45 Drives Co-Founder Doug Milburn – HGG647
Doug Milburn, co-founder of 45 Drives, joins me as we talk about the evolving storage server industry. We discuss the shift towards efficient data management solutions for both enterprises and home lab enthusiasts. Doug shares insights from his journey in computing, highlights the demand for high-reliability storage systems, and explains the advantages of using enterprise-grade components. We look at the current trends, including the move back to on-premises storage and the importance of RAID configurations. Finally, Doug previews upcoming innovations from 45 Drives aimed at enhancing performance for developers and video editors. Thanks for listening!
Doug Milburn, co-founder of 45 Drives, a company revolutionizing the storage server industry. We dive deep into the world of data storage solutions for both enterprise and home lab enthusiasts, reflecting on the evolution of technology and the increasing importance of efficient data management solutions.
Our conversation kicks off with Doug sharing insights on his extensive background in computing, starting from his early days programming with 6502 microprocessors to co-founding Protocase and eventually 45 Drives. He paints a picture of the origins of 45 Drives, highlighting how collaborations with companies like Backblaze influenced their product development, leading to innovative storage solutions that cater to both cost-effectiveness and high-speed performance.
We then explore the increasing demand for storage servers in home labs, particularly as more enthusiasts seek to create robust systems that can manage vast amounts of data. Doug elaborates on how 45 Drives has adapted its enterprise-level capabilities for the home user, offering machines that provide high reliability and flexibility without the overwhelming footprint typically associated with heavy-duty servers. He emphasizes the balance between performance and space, likening their offerings to a powerful pickup truck that gets the job done without wasting resources.
Our dialogue shifts to current trends in hard drive technology, including the shift from cloud storage back to on-premises storage solutions due to cost considerations. Doug explains the limitations of USB-attached storage and the advantages of assembly into larger arrays that improve data throughput and reliability. He shares insights on the importance of using enterprise-grade drives for continuous use and how they consistently outperform consumer-level variants under heavy workloads.
Throughout the discussion, we dive into crucial aspects such as the reliability of components when building a home server and the significance of RAID configurations to protect against data loss. Doug’s anecdotes about real-world use cases highlight the unique challenges faced by home lab users, including the need to balance speed, capacity, and redundancy.
As we near the end of our conversation, Doug reflects on emerging technologies in the storage domain, including the ongoing innovation in hard drive capacities and the introduction of new architectures that facilitate even faster data access. He also gives us a preview of upcoming developments from 45 Drives, including new products targeting developers and video editors, which aim to meld high-performance tools with usability for the home environment.
With a wealth of knowledge shared throughout the episode, listeners will walk away with a better understanding of the evolving landscape of data storage, practical tips for home labs, and a sense of the community built around shared passions in technology and innovation.
Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg647
Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #647 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.
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Links
https://store.45homelab.com/configure/hl15
https://www.goharddrive.com/default.asp
Chapters
[0:08] Introduction to Home Gadget Geeks
[3:03] Interview with Doug Milburn
[4:44] The Journey to 45 Drives
[8:02] Home Lab Space Exploration
[11:32] The Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck of Storage
[13:34] Direct Wired Architecture Explained
[17:34] Drive Durability and Consumer Choices
[18:40] Testing Drive Failures
[22:36] SSDs vs. Spinning Drives
[26:27] Virtual Computing and Proxmox
[27:57] Unraid Compatibility
[29:31] Counterfeit Hard Drives Discussion
[32:35] Used Drives and Data Center Practices
[33:42] Software for Drive Monitoring
[35:37] Wiping Drives Before Disposal
[38:00] Enterprise Drive Reliability
[41:40] Market Trends in Hard Drives
[46:29] Future Innovations at 45 Drives
[54:56] The Limits of Hard Drive Technology
[57:41] Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes
Summary
- Introduction and Show Overview[0:00]
- Jim Collison introduces the Home Gadget Geeks show, episode 647, recorded on May 22, 2025.
- Jim thanks the Patreon subscribers and encourages new subscriptions.
- Mention of the Amazon affiliate link and its benefits.
- Big thanks to Mark Robson for joining the previous week’s episode.
- Introduction to the main guest, Doug Milburn, co-founder and chairman of 45 Drives.
- Doug Milburn’s Background and 45 Drives Journey[3:39]
- Doug Milburn shares his background in computing, starting with 6502 microprocessors and Commodore PETs.
- Discussion on the development of Proto Case and Proto Space, focusing on innovative manufacturing.
- Collaboration with Backblaze and the development of cost-effective data storage servers.
- Evolution of 45 Drives, combining the need for speed and cost efficiency in storage servers.
- Home Labs and Enterprise Storage Solutions[7:38]
- Jim and Doug discuss the rise of home labs and the demand for efficient storage solutions.
- Doug explains the differences between cloud storage and home lab storage, emphasizing cost and performance.
- 45 Drives’ approach to creating specialized storage solutions for home labs.
- The importance of direct wired architecture for high-speed data transfer.
- Challenges and Solutions in Home Labs[16:20]
- Jim shares his experience with home labs and the challenges of managing multiple storage needs.
