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[D.johns6]

Can anyone let me know how they use the DNS-325 unit.

1.should I move all 3,000 music files from my PC to the DNS-325 or should I just let the unit make copies of everything and leave the original files on my PC?

2. Should I move all documents form my PC to the DNS-325 ?

3. Should I move all Photographs from my PC to the DNS-325 ?

Does everyone use this DNS-325 as a central storage unit or do you still have all files loaded onto each PC unit? I also have my Wireless Laptop and PlayStation 3  I'm not for sure how to use this device to store and back up my files on my Wireless network?

I am not  PC savvy .

Thanks for any Help with my questions.

Dean

[JavaLawyer]

From your other posts, it looks like you are planning on configuring your DNS-325 as a RAID array (RAID 1?).  

The first point that should be made is that RAID 1 is not a replacement for a robust backup strategy. RAID 1 is a mirror, where the minute you write or delete data from HDD1, the data is instantly written/deleted from HDD2.  That said, if you accidentally delete a directory from HDD1, a RAID 1 solution provides no means of recovery because the data is instantly deleted on both drives.

RAID 1 provides redundancy (and greater % up-time) in the event of a hardware failure, but does not provide secure backup under many scenarios. If your data is critical, you should absolutely make sure all data is stored on at least two separate physical drives.

RAID 0 is even more dangerous, as the failure of one drive will cause 100% loss of all data.

[D.johns6]

Thanks for replying to my issues, Yes I am planning on using Raid 1 Mirroring both hard drives but during the set up should I leave all data on my PC 's or should I choose to move all data into the DNS-325 unit? I assume other people use the DNS 325 as a central storage unit and leave the PC's empty except for just Software Programs and just network into the DNS-325 each time they need to get documents , pictures and music?

I can also leave everything on my pc and just use the DNS-325 as a back up drive? I'm not so good at PC back up systems and need to plan ahead before I do something bad . I am a PC Dummy.

Thanks
Dean

[JavaLawyer]

You several options to consider.

You can format the DNS-325 as two standard Volumes, where HDD1 contains your source data and HDD2 contains the backup. Using this approach, through the DNS-325 you can schedule nightly (or weekly) automated backups between the two volumes.

This approach will give you more control in the case of accidental deletions.  Remember, if you accidentally delete a major parent directory, there's no "undo" button. With RAID 1, the data is instantly deleted from both drives. So, unless you have another full backup of your data, using RAID 1 as your only data storage could result in disaster (I strongly discourage you from doing this, but the decision is yours to make).

Personally, I have two DNS-343s where one unit holds my primary data, and the second unit backs-up the first.

. . . .

Regarding keeping or removing your data on each PC. . .

I keep my data centrally located on the DNS, where each PC on my network directly reads/edits the data on the NAS.  Adopting this approach will force you to stay more organized and is easier (IMHO) to administer. This is my personal preference and is something you need to evaluate on your own.  Again, unless you have a full backup of your data, this is a risk-ladden approach.  

A second approach is local storage on each PC, where you schedule nightly or weekly or ad hoc backups from each PC to the DNS. This approach works well for laptops that are frequently off the network, but need to be synced up periodically.

If you have a large media library, your best bet is to maintain the master copy of your data on the DNS-325 (as this is a task the unit is designed for).  Managing your photos and media files on the NAS makes organization much easier and makes sharing data among other devices on your network easier as well.  Again, make sure you have a full backup of your data, and remember, RAID is not a backup, just a means of providing redundancy.

[D.johns6]

Thank you for your assistance , your help is very valuable , I will have 4 choices during set up (Standard) (Raid 0) ( JBOD) ( Raid 1) you mentioned you have 2 boxes but I only have 1 box with 2 drives. Should I not choose Raid 1 during set up or something else?.

I will move all my Photographs and Music to the DNS - 325 and leave documents on my pc and laptop and have DNS- back everything weekly unless I need to have back ups happen more often?

Thank you again for your input .

[JavaLawyer]

If you have a full-backup of your data elsewhere then RAID 1 is okay.   Remember, RAID 1 in and of itself does not provide data backup, just data redundancy.  You shouldn't rely on RAID 1 as the ONLY storage location for your data.

If you don't have a FULL backup of all your data elsewhere, you may want to consider formatting your DNS-325 as two standard volumes (instead of RAID 1), where DNS drive #1 stores your master data and DNS drive #2 is the backup.  See my last post for the pros and cons.  This approach may be more valuable to you than RAID 1 in terms of data security (but may be slightly more involved to maintain).

This is a philosophical decision that you'll have to weigh on your own.  How many backups are enough? How important is my data? How convenient is the solution?  How difficult is the solution to maintain?...

[D.johns6]

Thanks for your generous reply again.

I was watching the Tutorials on D-Link older models of the DNS-325 and they suggested the safest back up is Raid 1 Mirroring?.  This way you have a second hard drive in case one goes bad you just pull one hard drive out and replace it with a new one.

Like I said I'm a Network Dummy and just want to make sure I have my Music and Photographs and Doc's protected so in case a drive goes bad I still have a chance to recover.

I had a Western Digital Hard Drive and all my back up sets were lost because the drive went bad, as it stands right now I only have everything on my main Office PC until I get my DNS-325 hooked up and running.

[JavaLawyer]

Glad I can help.

In truth, RAID 1 is appropriate if you already have a copy of your data elsewhere.  So, if your files are also located on your PC(s), then you should be okay. 

As I said, if you accidentally delete a directory, all of the files immediately erase from both drives on the mirror simultaneously, leaving you with no data and no easy recovery options.  Unlike a PC, where you can remove a deleted file from the "recycle bin", the NAS has no recycle bin. . . Once a file is deleted, it's gone.

