Hi everybody,

 

I'm building my first array (way late to the game i know) for my image archive. If you google me you'll notice i'm a commercial photographer. My plan is for a 2 box setup: one for the actual archive the other for an offsite mirror... In my research the term "ECC" keeps coming up but never with a thorough explanation. So, now i've got a few questions.

 

1] I'm scared to death of bit rot. I've seen the explanations on how ZFS helps "prevent" it. However, how much of a real concern is it for unRAID users?

 

2] Is ECC ram vital for data stability? Or, is it a safety measure that is going above and beyond what i really need?

 

3] I'm planning to get a board with 4 slots and starting out with 8gb memory in each box. The pools will grow to 40tb eventually. Should my ram grow with my pool?

 

In answering these q's please keep in mind that these boxes will not be media servers. They'll be an archive. I't might be 5 years before i need an image once it's been archived. But, i won't be able to torrent it again, or re-rip the dvd if the data isn't there. If the data isn't there i could be facing a career ending lawsuit. 

ECC is error correcting memory.  Given a choice, I'd absolutely use ECC RAM ... but few desktop boards provide for it.

 

However, given the importance of your data, I'd use server boards that support ECC RAM for your systems, just to be as safe as possible.

 

I'm not a fan of large (> 10 drive) single-parity arrays ... and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for dual parity support on UnRAID;  but if you use high-quality NAS drives you can get to 40TB with an 11 drive server with the currently available 4TB Seagate NAS units;  and with only 9 drives with the forthcoming (~ Dec) 5TB WD Reds.    So two 10-12 drive servers would be excellent.

 

If you're referring to memory slots when you say you're "... planning to get a board with 4 slots ...", my advice is simple:  if this is unbuffered RAM, don't do it !!  Only populate 2 of those slots ... even if it supports ECC RAM.    Your memory subsystem will be far more reliable with only 2 slots populated with unbuffered RAM.    If you have a server board that supports buffered RAM, then you can use as much as you'd like.

 

Given what you indicated about your two UnRAID servers being the only places you're going to have your very important data stored, be sure you have a good synchronization plan in place for the two servers => remember that RAID (or UnRAID) is NOT a backup ... all important data should always be stored at least two different places [Your 2nd server in a different location serves this purpose well, as long as it's kept current]

I'd be sure both systems are set for monthly parity checks;  I'd keep checksums for all the files [one checksum per folder works wel if everything's organized in folders];  and I'd do a verify against the checksums once/year on both systems.

 

8gb memory in each box

As long as unRAID is 32bit it makes no sense to use 8GB of RAM.

I read about problems because of >4GB RAM.

 

I'd do a verify against the checksums once/year

Can you give more information how you're doing that?

By hand? Script? Tools?

 

I know small enterprises that still rely on backup tapes.

Possibly an alternative to a second unRAID server?

Can you give more information how you're doing that?

By hand? Script? Tools?

 

I know small enterprises that still rely on backup tapes.

Possibly an alternative to a second unRAID server?

You could use MD5Deep that you can install from unMenu for checksums.  Then just compare the two different runs and look for differences.  If a file is replaced/updated/new then it would be an expected difference if it happens to file that hasn't changed then you have a problem.  You would need to do this for both servers in OP's case.  There are other tools available that could be used as well.  One that Gary posted in another thread that I'm sure he will either point you to or post a link again.  If he doesn't I have it in my browser at home and I can post a link tonight.

 

Edit: There it is right below my post.

Limetech resolved the > 4GB issue about 2 RC's before v5.0

... and UnRAID uses a PAE kernel, so you DO get benefits from 8GB (or more)

 

r.e. checksums, I use this excellent little utility:  http://corz.org/windows/software/checksum/

If your case, I would consider using an Cloud-based backup source for the off-site archive UNLESS your pictures are so sensitive in nature that total, absolute confidentiality is absolutely required. There are two basic reasons for this proposal. 

 

First, using two different storage methods is inherently more robust.  The cloud based service will also have redundancy (probably a multi-layer mirroring scheme)  built in to their system.  This will increase substantially the probability of being able to recover any single photo from one for the two archives in the future.

 

Two, if, for any reason, BOTH archives fail to be able to deliver the required image(s) in a court of law, your defense can be based on the fact that you did all that a prudent  person could do to assure that an image would be produced on demand. 