- Doug discusses the benefits of using enterprise drives over consumer drives for reliability and performance.
- The impact of SSDs and spinner drives on home lab setups.
- Doug highlights the importance of proper drive selection and configuration for efficient storage.
- Counterfeit Hard Drives and Data Security[28:26]
- Discussion on the issue of counterfeit hard drives and the importance of verifying drive authenticity.
- Doug introduces the Destroy Inator, a tool for secure data wiping of hard drives.
- The importance of data security and the risks of using unverified drives.
- Doug shares insights on the challenges of maintaining data integrity in home labs.
- Future of Storage Technology[1:02:55]
- Doug talks about the future of storage technology, including the potential of hammer drives.
- The limitations of current storage form factors and the potential for new designs.
- The balance between storage capacity and data access speed in large storage systems.
- Doug’s vision for the evolution of 45 Drives and its products in the home lab market.
- Conclusion and Audience Engagement[1:03:12]
- Jim thanks Doug for the insightful discussion and encourages audience engagement.
- Mention of upcoming guests and topics for future episodes.
- Jim invites listeners to join the live shows and participate in the community.
- Final thoughts on the importance of reliable and efficient storage solutions for home labs.
More from ChatGPT
Jim Collison hosts Home Gadget Geeks episode 647, featuring Doug Milburn, co-founder of 45 Drives. Doug discusses the evolution of 45 Drives, from Proto Case to Backblaze collaborations, and the development of cost-effective, high-performance storage servers. He emphasizes the importance of using enterprise drives over consumer ones for reliability. Doug also highlights the challenges of counterfeit hard drives and introduces the Destroyinator for secure data wiping. The discussion covers the benefits of RAID arrays and the future of storage technology, including the potential of hammer drives. Jim and Doug also touch on the practicalities of home lab storage and the importance of data security.
About 45Drives: Revolutionizing Enterprise Storage with Open-Source Innovation
45Drives, a division of Protocase Inc., is a Nova Scotia-based company reshaping how organizations think about data storage. Born out of a demand for large, cost-effective storage solutions, 45Drives designs and manufactures open-source, enterprise-class storage servers and infrastructure that’s radically different from traditional proprietary systems.
The brainchild of co-founder Doug Milburn, 45Drives started as an internal engineering project and has grown into a trusted partner for universities, research labs, video production houses, and enterprises that need petabyte-scale data storage without vendor lock-in.
At the core of 45Drives’ philosophy is transparency, community, and freedom. Their servers are built using open hardware, run on open-source software like Ceph, ZFS, and TrueNAS, and are supported by a team that believes customers deserve full access to their systems — from hardware schematics to the OS underneath.
What Sets 45Drives Apart:
- Open Source Stack: Unlike traditional vendors, 45Drives embraces open-source at every level. Whether you’re deploying ZFS for high-integrity local storage or Ceph for scalable distributed clusters, they help you build with freedom.
- Direct-to-Engineer Support: Customers get to speak directly with the engineers who design and support the systems, cutting through red tape and getting real technical answers fast.
- Custom Manufacturing: As part of Protocase, 45Drives has in-house manufacturing capabilities that allow for rapid customization of enclosures and configurations — ideal for research and specialized use cases.
- Scalability and Affordability: With configurations starting from 45-bay servers (hence the name) to massive scale-out clusters, they offer cloud-scale infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of proprietary vendors.
- Education and Community: 45Drives invests heavily in educating users with video content, tutorials, whitepapers, and webinars. Their popular YouTube channel features deep dives into storage architectures, builds, and open-source tools.
Popular Products and Solutions:
- Storinator: A flagship line of ultra-dense storage servers — capable of holding 45, 60, or 90 drives — designed for fast, reliable, and scalable data storage.
- Stornado: Optimized for speed with all-flash or hybrid NVMe options — great for high-throughput workloads.
- Ceph Cluster Builds: 45Drives offers fully-configured and supported Ceph clusters for building your own on-prem object storage solution.
- Helios64 & HomeLab Kits: While focused on enterprise, 45Drives has earned the love of hobbyists and homelabbers thanks to their transparency and documentation.
Trusted by Industry Leaders:
45Drives has worked with a wide range of clients including:
- Scientific research institutions (for genomics, physics, weather modeling)
- Video production studios and VFX houses (for high-speed post-production workflows)
- Universities and public libraries (for affordable digital archives)
- IT teams looking to escape expensive vendor contracts
Vision from Co-Founder Doug Milburn:
Doug Milburn, a serial inventor and visionary engineer, helped found 45Drives with a mission to empower users to control their infrastructure. His background in manufacturing and innovation led him to believe that enterprise tech should be open, understandable, and community-supported — values that now underpin the entire 45Drives brand.
Under Doug’s leadership, the company has become a beacon for organizations looking to adopt flexible, cost-effective, and open infrastructure without sacrificing support or performance.
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Popular Tags: Podcast, Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison, Doug Milburn, 45 Drives, storage server industry, data management solutions, high-reliability storage, enterprise-grade components, on-premises storage, RAID configurations
