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#1 2008-11-04 9:34 pm

TheUltimateMacUser
Flash Drive RAID Array Dude
From: NNS Offices, near the copier
Registered: 2001-04-22
Posts: 884
Website

Flash Drive RAID Array

The idea struck me recently to see what sort of speed could be eek'd out of an array of USB flash drives.  Mostly for smurf and giggles.  So, i acquired 3 identical USB flash drives.   In this case, i used 3 PNY 2 gig units.
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1007/threesoment2.jpg

I plugged all 3 in, and fired up Disk Utility.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6012/raidsetupyn7.png

I used XBench to clock the speed of the array.  Here are the results of the test, with the 3 drives configured as shown above, and plugged into independent USB ports.  Please note: using a USB hub will actually cause the array to be slower than the baseline test on just 1 disk.
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/391/picture2xw5.png

For comparison, here is the baseline test on a single, freshly formatted drive:
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6435/picture1hz2.png


http://dragcave.net/image/FvvK.gif CRAP!  Ok... Who let the chupacabra out of his cage!  Do you know how long it took to get him in there!?

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#2 2008-11-05 11:23 am

macnuke
just a plano guy
Moderator
From: North Dallas 40
Registered: 2004-05-16
Posts: 7131

Re: Flash Drive RAID Array

old trick...saw that one back when big flash drives were 256M..  lol  yes, I said M.

but with flash drives getting bigger, it just may be viable one day.

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#3 2008-11-05 12:18 pm

TheMouthOfSauron
Member
From: The Pas, MB, Canada
Registered: 2002-02-25
Posts: 659

Re: Flash Drive RAID Array

There's also this.


"Infinity is not a number! Infinity simply describes the way in which this [function] does not exist."
-Alex Chigogidze

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#4 2008-11-05 2:08 pm

TheUltimateMacUser
Flash Drive RAID Array Dude
From: NNS Offices, near the copier
Registered: 2001-04-22
Posts: 884
Website

Re: Flash Drive RAID Array

TheMouthOfSauron wrote:

There's also this.

Shame i don't have more than one floppy drive.  But, these flash drive doodads are, like, the new floppies, man!


http://dragcave.net/image/FvvK.gif CRAP!  Ok... Who let the chupacabra out of his cage!  Do you know how long it took to get him in there!?

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#5 2008-11-07 6:01 pm

TheUltimateMacUser
Flash Drive RAID Array Dude
From: NNS Offices, near the copier
Registered: 2001-04-22
Posts: 884
Website

Re: Flash Drive RAID Array

I also wouldn't mind trying this with FireWire flash drives, but they are a bit too expensive.  Anyone want to fund my research? :hint: :hint:

Last edited by TheUltimateMacUser (2008-11-07 6:02 pm)


http://dragcave.net/image/FvvK.gif CRAP!  Ok... Who let the chupacabra out of his cage!  Do you know how long it took to get him in there!?

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#6 2008-12-01 12:38 pm

dewetha
Member
Registered: 2007-12-22
Posts: 21

Re: Flash Drive RAID Array

that is very interesting.

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