 

I really think 'bit rot' is a solution in search of a problem.  In the case of all hard drives, all of them have 'errors' on some percentage of the reads of the data contained on them.  However, the drive manufacturers already know this.  They have designed into their drives multi-layer correction schemes that correct them.  However, if the number of errors exceed that number that their scheme can handle, the read will fail.  The only bad thing is that there is a chance that the number of errors may be so high that it thinks it has fixed them and that read will be declared 'good' and the data delivered to the operating system.  All zfs does is to increase the number of errors correctable by adding another layer of error correcting. 

Agree that adding a 2nd layer of error correction doesn't really help with bit-rot ... and also that it's not an issue worth worrying about => especially if you have two fault-tolerant systems and are doing periodic checksum verifications.

 

I also agree that a cloud-based backup is a good idea ... either instead of or in addition to a 2nd UnRAID server.  Cloud-based storage is inherently fault-tolerant and very well backed up as well.

 

Kenneth, in our photo studio I have already done what you are trying to do.  My only comments are that 2 servers is not enough.

 

We have 4 servers :

 

Onsite main server

Nightly mirror onsite

1. Weekly mirror offsite

2. Weekly mirror offsite

Cloud based backup as well

 

You have more than bit rot to worry about.  The biggest issues are:

1. User error

2. Drive disconnection / failure

3. Then your other worries like fire/flood requiring offsite backups, then bit rot etc....

 

Our servers are 24 bay and 1/2 full and growing at 10tb per year.  As we have used unRaid for 3 years we continue to add more functionality to the system and depend more and more on it each year.

 

Good luck on this.  We photographers are going a bit against the grain with all the movie storage types here, but unRaid just works....

Limetech resolved the > 4GB issue about 2 RC's before v5.0

Well, that's annoying me because I could have build my server with more RAM also.

That's a problem of a forum...you never know if the information is up to date.

Anyway, good to know.

 

Many thanks for the link. Corz seems to have some more useful tools!

 

1. User error

2. Drive disconnection / failure

Second that!

Just yesterday I moved some files from my QNAP to an attached USB drive.

Signed it off and went to my computer with it and 

Just one crippled file on it. f$&§

When I plugged it in the QNAP once again, I noticed that it didn't spin up.

So the first time it probably dropped out and the files went into nirvana.

Conclusion:

1. user error (copy would have been better!)

2. drive disconnection

 

Good to have a backup...

 

 

There's definitely no such thing as too much backup !!

 

... and the point about user error is absolutely true.    One thing to remember:  if you  use a synchronization utility, be sure you do NOT set it to automatically delete files from the backup if they're no longer on the main system => that's one of the choices you'll have, but you do NOT want it.    That's how accidentally deleted files end up also being deleted from your backups before you realize you need them !!

 

There's definitely no such thing as too much backup !!

 

Agreed, but with one caveat.  Sometimes it's possible to lose track of all those backups.  I would like to have a catalog of all the backups that shows where files used to be, even if they aren't there now.  This catalog should also have the MD5 signature so you can be sure it is the same file.  Weebotech is proposing something here: 

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=23152.msg242391#msg242391

 

and here:

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=28168.msg256925#msg256925

 

I like his ideas, as it would be solely inside unRaid with no Windows PC necessary, but want to try your idea too:

 

http://corz.org/windows/software/checksum/

I was looking at alternatives to do checksums/MD5's within UnRAID when I found the Corz utility => I find that much nicer, as it can be done entirely "outside" of UnRAID.    Clearly it's a bit slower, since everything's done across the network; but it's VERY convenient.    If I want to confirm that everything on disk5 is good, I just right-click on disk5 (from within Windows Explorer) and select "Verify checksums".    Obviously it takes a good while (several hours, depending on the amount of data on the disk) ... but it takes all of about 5 seconds of "human time" 

 

... I do that for my offline backups ~ once/year for those that are full (and thus never accessed otherwise)

 

W-O-W! I wake up and ask a question before running off to a shoot and this happens. I'm going to have to go unRAID if only for the quality of response to my noob q's. I can't thank you enough.

 

garycase: I'm starting with 3x3tb WD reds per box and adding to them as they reach 60% pool capacity. Hopefully, by the time i reach my 9 drive limit ~ 2016/17. I'll have swapped my 3tb drives for something bigger and have the funds for 3/4 24 bay racks a'la tr0910.

