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[mareczek82]

Hello,

I just bought DNS-320L on auction, it will come with one 1TB WD Purple HDD - its used hardware, both NAS and HDD.

I have few question to prepare myself before I start to use new toy verry important hardware in my home.
1. I wanted transfer files from my PC HDD into NAS so I have backup my files on nas and clear PC's HDD.
2. take off one of HDD's from my PC and add to NAS and make RAID 1
2a is it good idea to mix "colours" of discs? In PC i have old WD Green?
2b or should i get same disc to avoid any complications?

Is it possible to do? Is Raid 1 good option to have "security" for home files?
Is this NAS model still good option for 2017? Main use is to keep and stream home movies/ pictures/ music in my home network. Will it work with HDTV movies?

EDIT: I read some of topics on forum and in one topic it was said that choosing "standard volumes" instead of RAID1 is better for security.
Am I understand it correctly: I use V(olume)1 as "working" HDD (maybe WD Purple?) and V2 as backup HDD (can DNS-320L - do backap from V1 to V2 on scheduled days?)

Do you think it will be more secure than using RAID1?
If yes, whats the point of using RAID1- what it gives to us?


PS. sorry for my english. Its not my native so i could make some mistakes. I hopu you understand my questions

[ivan]

A few answers.
1) yes you can transfer files from your computer as a backup BUT if you delete them from your computer you no longer have a backup (one copy of a file is not a backup and never will be).
2) that is possible but you will have to format it in the NAS (NAS uses Linux file system and does not understand windows file system).
2a/b) should not be a problem or cause problems.  The main difference between the drives is the mean time before failure and is generally not critical in a home NAS.

The type of RAID array will depend to a certain extent on how you want to use your NAS.
If loss of your data is a prime concern then I would recommend using RAID 1 - this gives security if one disk fails for any reason (in that case both drives should be the same capacity 1TB).
If moving files from your computer and reclaiming that space is important then formatting as two standard disks with one backing up the other is the way to go (remember you will have to setup the automatic backup from the primary disk to the secondary disk). Again both disks should be the same capacity.

To try and answer your question in your EDIT.
RAID 1 has the data on both disks written at the same time, they are exact copies of each other and if one disk dies you can rebuild the array and have al your data restored (you can also use the NAS while the array is being rebuilt and any data added will be on both disks).
Two separate disks, even with a timed backup from the primary disk to the secondary, will work as long as two conditions are true
a) the backups are frequent, at least once a day and nothing is being written to the disk during that time
b) the secondary disk is the one that fails.  If the primary disk fails then your data is only preserved up to the last backup, anthing written to the primary disk after that backup and before failure is lost especially if it has been deleted from the computer.

Once more, how you setup the disks will depend on how important loss of your data will be and the use you intend to put the storage.

As an example, now I am retired I have two NAS boxes at home with me, both RAID 1 with the second box mirroring the first box and then I have two more off site mirroring the two at home.  It might appear as overkill but I have not lost any of my data or that of friends that ask me to repair their computers.
 

[mareczek82]

thank you Ivan,

maybe i will clarify my question:
1. In NAS I have 1 disk - I transfer my files to NAS (with only 1 disk I cannot create Raid1, right?)
2. I put second disc, one from PC. Can I build RAID1 without data loss from disc 1? My question is: when I build raid1 does NAS format both disc's or just "clone" first one?

Two separate volumes looks for me more "secure" till I don't have solution like yours with second NAS (or external HDD) with backup of NAS.
So last question in this topic: when making backup- from V1 -> V2 or NAS->external HDD - does NAS software copy only new/changed files, or copy all data?

[FurryNutz]

You'll loose the data from the 1st drive if you choose to add a drive then select any RAID as the DNS will format the drives and wipe the data. You need to have your data backed up from the 1st drive before you add the 2nd drive then go for RAID. I believe you select normal standard formatting and not RAID, the data on the 1st drive should be un touched.

[ivan]

Answers.

1) correct.
2) This NAS ans all small NAS boxes use a software RAID setup, therefore the disks have to be formatted as the type of array you want in the initial setup - any data on the single disk is erased in this process.  With a software RAID array the data structure and RAID information has to be on the disks, it is put there during the first initial format (this is why you can't start with a single disk and add one later)  Single disks are a different setup and you can start with a single disk abd add one at a later date.

Backup from Volume_1 to Volume_2 uses a form of rsync so that only changed data is backed up.  As far as I know it is a copy operation from the NAS to an external USB drive plugged into the NAs although you can use rsync for incremental backups to a USB disk plugged into a computer but it dose require you install rsync on the computer.