IO Crest Syba 5 Bay 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDD External USB 3.0 / eSATA RAID Hard Drive Enclosure Support 80TB & RAID 0/1/5/10/JBOD RAID Mode SY-ENC50122

It looks great, but doesn't work with MacBook. I downloaded the software as instructed and it just doesn't load or do anything. I found a window that than latter suggested contacting the manufacturer as the software isn't compatible.

comparing with other multiple hard drives enclosure, this one is well built with metal case and very quiet fan to keep hard drive cool. software RAID is easy to setup and without conflict with windows 11. it also can be connected through esata controller besides USB which provides more stability and less likely to cause computer unexpected shutdown. of note, the esata controller has to have silicon image chipset, eg startech PEXESATA2 card for $25.

Many thanks to Bobbie Richardson for writing their review for raid 5 installation. Upon receiving my new 8 tb hard drives, I started installation and config of a Raid 5. After hard drive install, which is quick and easy, I sat up the switches for Raid 5. My computer saw each drive using my computers disk utility. I then formatted each drive. After completing that task, I rebooted my drive array and then ran the software that came with this unit. The program opened but saw no drives. I finally went to Amazon's web site and read reviews. After reading Bobbie Richardsons review, I followed it and ran the software as administrator. I then saw my drives as configured for Raid 5. The drive array is working fine at this writing.

For kinda better instructions follow below.DO NOT HAVE HARDWARE RAID AND SOFTWARE RAID AT THE SAME TIME. RESET THE DEVICE IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE.Requirements:Windows Disk Management - OpenSYBA Raid Manager - Open (Running as Admin - sometimes the drives wont show up when starting normally)Configuration instructions:1. Ensure device is powered off.2. Set DIP switches to RAID 5 (1 - Up | 2 - Down | 3 - Up)3. Hold reset button in the back and push the power button.4. Continue holding reset button for 15-20 seconds until one of the following happens in Disk Management. -4a. If Disk Management shows 5 different disks it did not work - start over. -4b. If Disk Management shows 1 large disk it worked - continue to step 5.5. Look at SYBA Raid Manager - Basic RAID Configuration menu (Basic Mode - 3rd Menu)6. You should see the Raid Name as 5BAY H/W RAID 57. Go into Disk Management and right click on the new disk to initialize disk8. You can now create volumes on you new RAID 5 drive.If these instructions are wrong or inaccurate please post your findings to help the community.

Build quality is great, but it makes hissing noise when 3 or more hard drives are added. not sure where it is coming from. I tried switching hard drives, but when two or more drives are added, it makes the annoying hissing sound. My ears can't tolerate it and I have to place this enclosure close to my PC, unfortunately. Overall it's a good product except for the noise issue.