Best way to arrange 2x HDD in a 5 bays system (3 empty bays)

[thinair]

Hi there

I will soon setup a DS1522+ with only 2 HDD (2 used bays, 3 empty bays).

Do you have any recommendation in which bay, I should install those 2 HDD?
Is there any difference or consideration to take in account such as:
1. temperature = some position will keep it colder?
2. noise = less vibration or even one fan would turn off?
3. energy = maybe keeping them grouped under the flow of one fan (system has two fans) will make consume less energy and make less noise?
4. performance = higher transfer rate, do some bay share same hardware (controller, cpu, bus)?
5. expansion = any consideration to take care? which slots to fill for a 3 used bays and 4 used bays system?
6. anything else?

Thank you
thinair

 

[Rusty]

Welcome to the forum!

It won't matter what bay you occupy the drives in. It might be logical to utilize them from left to right but that has nothing to do with temp, noise, or energy usage.

less vibration or even one fan would turn off?

The rubber feet on the NAS well as on the sides of the drive caddy (where the holes are) will make sure there are no vibrations, at least none that you can hear. Turning one vent off will mean doing it manually and disconnecting one, there is no way to control it in software.

maybe keeping them grouped under the flow of one fan (system has two fans) will make consume less energy and make less noise?

No. The most noise you will hear is not the fans or the NAS for that matter, but the drives. Anything short of a full SSD setup, you will hear it unless it is in the next room (avoid closing it in a small closet of some sort)

which slots to fill for a 3 used bays and 4 used bays system?

logical order would be my suggestion but you can utilize anyone you want. Depending on the size and models it might be logical to group them, but other than that, it really won't matter.

 

[Telos]

Position is immaterial. Drive bays are numbered 1 to 5. I would use that order.

 

[thinair]

Hi @Rusty
Hi @Telos

Thanks for your answers. I was not expecting that the recommendation was the logical order. It felt for me the one to avoid.
But yeah, I guess it is designed to run 5 hard disks so using only 2 in the first bays should work quiet well

Best Regards

 

[Coop777]

If you are concerned about ambient noise levels, you could place foam bumpers in the drive trays. Depending on what drives you use, this tip might be non-relevant.

 

[thinair]

If you are concerned about ambient noise levels, you could place foam bumpers in the drive trays. Depending on what drives you use, this tip might be non-relevant.

thanks @Coop777
yes, relevant for me, as I am planning "to try" to reduce ambient noise level.

 

[Coop777]

note that the RPM rating of your drives impacts this as well, 7200 RPM drives are noisier than 5400. Newer NAS model design has also helped keep thing quieter.

 

[Telos]

Seems a bit premature to worry about noise (OT, BTW), before loading the drives in the unit and setting up DSM... just sayin'

 

[Coop777]

Maybe I'm overthinking it, just trying to be helpful.

 

[fredbert]

There is the trick of using the soft half of velco strips to line the bay, to make the caddy nice and snug to avoid vibrations.

Since I had to shutdown my DS1520+ to make space to install the ONT of my new fibre broadband I decided to see if this made any perceptible difference. Not having velcro strips I do have a wedge of velcro[-like] cable ties, so I took out each caddy and reinserted with a cable tie lining the bottom bay rail. It was a tight fit so the only vibration would be within the caddy or the HDD mechanism.

So the result: no difference at all. All the noise comes from the clanking of the 5x 8 TB IronWolf HDD. YMMV

Alternatives to reducing noise:

1. Place the NAS away from where you need a quiet space. Use longer network connectivity.
2. Use SSD rather than HDD, though there will be some fan noise so set to lowest level.
3. If 1 isn't an option:
   1. Use soundproofing housing, but it still has to be able to vent the heat.
   2. Wear earphones (me, some of the time)
   3. Be the type of person that when working their hearing shuts down (that's me too)
   4. Have tinnitus (also me)

 

[thinair]

thanks @Telos @Coop777 and @fredbert .
Now I got the device and doing the migration (from my older NAS). I will know more in a few days regarding noise when the device is less busy.