NAS + Backup Recommendations ?

[este]

Hi all,

I've been charged with getting a NAS for our office since there is way too much unorganized file transfer and storage going on. I'm all for this except that we need backups as well.

I'm expecting the actual storage needed to be ~250GB which I would be glad to overkill to 500GB.

So my logical thought would be to get a 500GB external to backup the NAS every week or so. Then in the nas use 2x500 in Raid1 or 2x250, maybe some combonation.

Would like to keep the NAS around or under $500, and then use some sata seagates as the drives.


Can anyone recommend a better offsite backup or NAS setup then what I've described ??? Any recommendation on units ?

Thanks

[unhappy_mage]

Raid 1 (which is the mirroring level, not 0) is not backup. The best solution is probably going to be a backup software that writes a copy to DVD burner on a workstation connected to the LAN.

[CubicleGeek]

Then in the nas use 2x500 in Raid0 or 2x250, maybe some combonation.

I wouldn't run RAID 0 for a NAS. Even if you do daily backups you still risk losing worst case 1 full work day of work per worker on 1 disk failure. On your budget, I would pick up a NAS like the D-Link DNS-323 (http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=509), a couple of drives and run them in RAID 1.

Prices on Newegg:

D-Link DNS-323 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822155003) @ $229
400GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148138) @ $119.99 each after rebate

Will bring you to $470 before tax for a 400GB RAID 1 NAS solution.

[este]

Sorry sorry sorry, I wrote the wrong raid number. I do know which is which I swear :)

[este]

A DVD isn't going to work, because I don't want to write ~60 discs ever, let alone once a week. (250GB data right now, might have 500GB worth in a few months to a year, might still have 250 who knows)

I'll look at the DLink some more, I already own some .10's at home and like them.

But that doesn't help me with a procedure, program, or method for of-site backups. Maybe just a USB drive that I let copy overnight ?

[CubicleGeek]

The "cheapest" do-it-yourself off-site backup method is to invest in a tape backup system that can backup the entire NAS onto a single tape. Your target retention time divided by the backup interval is the number of tapes cartridges you'll need.

For example, if I want a 7 day retention of data and daily backup interval I would pick up 7 tape cartridges. Label them Sunday to Saturday and perform daily backup's with the appropriate tape labelled for the appropriate day, effectively rotating the tapes. Basically, I would have a snapshot of the NAS up to 7 days old. When the backup is done, the disk is to be taken offsite and the one for the next day brought onsite.

It really depends on your needs and how important the content is and how much you can afford to lose. You're looking at $1500+ for the drive + the cost of the tapes for a 400GB solution. "Cheap" is relative to your company's budget and the perceived importance of the data. As an individual I find that expensive and for some smaller businesses this may be quite the investment.