Backup strategy

I've read a lot of posts on backup but not one with my question.

I have a 6TB NAS (nowhere close to full but...) that I use for almost all my storage needs. For one thing, all computers in my house can access it (iTunes server with a LOT of movies, TV shows, and music) and I figured the RAID feature would protect me. The NAS also hosts my Time Machine backups for two Macs.

Yesterday the NAS power supply died...luckily it's under warranty and a replacement is en route but I'm reconsidering my strategy.

I'm looking for a cost effective way to back up my NAS and possibly my computers as well (2 Macs and 2 pcs). Most online options backup computers but not a NAS.

RAID mirroring is the most obvious NAS backup solution. Complete duplicate of the data.

How, a second NAS?

No. If you have a multi disk nas drive, say 2x2tb you set it to mirror and both disks receive the same data.

If one disk fails the other contains all your data safe and sound

Except that in my above scenario the NAS chassis died. It is raided, but if you can't read the drives, then what?

That's just a power supply. Even if the enclosure failed you just take the disks out into a new one.

Your data is still safe.

Same Question

lrd said:

I've read a lot of posts on backup but not one with my question.

I have a 6TB NAS (nowhere close to full but...) that I use for almost all my storage needs. For one thing, all computers in my house can access it (iTunes server with a LOT of movies, TV shows, and music) and I figured the RAID feature would protect me. The NAS also hosts my Time Machine backups for two Macs.

Yesterday the NAS power supply died...luckily it's under warranty and a replacement is en route but I'm reconsidering my strategy.

I'm looking for a cost effective way to back up my NAS and possibly my computers as well (2 Macs and 2 pcs). Most online options backup computers but not a NAS.

Click to expand...

I have the same question as you.
Another scenario could be if your NAS was stolen or burnt up in a house fire. You have lost your data.

I have not figured out in my own mind about how to approach backing up your NAS?

DavidH

As soon as you talk theft or on site damage you're looking at the data being in an insecure environment (of sorts). On the back of this you need to be thinking off-site back-up. It's the only way to counteract an uncontrolled environment.

That said, there are an almost unlimited number of scenarios for backup. Limited by cost, effort, importance, practicality, infrastructure and more. So determining a backup solution without a full breakdown of use cases is just a shot in the dark.

You can backup any data to an online service, no matter what storage device is used.
You can raid mirror to hot swappable disks and put the mirrored disk in an on or off-site fire safe.
You can make copies to tape.
You can sync two NAS drives to one another.
Many many options. Some more appropriate than others depending on the use case.

But to determine which best suits means going back to some basic details;
Budget
Volume of data
Frequency of backup required
Speed at which the restored data would be required

There are other questions that can be asked but those give a framework onto which you can start to form a backup strategy.

mrplow said:

That's just a power supply. Even if the enclosure failed you just take the disks out into a new one.

Your data is still safe.

Click to expand...

I fully realize that...I noted in my OP that a replacement was on the way. I also noted that I realized that I need a better solution...RAID storage doesn't help in cases like this (or theft, or fire or...)

mrplow said:

As soon as you talk theft or on site damage you're looking at the data being in an insecure environment (of sorts). On the back of this you need to be thinking off-site back-up. It's the only way to counteract an uncontrolled environment.

That said, there are an almost unlimited number of scenarios for backup. Limited by cost, effort, importance, practicality, infrastructure and more. So determining a backup solution without a full breakdown of use cases is just a shot in the dark.

You can backup any data to an online service, no matter what storage device is used.
You can raid mirror to hot swappable disks and put the mirrored disk in an on or off-site fire safe.
You can make copies to tape.
You can sync two NAS drives to one another.
Many many options. Some more appropriate than others depending on the use case.

But to determine which best suits means going back to some basic details;
Budget
Volume of data
Frequency of backup required
Speed at which the restored data would be required

There are other questions that can be asked but those give a framework onto which you can start to form a backup strategy.

Click to expand...

Exactly. Your statement "almost unlimited number of scenarios for backup" is my issue...the sheer number of options is overwhelming. Hence my request for recommendations. But, here is more detail if it would help.

• One iMac
• One MacBook Pro
• One PC Laptop (with son at college...an online option would include him if possible)
• Two home PCs (neither get much use anymore however. I would most likely copy the important files to the NAS and then back up the NAS)
• Ihave cable internet..not the fastest uplod speed in the world but has been pretty reliable of late)

I am interested in online storage for the convenience and the fact my son at college can use it as well, but I would consider other solutions as well.

mrplow said:

That's just a power supply. Even if the enclosure failed you just take the disks out into a new one.

Your data is still safe.

Click to expand...

One would think that's true, but it's not. For some years I ran a mirrored raid in an external enclosure. It worked well until it didn't work well. Somewhere along the way the controller cards in the external enclosure decided to cease working, likely cause by a power supply issue I would later determine. The issue was they were ALL affected and they ALL trashed my discs. My primaries AND the mirrors were all shot. I was able to use recovery software to retrieve about 80% or so of my data but it proved to me that any system that relies on a single point of failure is still flawed and can cost you data. In the end there is no such thing as a perfect backup solution for the average home user. All you can do is try your best. HDD reliability has gone up in the last 10 years and you are probably safe for most part. If you have the money, a single mirrored RAID enclosure per disc (unless you can find/build a single enclosure with multiple power supplies for multiple discs etc.) would be best, but that gets expensive and requires space.

As for me, I run TM for my boot drive, but for everything else I trust the Universe to treat me kindly. That being said though, during a recent infrastructure upgrade to my system I lost a 1Tb drive full of TV shows I had ripped over the years. Software couldn't even read the disc so nothing was retrieved. I'm busily re-reipping content but at least I'm enjoying it. Something about Lemons and Lemonade applies here....

Well it sounds like you've chosen online storage.

Everything else is going to need power of some kind provided by you. If you believe that every back solution that needs a power supply is inadequate, handing it off to someone else I.e. online is the online option.

Narrowed down to that single option you just need to start looking for providers that provide a suitable answer to the four basic details I've provide in my post

mrplow said:

Well it sounds like you've chosen online storage.

Everything else is going to need power of some kind provided by you. If you believe that every back solution that needs a power supply is inadequate, handing it off to someone else I.e. online is the online option.

Click to expand...

Actually I haven't chosen on-line storage. Just limit the discs that utilize the single point(s) of failure. Doing so decreased the likely-hood of potential loss of data significantly.

baggss said:

Actually I haven't chosen on-line storage. Just limit the discs that utilize the single point(s) of failure.

Click to expand...

That was aimed at the OP.

mrplow said:

That was aimed at the OP.

Click to expand...

Gotcha. ;D

I haven't either...it's just an option that I think has merits. I'm still open to recommendations.

1. If I go online, which works best with all platforms (OS X, Windows)?
2. If I go hardware (offline), what would work best with OS X and a NAS?

1. The whole idea of cloud storage is that it's utterly platform-agnostic.
2. I just happened to be reading this: Review - HighPoint RocketRaid 642L SATA/eSATA card Review | MacNN

Just one option. Do a search on RAID on that site and I suspect you'll find a few more.