How much storage does your shop need?

[writeaboutbetty]

We've got 12 graphic artists, some doing video graphics, some print only and we need to pitch our non-designer bosses a plan for a new server -- or two-- for working files and archiving files.

We're currently working on a server that's only 500 gigs! We fill it up and clean it off, fill it up and clean it off, but really -- 500 GIGS! Are they insane??

Anyone out there feel their shop has a great set-up storage wise? What do you think is reasonable for 12 worker bees who runn everthing dreamweaver/PS/AI/InDesign to After Effects. We do not do movie editing -- just graphics and simple animated FX, etc.

Just curious, --b--

[Virgo Nightingale]

We just got a 1-terabyte server to archive our old projects onto. It's almost 2/3 full with about 15 years worth of work (having around 4 designers at a time). Our regular server where we host our current work and things we reference often is about 230 gig. It currently has about 5 gigs of free space (it's always dangerously close to full these days).

[writeaboutbetty]

LOL! I wonder how many other shops out there are dealing with purchasers who don't understand the file size needs of those lazy, dope smoking artists folks in the back. Ha. I actually got to raattle off some impressive sounding file format information to a doctor the other day and he told me in all earnestness that he thought all graphic designs did was smoke pot and draw all day. -- b --

[mojoprime]

sounds like with a group as big as you've got, you sohuld look at some serious storage. raid 5, several TBs, with some sort of tape backup and off-site storage solution going on.

[writeaboutbetty]

yep .. we're looking into off-site storage but may have a chance to uypgrade the servers we have now or even get new! We really have a hard time making them understand our needs are different from the normal day-to-day accounting type stuff. They can't imagine a 20 gig file.:rolleyes:

[mojoprime]

i'd plan on trying to keep some open space on your server, around 50-100 gb or so, just to be safe. i always panic when disks start to get full and storage is so cheap these days.

off-site is just a security precaution. you might have your IT guy take the tapes home, or someone else trustworthy...and under contract with an NDA.

[Silence04]

We have a 80gig server we use for live/current jobs. We have a terabyte raid 5 server for archiving. 400gigs left as of today, with 2 full years of work.

If you're doing video graphics you will want a lot more space than you have... maybe start with 2 terabytes and add another another array of hard drives as you need them.

[mojoprime]

^^^that's what i'm screamin.

[writeaboutbetty]

Mmmmmm terabytes ...:D :D :D

[garricks]

Our server storage is only in Terabytes now. If I remember right there are two 2Tb server drives, with each one backing up twice (redundancy) each to two 2TB drives.

At home (I also do video at home) I have a 250Gb and three 750Gb internal drives, backing up to a 500Gb and three 1Tb drives.

["Technical" Terry]

I have 500GB internal RAID 0, for working files.
250GB external RAID 1, for daily backup.
250GB external for library items.

Once a month I prune the completed projects and burn DVD/CD sets for each client. High-end HD clients may get a bare SATA drive instead of burning disks (just wrap in bubble wrap and throw in a box).

Don't forget quarterly or so to examine your applications. Any new apps should have a backup disk for re-installing. (Store the activation key or serial number in more than one place.)


P.S. Pruning can often lead to 1/2 the file size. It is amazing how much stuff you thought you might need for the project, but gets tossed before it hits the big screen. Unused assets that you created and really like but did not get used (and cleared of copyright), should get moved to the library.