LaCie and SimpleTech Dual Drive Mammoths

Operating Modes: JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, SAFE33, SAFE50

JBOD mode simple runs both hard drives independently, so you will have two storage partitions each with a 500 GB gross capacity.

The RAID 0 mode is called FAST and provides the total capacity of both 500 GB hard drives (932 GB net at 1 KB = 1,024 bytes) in a stripe set. This delivers the best performance, but increases the risk of total data loss: all of the data will be inaccessible should even one of the two drives fail.

The RAID 1 mode is called SAFE100, which means that 100% of the storage capacity is mirrored. This, of course, means that you get only the capacity of a single 500 GB drive.

SAFE33 mode creates a secure RAID 1 array using 33% of the drives’ capacity. The remaining storage will be transformed into a quick RAID 0 (FAST) array, which works perfectly for fast, temporary work storage. Remember to back up important data to a more secure location at the end of your working day!

SAFE50 works like SAFE33, but it utilizes 50% of the capacity to create a mirrored partition. The remaining capacity is used to create a RAID 0 (FAST) array.

OneButton Backup

Like many other external storage devices, the 2big Dual offers a backup button. There is also software called OneButton Backup, which allows you to specify backup source files and folders as well as a target (ideally the 2big Dual). The software works well, but it is rather simple: it does not support incremental backups, which use an initial backup set and store only the modified files in later backup runs. The OneButton Backup stores an entire backup, creating a new subfolder instead.