File Storage

[WrapSolutions]

The nature of our vehicle wrap industry lends us to have very large files (each designer has roughly 2-4TB on their machine or external drive). We are looking to "update" our internal server to 'centralize' and provide remote access across all employees. I'm wondering what other shops utilize for their art/print file storage and/or off-site back up.

 

[dannyd1962]

We run a 40TB server shared between 4 workstations at the moment.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

I run a total of 3 TrueNAS servers. Non are totally perpetual WAN access (not a fan of that type of remote access for production needs), only connect when syncing for backup. Don't have my production machines allowed on the internet as well, so they only have LAN access.

 

[Grizzly]

I run a total of 3 TrueNAS servers. Non are totally perpetual WAN access (not a fan of that type of remote access for production needs), only connect when syncing for backup. Don't have my production machines allowed on the internet as well, so they only have LAN access.

When you say they're aren't allowed on the internet, how do your designers handle accessing email/web/adobe/stock imager, etc. stuff?

 

[WildWestDesigns]

When you say they're aren't allowed on the internet, how do your designers handle accessing email/web/adobe/stock imager, etc. stuff?

Well, since it's just me, myself and I, very easily (the "they" in this context were my production machines, not necessarily operated by multiple people). Email/web, I have a NUC whose sole purpose is to get online. Manually transfer files using jump drives to a computers on the network after it's deemed safe to transfer. I don't use Adobe or stock images (I don't use a lot of the same traditional programs as most are not available on Linux). I'm not even a mood board fan. Either I come up with my designs myself or I'm dealing with a customer that already has something to work with. This does scale, but that is dependent on what one is using for software. If using subscription software, this is dead in the water (which unfortunately is the trend, unless willing to get "creative" with what one is using or do more in house stuff (I do a mixture of both)).

 

[Grizzly]

Well, since it's just me, myself and I, very easily (the "they" in this context were my production machines, not necessarily operated by multiple people). Email/web, I have a NUC whose sole purpose is to get online. Manually transfer files using jump drives to a computers on the network after it's deemed safe to transfer. I don't use Adobe or stock images (I don't use a lot of the same traditional programs as most are not available on Linux). I'm not even a mood board fan. Either I come up with my designs myself or I'm dealing with a customer that already has something to work with. This does scale, but that is dependent on what one is using for software. If using subscription software, this is dead in the water (which unfortunately is the trend, unless willing to get "creative" with what one is using or do more in house stuff (I do a mixture of both)).

Makes sense! I respect your dedication to stay off the internet. It's tough!

 

[Pauly]

You need a NAS.
Qnap, Synology (not a huge fan of what they're doing anymore), Ubiquiti, uGreen, and a few others.
I would recommend a Qnap.
Create a user directory, they can have their own folders, you can set permissions to see their folders. have 1 "work" drive.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

I use Ubiquiti for the networking and camera gear. Good stuff.

The one caveat that I would have with Qnap is that it has a unique piece of hardware that is proprietary and if it fails, good luck trying to get your data back, regardless the state of the drives. Would have to get a donor "bridge" to hopefully get your data back. I think that is unique to Qnap. On TrueNAS servers, that same data is on the drives itself, not on a proprietary piece of hardware. Now those are at the SMB level of Qnap units, I do not think their enterprise level have that issue. They would be more like the TrueNAS servers. So budget accordingly.

 

[Pauly]

I use Ubiquiti for the networking and camera gear. Good stuff.

The one caveat that I would have with Qnap is that it has a unique piece of hardware that is proprietary and if it fails, good luck trying to get your data back, regardless the state of the drives. Would have to get a donor "bridge" to hopefully get your data back. I think that is unique to Qnap. On TrueNAS servers, that same data is on the drives itself, not on a proprietary piece of hardware. Now those are at the SMB level of Qnap units, I do not think their enterprise level have that issue. They would be more like the TrueNAS servers. So budget accordingly.

Didnt know this with Qnap. i konw Synology have their own issues also,
Unifi NAS and NAS pro look great. we'll be grabbing one sooner or later.