Search the Community

I've posted this question everywhere and can't seem to get a single response or any information. I understand that Google exists, but I just prefer the knowledge of first hand experience rather than articles and Youtube videos using random hardware.. Current Config: Dell Optiplex 3060 (i5-9500T) - Emby & .arr Host QNAP TS-253A NAS - Media Storage via Mapped Network Drive I'm in the market for a storage upgrade, and wanted to get an idea of what my best options are config-wise for this specific matter. My NAS is operating fine and is an efficient little system, but I am concerned about longevity and data stability considering it's age, so I would rather utilize it for less important files and whatnot. *I do not have room for a big rack setup, or anything larger than a 2 - 4 bay enclosure.* My setup exists in a small closet off the master bedroom, I have a 2.5 year old as well as my wife's cats, so I can't relocate the system or make it excessively large. (A rack mount is definitely a future plan, but for now, I just need something compact and stable that can accommodate my ever expanding library) Quick glances at Amazon have lead me to consider either this Mediasonic USB 3.2 4 Bay or this Yottamaster 4 Bay (maybe even this?), but I am curious if anybody here has experience with these devices, or if you would have a better suggestion. I plan on snagging three 8tb HDD's to put inside of it (alongside one that I already own). My other struggle is with deciding how I want to configure the storage options of the drives themselves, as there are several avenues I could take for this. (RAID, Storage Pool, etc.) So, in the DUMBEST way possible, can somebody break down the big distinctions between RAID, and utilizing the Storage Spaces tool in Windows to create a storage pool, and also decipher which option would be best for long term use and stability? My preferences are few as far as the storage operation itself, and is pretty much: - I want all of the drives to behave as one, and not have to navigate several drives to organize my files (movies, shows, etc.) - In the event that one drive should fail, I would not lose all of my data. Thanks!