 

Fireball3: Tape in my experience is not viable for a business as small as mine. An enterprise level tape machine is incredibly expensive to maintain and those systems [in my experience] are kludgy [though incredibly reliable when they work] when compared to just about anything [including the horrible thought of backing up to DVD/Blu-Ray]

 

Frank1940: I like the idea of the cloud. I just haven't seen an implementation that wouldn't buy me an unRAID farm in the space of 2 years... Seriously 5tb for ~ $300 a month? Thats a box+electric at it's location every 3 months. I'm not trying to be cheap about it. I just don't see how it makes business sense at that rate.

 

tr0910: !!! 4 boxes? !!! 4. Woah. Your system is intense. I might try to add a third [out of city] box to my array as your zealousness makes sense... Did you start with 4 boxes? Or, did you end up there after year 2?

 

Thank you all! You people are fantastic. [btw. I realize i've got too many !s in this message. I'm just in awe of how cool you all are...]

 

A few somewhat random additional thoughts ...

 

=>  Remember that RAID (or UnRAID) is NOT a backup.  It's a good fault-tolerant NAS that provides you with a high-availability data store; but NEVER have important documents (or in your case photographs) stored in only one place.

 

=>  For files, I use Glenn Alcott's Directory Printer [http://www.galcott.com/dp.htm ] to "print" a directory of each of my UnRAID shares each month (you could do this daily, weekly, or whatever works best for your), and simply keep those "printouts" on my system.    I put "print" in parenthesis because I actually "print" to a PDF file, so it's just another file on my computer [stored in folders called "UnRAID Contents" and "Backup Disks"].    The free CutePDF creates a virtual printer on your system that creates the PDF files [http://www.cutepdf.com/  ... the freeware version is all you need]

 

=>  There may be a better choice for photographs, but I'm not familiar with all that's available.  Although since you'll have the entire archive available on UnRAID, I'd think any good photo organization program that supports thumbnails would be good for browsing your collection.    There are even some utilities (you're probably well aware of them) that let you search for specific images that match a sample.

 

=>  It sounds like a lot of your data is static ... i.e. once you archive it, it doesn't change.    If that's the case, you could an offline set of backups fairly easily.    Simply attach a docking unit to your PC [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2970WX1516 ], and one-at-a-time fill up backup disks [3 or 4TB disks would work well];  then "print" (with CutePDF as above) a directory of the full backup disk and save that on your PC (so you can easily find things on it);  then store the disk in a WiebeTech DriveBox  [http://www.wiebetech.com/products/cases.php ]; and store it in a safe place.

 

I do that for all my media (3500+ DVDs plus thousands of pictures and a lot of music);  and store the driveboxes in a fireproof, waterproof safe on the other side of my house.  Not as good as off-site, but I feel fairly comfortable with that.    I also create checksums for the disk when it's full, and once/year put each disk in a dock and verify the checksums, so I know it's still good.

 

Between my complete collection of backups;  plus a 2nd UnRAID server that I update about once/month to mirror my collection to, I feel VERY secure r.e. any potential data loss.  The 2nd server is actually a full-tower box that holds 20 drives ... I keep all my older, smaller capacity (1-2 TB) drives in, and just turn on once/month or so to update it so it's a complete backup of the media collection.

 

Since you're starting with 3 3TB drives, that means you'll only have 6TB of storage capacity -- so, for example, one 4TB drive would probably work fine for your backup drive for a good while ... by the time it's full, you'll probably be adding another drive or two to the UnRAID box, and you can simply buy another backup drive.

 

I agree that cloud backup can get pretty pricey with your data is in the TB+ range.  I don't use it for that reason.    I figure that with two fault-tolerant systems (one backing up the other) PLUS my off-line backups in the safe, I'm very well covered.    I've been doing this stuff for a LOT of years (over 50 yrs with computers; nearly 40 with PCs and networks at home) ... and except for a few minor catastrophes in the 70's, I've NEVER lost any data (but I've certainly had my share of failed disks and/or media) ... but I've also always been a "backup freak" 

 

I know you indicated growth to 40TB or so ... but then you indicated you're starting off with 6TB; so I have to wonder just how fast you're likely to grow that storage.    You may want to rethink the systems you'll use.    You can build a very nice server that holds up to 20TB in this nifty little case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112339&Tpk=PC-Q25B

... which is by far my favorite case for UnRAID "Plus" systems.    I've built several systems in that case, and it's very quiet;  keeps the drives very cool;  and depending on which motherboard you use can draw as little as 20 watts when idle (drives spun down).    In fact, with the forthcoming 5TB drives, you could put up to 25TB of capacity in it !!

