Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[stillerz]

I'm wondering if anyone knows if when the new final v1.08 firmware is available, will I need to reformat my hard drives?

I bought my unit new and immediately put the 1.08b5 firmware on it, then formatted my 1.5TB Seagate drives using ext3 format.  I'm running RAID1 for 1TB of the  storage capacity and JBOD for the rest.

Thanks!

[gunrunnerjohn]

I can't imagine that it will, I didn't have to format for the beta version, and the release should be similar.  I have upgraded a number of versions on my box without formatting.

[stillerz]

Thanks, that's what I'm hoping.  I wish there was more o***uarantee because I want to move a bunch of files on the NAS then sell the other system that they're sitting on currently.

I'd hate to have to move everything back and redo the whole thing.

Also, any thoughts about RAID1 plus JBOD on my two 1.5TB drives?  My intent was to put data file backups on the JBOD part of the NAS and use the 1TB RAID1 volume for primary shared storage such as shared media (iTunes), movies, and so on.

I'm asking because I've seen others say its better performance and reliability-wise to just have two standalone disks and copy backups between them.

[gunrunnerjohn]

RAID of any level is NOT backup.  I would not trust your only copy of something you value to a single copy, even on a RAID disk.

Remember: Data you don't have at least two copies of is data you don't care about.

[stillerz]

Yeah, thanks, I'm aware of what RAID is and is not.

I guess the way I see it is that this stuff isn't backed up right now anyway, so some additional fault tolerance is better than what I have.

The difference in storage is that in my RAID1 plus JBOD configuration I get 2TB of storage space, whereas if I have two standalone discs I actually only have 1.5TB if they have to back each other up.

[gunrunnerjohn]

It's your data. 

[lizzi555]

...  My intent was to put data file backups on the JBOD part of the NAS and use the 1TB RAID1 volume for primary shared storage such as shared media (iTunes), movies, and so on....

That is not a good idea.
Your raid provides fault tolerance - if one disk fails, your data is still accessable - but only for the raid !
But your Backup is on the same disks !
The JBOD will be destroyed and your backup too if one disk fails.
You should always backup to an external device if you use raid with your NAS.

[gunrunnerjohn]

lizzi555, we're singing the song, but he's not listening. 

[stillerz]

Thanks.  I guess my philosophy around backups are a little different than yours.  I don't worry too much about losing a backup drive because I always still have the original files on the source system.  If my backup drive crashes, I go to the store the next day, buy another drive and just do another backup.  Its no big deal, as no data is lost.  That's why I don't care as much around using JBOD.  Its only purpose in life is to be used if the source drive fails.

[gunrunnerjohn]

That's entirely different, but you were speaking of using the RAID array for "primary storage", no mention of backups there.  The whole point is having a second copy wherever it is. 

[mig]

That's why I don't care as much around using JBOD.  Its only purpose in life is to be used if the source drive fails.

You should re-read lizzi555's post, I'm not sure you understand what was posted. 

Because your backup (on JOBD) is on the same disks as your source (on RAID1),
if a source drive fails your backup (on JBOD) will be gone, too.  The backup (on JBOD)
will never be able to fulfill its "purpose".

But, it's you data, so you choose how to protect it.

[stillerz]

Yep, I'm well aware that I could lose a backup drive, and I'll just go buy another one, install it, and run a backup routine.  Like I said, I still have the original files on my laptop after all. 

Losing a backup is only a big deal if you lose that backup and the originals at the same time, which could happen I guess if my house flooded or burned down.

[mig]

Like I said, I still have the original files on my laptop after all.

I guess I misunderstood your configuration.  When I read your second post, on this thread... 

My intent was to put data file backups on the JBOD part of the NAS and use the 1TB RAID1 volume for primary shared storage such as shared media (iTunes), movies, and so on.

I thought the DNS-323 was your primary shared storage (RAID1) and your backups (on JOBD)

[stillerz]

No, the data file backups are stuff that I have on my laptop(s).  Windows backup files, copies of documents directories, quicken backups, things like that.

The shared storage is mostly media.  DVD files, mp3s, and photos.  With the photos being the only thing that is truly unique and valuable.  Those (the photos) I would probably backup only occasionally to some other detached storage not the JBOD, so if both of the discs in the RAID1 array failed at the same time, I would lose those photos that hadn't been archived between the time of my last archive and the failure.  Adobe Photoshop elements prompts you to do a backup ever so often, so that would be the interval we're talking about.

What I'm trying to do is pick a drive configuration and stick with it.  I know I won't want to change once I start copying files onto it.  Right now I'm looking at two options:

Config 1:  Volume 1 = RAID1 for 1TB of space, Volume 2 = JBOD for the rest (about 1TB)

Config 2:  Volume 1 = Disc #1 (1.5 TB), Volume 2 = Disc #2 (1.5 TB)

Either one could accomplish what I want to do.  Config 1 gets me some fault tolerance on the media.

Was looking for insights on how others have setup their volumes?

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have an automated backup on a semi-weekly schedule for all my data and a weekly image backup of my boot drive.  It solves the issue of forgetting to backup...