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[maxjbo]

I have no idea if this is a device limitation or because of the OS one but I can't use it to backup Bitlocker encrypted drives.

Anyone knows if there is a way of encrypting data on the drives?

Otherwise, this is the last straw, the device is too limited to be used as a file server (no indexing support, no disk health information, issues with Media Center/Extenders) and I can't use it as a backup device either...

[hilaireg]

I have no idea if this is a device limitation or because of the OS one but I can't use it to backup Bitlocker encrypted drives.

Can you provide more details as to what you're trying to achieve?  You're going to have problems with any backup solution if you're attempting to use the backup to copy data to/from a BitLock'ed partition.

Anyone knows if there is a way of encrypting data on the drives?

The DNS uses EXT2/EXT3 partition structure; the volumes are not encrypted AFAIK as you can use various utilities to mount the volume offline and copy the data. 

Otherwise, this is the last straw, the device is too limited to be used as a file server (no indexing support, no disk health information, issues with Media Center/Extenders) and I can't use it as a backup device either...

IMHO, the DNS is a 'lite' business device or 'high-end Home' device - most 'solid' business devices wouldn't have BitTorrent capabilities for example.  That said, the DNS-343 does sport Active Directory integration ... it is currently broken however, but hopes are that the next firmware update will address the issues.


It would seem to me like you need to look at a enterprise rated solution to meet your needs.  Additionally, you may need to review your backup strategy to ensure that your not spending $$$ for something you may not actually require.

Here are a few example questions you may wish to answer for yourself,

- Do I need to backup data on my workstations to a central storage solution?
- Should my workstation data actually reside on a central server /w in-place security
- What in-place security do I actually require on my server
- Do I need a RAID solution for disk redundancy?  If so, should it be RAID1/RAID5/etc.?
- Should I be looking at a Backup Software Product that can backup data to a NAS?  Should the product allow me to assign a password to the backup file?  Will that be sufficient?
- Do I need to put physical security in place to ensure that the equipment is not easily accessed?
- Do I need to encrypt the LAN traffic to ensure that the data on the wire is not compromised?


HTH,

[maxjbo]

The integrated backup solution in Vista can handle Bitlocker very well as far as I'm concerned, it allows me to backup to pretty much anything without problems (but not without drawbacks).

Even though that wasn't my intention when buying this device, what I'd like to do now is backup the PCs (or at least 1) to an external RAID-1 unit (the DNS-323). Since Bitlocker is not supported, the process is useless, as I would backup my encrypted data to an unencrypted destination.

I don't agree with you with the "high-end" home device, because in my eyes, the features I would consider high-end are missing or poorly implemented. This looks to me like it's an enthusiast device, in the way that I could probably end up using it for 100's of different functions, none of which I'm really interested in since I can do it from another PC already.

I have a Media Center setup at home and I really wanted to use the device as centralized media hub, copy/share/stream files and with the added Bittorrent functionality it would have met my expectations 100%. Instead, what I found out is that the speed is too slow considering I have 2x 1.5TB. So I'm trying to convert it into a backup unit, but it seems I'm limited in this area too

[hilaireg]

Even though that wasn't my intention when buying this device, what I'd like to do now is backup the PCs (or at least 1) to an external RAID-1 unit (the DNS-323). Since Bitlocker is not supported, the process is useless, as I would backup my encrypted data to an unencrypted destination.

The internal DNS backup option is intended as an outbound solution.  It seems to me that you want a backup solution that resides on your PC(s); that solution should provide backup to a device on the LAN as well as an ability to apply security to the backup file - i.e. password. 

I don't agree with you with the "high-end" home device, because in my eyes, the features I would consider high-end are missing or poorly implemented. This looks to me like it's an enthusiast device, in the way that I could probably end up using it for 100's of different functions, none of which I'm really interested in since I can do it from another PC already.

Fair enough.  IMHO, the device should have provide RAID1 with folder permission handling (not folder sharing /w permissions).  There are workarounds to implementing rudimentary folder permissions but they are 'clumsy' at best.

AFAIAC, the DNS is for storage of non-senstive (public) files.  Files that are sensitive or require some security measures should either be password protected or reside on a more secure solution.

What type of 'high-end' features would you have expected to see? 

Cheers,

[ttmcmurry]

The most important thing to know is BitLocker requires a NTFS-formatted partition.  It doesn't work on FAT/FAT32 or anything else for that matter.  One of the reasons has to do with the key & cryptogrophy and the other has to do with the "multiple data streams" possible within files on NTFS partitions.

Most backup solutions I've seen where BitLocker is in use run under certain assumptions:
1)  The backup software is running on the PC where BitLocker is in use
2)  The backup software runs as a user who has permission to read the encrypted data
3)  The backup software backs up the encrypted data in unencrypted form

Some apps let you password-protect your backups and/or even encrypt the backup data (if compression isn't a necessity).  Depends on the app.  This is the kind of backup you can use successfully with a DNS-323 in conjunction with a BitLocker encrypted drive.

If we were talking a Windows Server environment and BackupExec then it's a whole another game since we'll have more options.  But this is a consumer grade device with no NTFS support or the price tag that comes with it.

(AND I FREAKIN LOVE MY DNS-323!!!)

edit:  I would also add that in Vista & Seven you can use Windows Backup to do exactly what you're trying to accomplish.  On your 323, create a new mount point (e.g. Volume_1/Backup).  If you want security such that only you and say a "backup" user have access; make sure you have accounts created for both, and give the users read/write access to that mount point.  When you add \\dns323\Volume_1\Backup to the Backup locations in Windows Backup it will ask you for a Username & Password and will store that info; use your username or the backup username (whatever you prefer).  You can repeat this on all Vista & Seven systems to save your data.  In the case you need to restore, insert your bootable Vista/Seven install DVD and restore from there .. or in the case of a OEM system you didn't receive a disc, simply fully restore your system, then go to Windows Backup and restore again from there.

[KWheelerAZ]

maxjbo, have you looked into other Vista compatible backup solutions? I do not have Vista installed but I use Acronis Trume Image Home 11 with my DNS-323 and it works freakin' great! True Image supports encrypting the backup with a password. Check it out.

[ttmcmurry]

+1 for acronis.  Great solution.