Another newbie with two Thunderbay 4

My attempt to burn to image failed. I got to 28.5% or so but when I restarted due finder not behaving. The partial dmg had gone - previously I had been able to interrupt the process and 'append' the image. So I'm doing it the 'manual' way. Disk drill has a 'mount as virtual image' function which gives you easy file/ folder access to the drive. I'm doing files in batches to minimize the risk of the process aborting partway through and completely failing.

A question for support, is it okay to change the name of the array/ raid via finder please?

Yes you can change the finder name of a volume, just like any volume.

I assume you are spot checking files, to ensure the recovery?

Cheers. By spot checking, you mean checking every file? Then, yes.

No, just check some important files.

Okay cheers. Finally trying the free version of Crashplan. They say they will back up any external drives connected to the computer. Presumably this means the volumes/ data rather than the actual drives in a RAID?

Yes,

They should use the word "volumes", but non technical people usually write the documentation!

Crashplan is taking ages. Typical speeds are 2-4Mbps. It's taken 4 days to backup 150GB, i've another 437 on my MBP. Is this typical? If so, it'd be almost pointless to backup a 12Tb (4x4TB raid 5) volume?

That should not be typical. Back it up locally with Crashplan, then you can move the disk off site if that is where it resides.

Something is wrong if it is backing up that slowly. You can do a finder copy instead.

Okay, Crashplan still superslow. I'm not sure it's viable as a backup plan for me.

If I use SR Raid 5 with OWC TB 4 and keep a spare drive ready, am I going to be ok? What are the chances of the dreaded second drive failure during a rebuild?

Maybe your internet connection is slow, unless this is a local backup, in which case, that is unacceptible performance for backing up.

to your question: Those odds are low, but the odds of a problem with the Finder, directory, rogue apps, malware, corruption, fire, floods, etc are pretty significant.

If your data is important, never rely on one location.

Okay, Crashplan is not working out. After I put it on pause for a week whilst I was away , and then restarted it's been stuck in a synchronisation loop ever since, despite many chats with online support and doing what they suggested. Anyone got an alternative please? I'm looking for something that preferably allows backup of external drives and unlimited storage, alternatively I will go for a service that gives me speedy backup of 1TB (the size of my MBP drive).

In other news, Diskdrill is working okay. It's taken a while, and I've discovered that the 'mount results as drive' option though seemingly more intuitive is nowhere as effective/ quick as just recovering normally. I'm on my last batch of files for recovery. I've lost maybe 5% of my files, which is a whole lot better than losing 100%.

Now for that online backup option.

Backblaze seems to work great for users.

Thanks. I got a completed backup of my MBP 1G main drive with backblaze and have subscribed to an annual plan.

My diskdrill disk recovery of a failed 4TB disk is finally almost over. I've now got three thunderbay IVs with plenty of disk space. Do I need to leave a certain amount of free space on each volume if I want rebuilding to be easier/ less risky when one drive fails? Eg with 4x4TB, raid 5 and 12 TB volume. Can I fill that or should I leave something please?

At least 15% is the Apple recommended free space for a volume.

Thanks, but there isn't a SR recommended free space for a volume? That 85% filled volume is less likely to be successfully rebuilt compared to a 70% filled etc?