[D.johns6]

OK I think I get it now. I'll use the Standard setting instead if Raid 1 that way I will have 2 identical back up's that makes sense .

Again , Sorry for being such a PC Dummy LOL 

[D-Link Multimedia]

Glad I can help.

In truth, RAID 1 is appropriate if you already have a copy of your data elsewhere.  So, if your files are also located on your PC(s), then you should be okay. 

As I said, if you accidentally delete a directory, all of the files immediately erase from both drives on the mirror simultaneously, leaving you with no data and no easy recovery options.  Unlike a PC, where you can remove a deleted file from the "recycle bin", the NAS has no recycle bin. . . Once a file is deleted, it's gone.

Just to make a comment on this, the DNS-320 and DNS-325 actually DO have a recycle bin. You can turn it on in the Account Management > Network Shares options. Edit the volume you want to turn the recycle bin on for and check off the "recycle" option. A new Share will appear under the NAS and when you delete files they will auto move to that Share. If you want to permanently delete the files then delete them from the Recycle bin. (This is not on by default).

[JavaLawyer]

Just to make a comment on this, the DNS-320 and DNS-325 actually DO have a recycle bin. You can turn it on in the Account Management > Network Shares options. Edit the volume you want to turn the recycle bin on for and check off the "recycle" option. A new Share will appear under the NAS and when you delete files they will auto move to that Share. If you want to permanently delete the files then delete them from the Recycle bin. (This is not on by default).

Wow!  I didn't know this was added to the new DNS series.

D.johns6 -- In light of this new feature (which eliminates much of what I was concerned for you about), you should be okay with RAID 1.  This should not deter you from keeping another physical backup of your data however.  And it's important to understand the strengths and limitations of RAID.

Here is a thread from the DNS-323 forum discussing the pros/cons of mirroring: http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=37714.0

[D.johns6]

OK Thanks, I will go ahead and use the Raid 1 and turn on the Recycle Bin on the Device and I should be good .

Like I said I'm a PC Network Dummy and just want to make sure I set this D-Link DNS-325 correctly, so I can use it for central Data Device and not worry about anything after my back up after my  Western Digital Back Up  Device failed me with all my back up's on it were gone.

I do appreciate all your wonderful assistance and will keep you posted . I should get my new DNS tomorrow it's sitting at the post office for delivery tomorrow 4/26/11

Thanks again! 
Dean

[JavaLawyer]

Best of luck. 

[georgechr]

I was browsing in the forum and found this discussion very interesting.

Since i am a newbie as well with Network Attached Storage, i seem to be muffled by the choices.

The reason i purchased my NAS is to have a central file server for all my family. I bought 2 disks of 1TB each so that one works as a backup of the other. I though this was the case with RAID 1, but from what i read its not. I always saw people recommending the use of RAID 1. Why is that? Since it will not work as a backup whats the purpose? Does it offer anything else in terms of speed or as such?

Because i seem to have made the wrong choice in setting up my drives as RAID 1. What i had in mind before i started was that i would have all my precious data on one drive, and using a software like memeo backup, it would create a backup of that drive, that would be daily updated, therefore if my 1st drive crashed, i would just restore the second one. Should i be using standard volume formatting? I have the data backed up on an external hard disk, but dont want to constantly updated that one. Thats why i bought a NAS so that i could this automagically

I searched for the recycle bin feature, and enabled it for the Volume_1 network share, but i cant see the recycle bin anywhere on my drive, neither i am seeing a new share. I only see a Volume_1/P2P that i cant remove and a Volume_1.

[JavaLawyer]

The reason i purchased my NAS is to have a central file server for all my family. I bought 2 disks of 1TB each so that one works as a backup of the other. I though this was the case with RAID 1, but from what i read its not. I always saw people recommending the use of RAID 1. Why is that? Since it will not work as a backup whats the purpose? Does it offer anything else in terms of speed or as such?

Because i seem to have made the wrong choice in setting up my drives as RAID 1. What i had in mind before i started was that i would have all my precious data on one drive, and using a software like memeo backup, it would create a backup of that drive, that would be daily updated, therefore if my 1st drive crashed, i would just restore the second one. Should i be using standard volume formatting? I have the data backed up on an external hard disk, but dont want to constantly updated that one. Thats why i bought a NAS so that i could this automagically

I searched for the recycle bin feature, and enabled it for the Volume_1 network share, but i cant see the recycle bin anywhere on my drive, neither i am seeing a new share. I only see a Volume_1/P2P that i cant remove and a Volume_1.

Below are several stickies I posted in our FAQ library that should provide some guidance on the issues you're having. I strongly suggest you read each of these:

• Data Backup vs. Redundancy
• Configuring the Recycle Bin
• Local (Volume_1 -> Volume_2) Backups in the DNS-320

If you can successfully use the Recycle Bin (see link above for instructions), then your RAID 1 array will be "closer" to a true backup in the sense that you can recover deleted files. There are other pitfalls to RAID 1 (see link above), such as viruses that infect your source volume will copy to your backup volume in real time (which is not the case with a true backup).

If you choose to move away from RAID 1, configuring your DNS-320 as two Standard Volumes is a second option. You can use the DNS-320 local backup functionality to schedule incremental backups (copy the changes) from Volume_1 to Volume_2 (i.e. between HDDs in the same NAS) on a scheduled recurring basis.

The only downside to this approach is that although the incremental backup will copy the changes from Volume_1 to Volume_2, if files are deleted from the source volume (Volume_1 in this example), the files are not removed from the backup (Volume_2 in this example). This will cause your backup volume to grow incrementally larger than your source volume over time. To reconcile the difference between the source and backup volumes you can use a third party software product (running from a PC) to delete the difference once a month. This is the approach that I use with my two ShareCenters. I personally use Syncback and have no experience with Memeo.