# I have questions for the hard drive that I will be storing **URL:** \ **Category:** getting started\ **Tags:** hardware\ **Created:** [April 8, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/i-have-questions-for-the-hard-drive-that-i-will-be-storing/12885 "2021-04-08T14:07:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![muratyusufoglu](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/letter_avatar/muratyusufoglu/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@muratyusufoglu](https://forum.storj.io/u/muratyusufoglu)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/i-have-questions-for-the-hard-drive-that-i-will-be-storing/12885/1 "2021-04-08T14:07:02Z")
Is there a brand you recommend for the hard drive that I will mine, for example I can directly connect the internet cable. Finally, does it need to stay connected to the computer after installation? ---
**Author:** ![SGC](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/sgc/32/1132_2.png) [@SGC](https://forum.storj.io/u/SGC)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/i-have-questions-for-the-hard-drive-that-i-will-be-storing/12885/2 "2021-04-08T14:13:48Z")
storagenodes can run on a NAS or such things. one shouldn’t used USB external hdd’s if one can avoid it, and if you don’t have a NAS or similar “host/server/computer” then yes the hdd will need to be connected to whatever hardware runs the storagenodes, and it also needs 24/7/365 connection to the internet. ---
**Author:** ![champmine18](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/champmine18/32/62_2.png) [@champmine18](https://forum.storj.io/u/champmine18)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2021, 11:19am UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/i-have-questions-for-the-hard-drive-that-i-will-be-storing/12885/3 "2021-04-09T11:19:05Z")
definitely go for an enterprise HDD with PMR, they should be good for about 3 years with storj work loads. I tried consumer level HDD and SMR (shingled magnetic recording), they work for some time but you will run into problems sooner or later. Also, I would not recommend NAS or RAID systems. If you are running on a PC just get a direct SATA connected disk, that is most reliable. If on a pi you will have to go USB. ---
**Author:** ![kevink](https://storj.bcdn.literatehosting.com/user_avatar/forum.storj.io/kevink/32/6077_2.png) [@kevink](https://forum.storj.io/u/kevink)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 5:17am UTC](https://forum.storj.io/t/i-have-questions-for-the-hard-drive-that-i-will-be-storing/12885/4 "2021-04-10T05:17:00Z")
Personally I always use wd exclusively. The few hdds from other vendors are not to my liking but are small 2TB drives anyways 😄 But be sure it’s a cmr drive, not smr.