On line solution storage for big archive, workflow and Iview

[vbuzzi]

My archive is getting bigger and bigger.
I'm  thinking about an on-line storage solution like Amazon S3.
I would like to know If anyone as start to think about.
I would like to know workflow and Iview compability.
Thanks.
Vittore

[peterkrogh]

Vittore,
How big is your collection? (Number of images and size of data set).
Peter

[vbuzzi]

I  usually shoot 25.000 images each year, I have a double HD back-up for DNG and Derivates (on separated hd) and I create 1 or 2 Iview catalogs each year (2003 since 2005 one catalog than 2 catalogs each year).
I have stored all on IDE switchable HD  of 500 gigabyte capacity.
I would like to have a service that store for me my archive...
I think that there will be some bandwidth problems.

[peterkrogh]

I *know* this will give you some bandwidth problems, as well as some cost issues.
Peter

[Derekasaurus Rex]

Peter is completely right. The cost of an online solution for that much data will be much greater than local storage, and the bandwidth requirements will limit performance and add to the expense.

You are much better off finding fast, spacious local storage, perhaps a file server over gigabit ethernet or a multi-disk enclosure using FireWire 800 or eSATA. All can be mounted on a network and will be MUCH faster and cheaper than any online solution.

It drove me crazy to access images over a 54Mbps 802.11g network (20Mbps in the real world) and I doubt you have symmetric internet access that can compete even with that modest data rate. (And 20Mbps is modest compared to gigabit ethernet, FireWire 800, eSATA, and just about every other mode of local transfer.)

I certainly understand the appeal of outsourcing data storage, but IMHO services like S3 are too slow and too expensive to replace local storage for large image archives at this time.