 

Of course you may want a rack-mount chassis -- if that's the case, I'd look at the pre-built server that LimeTech is now selling ... with the Xeon option it also comes with ECC RAM, which you can't get on a little mini-ITX based system.

 

In answering these q's please keep in mind that these boxes will not be media servers. They'll be an archive. I't might be 5 years before i need an image once it's been archived. But, i won't be able to torrent it again, or re-rip the dvd if the data isn't there. If the data isn't there i could be facing a career ending lawsuit. 

 

.....data security has more aspects to it than that of availability.

Using the system commercially, there might be others to be considered, like securing the data against theft or unwanted manipulation.

Obviously some aspects must be implemented outside unRAID but maybe you should think of these as well.

 

Think of other legal obligations/requirements, either by law or your customers demands.

For example, with most of my customers, I am required to store "their" work or intellectually property I work with in a secure manner.

Edit: as most of this contains SPI (Sensitive Personal Information).

With IT aware customers, I am even required to employ certain methods of encryption and I am not free to decide which technology to use.

tr0910: !!! 4 boxes? !!! 4. Woah. Your system is intense. I might try to add a third [out of city] box to my array as your zealousness makes sense... Did you start with 4 boxes? Or, did you end up there after year 2? 

 

I had the 4 boxes, and it was easy to set up.  This was before I had the backup to cloud working seamlessly.  For me, I will evaluate whether I still need this many.  Only you can evaluate the importance of your images.  Having a second type of system (crashplan in the cloud) is good for user errors / hackers.  User errors / hackers may replicate across similar systems.  Both unRaid boxes could be compromised.

 

For simplicity sake I would like to get rid of the rotating offsite backup.  It involves picking up a server by its suitcase handle and taking it across town.  Its a job that must be done weekly, and I hate those type of tasks.  All other backups are automated.  Backup server is started via IPMI, @ 1am, backup is done, backup server shuts itself off and I get an email that indicates they are done.  This was created via bash scripts.  (IPMI is only available on server class motherboards such as the popular Supermicro X9SCM, but well worth the extra $50)

This was before I had the backup to cloud working seamlessly.

 

So you have a full backup in the cloud via Crashplan -- right?

 

 

For simplicity sake I would like to get rid of the rotating offsite backup.  It involves picking up a server by its suitcase handle and taking it across town.  Its a job that must be done weekly, and I hate those type of tasks.  All other backups are automated.  Backup server is started via IPMI, @ 1am, backup is done, backup server shuts itself off and I get an email that indicates they are done.  This was created via bash scripts.  (IPMI is only available on server class motherboards such as the popular Supermicro X9SCM, but well worth the extra $50)

 

Assuming my assumption above (Crashplan backup) is correct, you could install VirtualBox on your backup server; create a small VM (XP is fine) with LogMeIn access ... and then simply access this remotely from ANY PC and update your off-site backup from the cloud copy.    It does, of course, require a way to turn on that system ... but since it's got IPMI that should be doable via the internet.    This would also let you do the backups more regularly than once/week, since it'd be much easier to do.

 

This was before I had the backup to cloud via Crashplan working seamlessly.

 

So you have a full backup in the cloud via Crashplan -- right?

 

No, the internet is not big enough.  The upload pipe I have limits out at 30GB per day, and I have a 400GB per month transfer limit..  We create 100GB per day sometimes.  Maybe someday....

 

Crashplan only backs up critical files.  This is less than 10% of the total.  This is an issue whether you are going with Crashplan Central or another unRaid box running Crashplan and backing up to it.  I just use Crashplan Central for the $4 per month.  I don't have to worry about the 2nd box offsite.

 

 

Gary: The onsite HDDs with the annual checksum sounds like an interesting alternative to an onsite mirror. I'll have to investigate os X solutions for checksums.

 

I produce between 500-800 gb of images every 3 months. I'm not high volume. However, i see a future where 40tb is a realistic number and i'd rather buy 11 drive mid towers for a system to grow into and focus on drives/fans/parts replacement than build 3 small boxes that i'll have to revisit sooner... I make pictures for work. I ride motorcycles for fun. I'm building these so i can sleep.

 

I currently have ~10tb of data. Around 5tb of it is old event work, stuff from when i was starting, art school crap etc that needs to be culled as it's just crap. I think starting my boxes at 5.5tb will force me to clean up rather than just shift. The files are well organized. That doesn't mean they're all worth keeping...

