data volume are we talking about, i.e., the total size of the
iTunes folder?

Otto

On 25 May 2010 17:16, thegary_ca <garyxx@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm curious if anyone in this group has an external hard drive to back up
> their iTunes library?
>
> I have a friend that is running out of space on her computer and wants to
> off load her pics and iTunes music. She was asking about running the library
> off it.
>
> I currently have a NAS drive sitting off my wireless lan (Ethernet
> connection). It's slow and I don't recommend it.
>
> So do you have an external drive? Do you run your library off it? What size
> is it? What is the brand? What connection do you use (USB 2.0, Firewire,
> whatever)?
>

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