Can I also add that a few of the NAS devices will also run linux - if memory serves there's a NAS-specific Debian build you can use on a couple of devices... have a google - that thing could be routing your email, acting as a music server, a firewall and store your files amongst other things - I don't think it will make the tea though...
Pete On 19/09/2007, Mark Harrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Backups are not archives in my world :-) > > So, relating to the home network, not the work one: > > - I have a home network with a few machines > - All data gets stored on a server > - I have an external USB hard disk > - Once an HOUR, the server copies everything over to the USB drive > (rsync is your friend) > - Once an hour, at the "other half of the hour", the server copies "work > info" over to an ultra-low power PC, also running Ubuntu, so I have a > third copy of that. > > Work info is, in round terms, everything except Ripped Audio... > > ... so it DOES include my photos, and audio from my own products / > podcast, etc. > > > Oh... and I also have two filing cabinets for originals of bank > statements / mortgage / tax returns / etc. :-) > > > Mark > > > > > > > David M wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Now that external hard disks are cheap, I'm thinking about getting an > > external hard disk so that I can keep a backup of my data. In fact, I'm > > even thinking of getting *two* for alternate use so that if the worst > > should happen and my system dies while backing up my data I haven't > > toasted both my data and my sole backup.. > > > > When it comes to external disks, it seems I have the choice of not only > > a plain-old hard disk connected via USB, but also the possibility of NAS > > (networked-attached storage) where the hard disk is connected to my > > network, and contains a stripped-down OS so that it presents itself as a > > fileserver (I presume?). > > > > Does anybody know how well-supported either of these technologies are in > > Ubuntu? In particular, I'd also want to format the disk in ext3 format > > as I have no need or desire for MSWindows filesystems. > > > > > > On the one hand, NAS seems neat, but I don't have a home network, only a > > cheapo multi-port ADSL modem/router. These things tend to be a bit > > gnarly (and unfriendly) to set up at the best of times, so I don't know > > how easy - let alone whether - it would be possible to set the > > modem/router up to allow my computer to see a NAS disk. And given the > > horrible potential for unwittingly sharing the contents of a NAS disk > > with the entire internet, I'd have to be very careful! I gather that it > > is generally the case that any configuration of the NAS box can usually > > be done via a browser front-end; obviously any disk which requires > > Windows software is a no-no. > > > > On the other hand, a plain-old USB hard disk seems the simpler option. I > > would naively assume that as USB is now well-proven technology, these > > would work just fine with Ubuntu, but is that the case? How easy would > > it be to automate backups to such a disk? Would it mount with a > > persistent mount point, or would it change with every unplug or system > > reboot? > > > > > > Then there is the question of what backup strategy I should actually > > use. I was assuming that an automated rsync every week would be the > > easiest, but perhaps there are other possibilities? Something automated, > > once configured, without requiring user intervention is an absolute > > must: the whole point of doing backups is that I don't have to remember > > to do it! > > > > I mentioned above that having two external hard disks, alternating > > between current latest backup and disk being backed-up to, seemed a good > > strategy, ensuring that I always have one backup at all times. > > > > Alternatively, perhaps some kind of mirror RAID strategy would be worth > > considering, although that would seem to require me to have four hard > > disks to maintain my "always one spare backup" strategy (and is outwith > > my budget!). I also don't know whether USB HDs or NAS HDs are RAID-able. > > > > > > Can anybody offer any advice on this? > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > David. > > > > > > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ > -- 'In letters of gold, on a snow-white kite, I will write "I Love You!" And send it soaring high above you, for all to read!' RIP Billy M 1957-1997 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