 

Ford [and everyone else for that matter. Zaphod, Trillian, Arthur]: I've been thinking about security but don't know what benefit if any a hacker would get out of my archive [other than lulz]. In the few instances where a client's ip has been an issue i change my contract to omit a backup plan for them and let them know that's something they'll have to handle. In my experience they've let the data experts handle that on their side and i do my thing. Do you have specific suggestions re security & unRAID?

UnRaid is not secure. All remote access should must be done via VPN. I use a Cisco RV220W. Although, loading dd-wrt on your current router should work. You'll need 1 VPN router at each site. This also allows secure remote access.

 

 

Ford [and everyone else for that matter. Zaphod, Trillian, Arthur]: I've been thinking about security but don't know what benefit if any a hacker would get out of my archive [other than lulz]. In the few instances where a client's ip has been an issue i change my contract to omit a backup plan for them and let them know that's something they'll have to handle. In my experience they've let the data experts handle that on their side and i do my thing. Do you have specific suggestions re security & unRAID?

 

- the box/archive could be taken away from you (and your clients) or content could be deleted or altered.

- data could be sold or made public without permission of the owner...this is where you could face another lawsuit.

  A business competitor could  be a possible beneficial player in this or someone who wishes you harm.

 

Besides securing the array with encryption in order to protect the data against theft of the physical box,

you can't do more than use ACLs and employ a good firewall with VPN setup to connect to unRAID.

A few miscellaneous thoughts ...

 

Gary: The onsite HDDs with the annual checksum sounds like an interesting alternative to an onsite mirror. I'll have to investigate os X solutions for checksums.

 

One key thing to remember:  The backup disks, whether standalone disks or a 2nd array, are BACKUPS -- you still need to keep a copy somewhere else.    I presume you're still planning to have everything in an UnRAID array PLUS have these disks ... that's exactly what I do and it works just fine.    Although the "mechanics" are a bit more complex than just having a 2nd server you mirror to, there are two very nice advantages to this approach:  (a) once filled, the disks are basically never accessed ... so they are VERY unlikely to develop any problems; and (b) storing them in waterproof, fireproof safe is certainly a lot better protected than a 2nd array would be.

 

 

I produce between 500-800 gb of images every 3 months. I'm not high volume.

 

Sounds like a lot of pictures to me      But you're right that the data volume isn't too bad ... at that rate, one backup disk/year is all you'd need if you buy 3-4TB drives.  This volume would work very well with the "store it in a safe" concept I outlined.

 

 

I'll have to investigate os X solutions for checksums.

 

I'm sure there's something similar to what I use for this.  But you don't have to use checksums.  Until I "discovered" the Corz utility, I simply did a once/year verification -- i.e. I'd put a drive in a caddy, then run a comparison between it and the array (using FolderMatch, but I'm sure there are Mac equivalents).    This takes longer than a check of the checksums, but still confirms that backup is still okay.    The checksums are a much quicker way to validate the drives, however -- especially since I can do several at once (using a couple of spare systems).

 

 

However, i see a future where 40tb is a realistic number and i'd rather buy 11 drive mid towers for a system to grow into and focus on drives/fans/parts replacement than build 3 small boxes that i'll have to revisit sooner ...

 

Understand completely.  Scrap the mini-ITX suggestions then 

You might want to pick up this case -- it's 20% off thru tomorrow (12 Sep) plus has a $15 rebate ... a net cost of ~ $117 (and has free shipping).   

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119213

 

Add 2 of these and you'd have support for 13 drives with EXCELLENT cooling [these 4-in-ones have much better cooling than any hot-swap chassis; and the 5 bays in the case have a fan blowing directly over the drives]:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817993002&Tpk=stb-3t4-e3-gp

 

You can decide what to "stuff" it with at your leisure ... but it will work with any ATX or smaller motherboard, and has a very nice internal arrangement that will keep everything nice and cool 

 

 

Do you have specific suggestions re security & unRAID?

 

Personally, I simply trust my physical security.    I've seen far too many data losses that resulted from lost/forgotten encryption keys;  failed hard drives that couldn't be recovered due to the encryption; etc.    You can, if you want, encrypt the data ... but I'd think that for most purposes simple password security for access is sufficient.    If you DO encrypt it, be CERTAIN you have the encryption key security stored in a safe place so you can access it whenever needed !!!  I do agree completely that you do NOT want to provide any means of remote access outside of a secure VPN or other encrypted means of access [e.g. via LogMeIn on another networked PC].

