Storage for hosting

[wrkilu]

Hi,

I'm a Linux Administrator. I'm wondering if to create a storage hosting service for companies. Unfortunatelly I don't know what exactly kind of storage whould be enough for it. I could rent a server like this: 4 x 3TB SATA Enterprise with hardware RAID and build on it RAID5 or RAID10. My question is: how many customers (from practice) could handle this kind of storage ? I know of course it depends from type of data, transfers and so on... but maybe someone of you know from practice how this looks like ?

Will be very appreciated for answers.
Regards

 

[Ralston18]

My sense is that you need to answer a variety of other questions beforehand.

Especially the technical end. Go online and look for tutorials, best practices, white papers, etc. published by various manufacturer's and/or service providers.

Then you really need to address the business end: pricing, costs, and most of all risks and security.

Becomes very tricky if you are just the "man in the middle" providing storage services via rented servers. Way too much is out of your control but within your responsibilities and liabilities.

All for small business startups, etc.. Doing such a business and being sucessfull will most likely be the hardest thing you ever do.

To begin you must first develop a detailed business plan and then identify specific questions that you must, in turn, address and answer.

And always keep in mind what you can risk and how much money you can afford to lose.

 

[wrkilu]

Yes I know about other aspects, business plan, costs and so on. Lets focus only on that technical thing.

I didn't find any practice recommendations thats why I'm writing here. I count that someone will be able to estimate - how many customers, or how many sessions will handle this specific server ?

 

[Ralston18]

Most likely someone may be able to provide additional insight along those lines.

However, you are the only one that understands your real vision of the intended business.

And most server providers can provide the various specifications relevant to their products.

How many customers is a very open ended question. You can go broke with 100 customers and profit with just one. How many businesses in your area would need or potentially need strorage, how much, who will be your competitors? (Anyone can buy a NAS - which is storage so that is competition as well.)

You will be dealing with communication issues, EUA's, needing to pay the server rental while customer's are paying late.

However will concede setting aside the business plan aspects as a matter of focus.

Still there is the other concern is that your question ("technical thing?") almost seems "homework" like. Forum rules prohibit such assistance. You need to offer up specific questions along with what you believe is the answer as well as why you came to that conclusion.

Then specific answers, suggestions, etc. may be forthcoming. Thanks.

 

[wrkilu]

For start I plan to run this specific server with access by: Owncloud and FTPS. And the question is if it handle e.g. 50 small companies ? Anyone from you has such experience ?

 

[USAFRet]

For start I plan to run this specific server with access by: Owncloud and FTPS. And the question is if it handle e.g. 50 small companies ? Anyone from you has such experience ?

50 companies on 12TB of drive space?
Or 6TB, once you factor in the RAID?

Not a chance. 12TB isn't enough for my living room.

 

[wrkilu]

I'm thinking about very small companies, they are willing to buy just 30GB of space. We're talking then about such space and such 50 companies...

 

[Ralston18]

Does not matter. USAFRet comments are correct.

What is your plan when your available space fills up?

Or the service you are using has a disaster, gets hacked, or fails? Or raises prices beyond your ability to make a profit?

How are you going to back up the data? You need redundancy - preferable at another location.

What if your customers are doing something illegal and storing stolen movies, music, e-books. Or porn? How are you protecting yourself?

I know that in some areas people just do not care and that a few US dollars changing hands can cure many ills....

If you do not live in one of those areas you are probably heading for trouble. Probably heading for trouble even if you do live in such an area.

Not being negative here or seeking to discourage you. The intent is to encourage more forethought, planning, and a broader view of things.

 

[wrkilu]

Eh... I know about other aspects and I know I must face them - but it wasn't my question!

Ralston18 - either answer strictly for my technical question or don't answer at all.

And I ask everyone else to answer only for that question, thanks

 

[USAFRet]

Eh... I know about other aspects and I know I must face them - but it wasn't my question!

Ralston18 - either answer strictly for my technical question or don't answer at all.

And I ask everyone else to answer only for that question, thanks

For your question:
"what exactly kind of storage whould be enough for it."

No one out here can determine that for you.

Me personally? I say 12TB is not enough for "50 companies".