Looking for an affordable hardware solution to clone hard drives. Any recommendations?
Hi,
I'm looking for the best solution for a HARDWARE hard drive (HDD or SSD) duplicator. I already have a great solution for software duplicating through my laptop and have several portable hardware HDD duplicators but none of them will copy from a larger HDD to a smaller HDD. Let's say I have a 1 TB HDD and only using 80 GB. And, I'd like to clone it to a 240 GB SSD. None of my hardware duplicators will allow it since the source drive is larger than the target drive--even though there's enough space to copy the data from the 1 TB to 240 GB. The only solution I know of out there is the "Logicube SuperSonix-NG Hard Drive Duplicator." I just can't justify spending $2050 for this plus I would want to get a few of the adapters and options with it to allow SAS drive clones too. I'm looking for a solution like this hardware HDD duplicator that's about half the price or less. Thanks!
I'm looking for the best solution for a HARDWARE hard drive (HDD or SSD) duplicator. I already have a great solution for software duplicating through my laptop and have several portable hardware HDD duplicators but none of them will copy from a larger HDD to a smaller HDD. Let's say I have a 1 TB HDD and only using 80 GB. And, I'd like to clone it to a 240 GB SSD. None of my hardware duplicators will allow it since the source drive is larger than the target drive--even though there's enough space to copy the data from the 1 TB to 240 GB. The only solution I know of out there is the "Logicube SuperSonix-NG Hard Drive Duplicator." I just can't justify spending $2050 for this plus I would want to get a few of the adapters and options with it to allow SAS drive clones too. I'm looking for a solution like this hardware HDD duplicator that's about half the price or less. Thanks!
Joseph Hornsey
I have this one and it works great.
You won't find a cheap one. For a duplicator to close from a larger to a smaller hard drive, it *has* to understand and be able to recognize empty space *AND* various partition formats or it'd break the partition rendering the cloned drive unusable. That means it has to run a fairly advanced OS and have a CPU, memory, etc to do so. Which means... Money.
So ply put, thus isn't something that should be done in hardware anyways. Too many variables that need to be accounted for.
So ply put, thus isn't something that should be done in hardware anyways. Too many variables that need to be accounted for.
ASKER
Thanks for the recommendation Joseph. Have you ever cloned a larger drive to a smaller drive when the data in the larger drive was less than the capacity of the smaller drive? Thanks!
Case in piint: the dock posted by a contributor here does not do larger to smaller. One of the first reviews on Amazon notes this limitation, as well as SSD support in general.
ASKER
Thanks for your comment Cliff. I was just hoping that technology has advanced enough to allow for this at a reasonable price.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Great point Cliff! I'd better start saving my money for that Ferrari! :) Have a nice weekend!
ASKER
Thanks Damian. I'm all set with a software solution though. I was looking for a hardware solution...a device that doesn't require a PC to duplicate drives.
Tired sorry, yes I see it, I have a few duplicaters but same and large capacity only. Good luck.