 

 

 

If you DO encrypt it, be CERTAIN you have the encryption key security stored in a safe place so you can access it whenever needed !!!

 

Totally agree with that. However, in my case, I am *required* to store *everything* on an encrypted disk.....always.

I am even limited in my choice of technology. For unRAID, there is only encFS, which is not on my list of acceptable options.

This made/forced me to ultimately retire my unRAID boxes/license.

As of today, I am using LUKS/dmcrypt. The benefit from that is, that you can store quite a number of encryption keys in the array, with each

key being equally accepted to open the array. So chance is high, I will remember at least one 

Understand completely.  In the US, many businesses have specific requirements as well that have to be met -- HIPAA for medical information, PCIDSS for credit card data (full compliance required in Nevada; partial in many other states),  very strict requirements for all personal data in Massachusetts;  and a variety of less egregious regulations in other states.

 

Most of these can be satisfied by ensuring the data is fully encrypted, but this can be a challenge with UnRAID.    There are a few discussion threads r.e. setting up a TrueCrypt volume on UnRAID, but none seem to have resulted in an easy way to do that.    For modest amounts of data, I'd think an easier-to-implement approach would be to create your TrueCrypt volumes (or whatever encryption you may be using) on a disk (or disks) outside of UnRAID ... i.e. on your main machine ... and simply copy the encrypted volume to UnRAID as a backup.   

 

.... or --- as Ford Prefect did --- simply don't use UnRAID for data that must be encrypted;

 

... or take a hybrid approach => perhaps set up a RAID-1/5/6 array that you encrypt; and backup that entire array to UnRAID

 

My expectation is that for this specific case (photos) there's not a large volume of data that requires encryption ... and that for those that do you could use a folder-level encryption utility and simply encrypt a folder before you back it up  [Remember my caution about the key !!]    If you're using a Windows version that supports folder level encryption this is simple -- just right-click on the folder; select Properties; click Advanced; then choose "Encrypt contents to secure data".    You can then copy that folder to UnRAID and it will be remain in its encrypted state.

 

Bottom line:  You really need to decide WHAT your specific requirements are and be sure you meet any mandated legal requirements for privacy/security.    But as I noted earlier, I've seen a LOT of data that was lost due to forgotten passwords; forgotten or lost encryption keys;  etc.  -- so my view is you shouldn't encrypt stuff that doesn't need to be.

 

After all of this i'd say i'm pointing towards: 3 boxes = 1 on and 2 offsite [one doing an active backup the other brought in weekly-plug in-copy-disconnect-taken back to storage] + a safe full of disks for a daily mirror.

 

I'll def look into the vpn route for an added layer of security. But, encryption seems above and beyond what i'd need. It would be nice if i could limit the boxes to connecting with each other, my 2 workstations and my laptop tho. I suppose that's what passwords+vpns are for. Is there a way to tell an unraid box to ignore the internet? Could a box be connected directly to the lan port on a workstation and not see the web at all? I know that would add a headache to my remote mirror but i think i already have an idea for that...

 

Honestly, i'm the only person [unless i die] who will ever want to access the server. If i have an assistant do any retouching we use dropbox for that and i'd keep it that way rather than dealing with managing keys for 20yo art kids.  When i shoot for hospitals/in hospitals [for related clients] we always shoot blank screens and comp in prepared "patient data" to avoid HIPAA concerns. I don't have any pics of naked lads or ladies to worry about. I'm sure someone could steal images to sell for stock. While i care [lost revenue] i'm also fairly certain hackers have better, more lucrative ventures than microstock. I'd also like to avoid giving anyone the impression they're getting something really cool when there's a bunch of boring at the end of the rainbow. That's when some l33t h@x0r d-bag leaves a gig of kiddie porn on your server and reports you to the FBI for "teh lulz".

 

I could see the angry ex/former assistant/competitor thing except that they'd have to know that the boxes were there and what they do... I've been told that i'm "unusually secretive" at times. I suppose they could smash the one tho.

 

I'd imagine that if someone mistook one of the boxes for a gaming rig and stole it they'd just assume it was broken and eBay/cl it for parts after they plugged it in to a display and saw a bunch of gibberish. Perhaps i don't give people who'd break into my place enough credit... Either way i'd still have 2 other boxes offsite.

 

BTW Gary. Thanks for the case suggestions. I wish someone would just make a tower with 9 5.25 ext. bays and a fan on top... That CM case is the ticket tho. Esp if i can turn off those LEDs.