How do I setup 2 HDDs as a backup RAID array in my current rig?

[GokuGogo]

Hi all,

 

I've had my system running for about a year now and I wanted to set up a RAID array as a long term backup solution. I'm mainly wondering if I should be setting this up through BIOS or if there is a way in Windows to do this better.

 

My MOBO is a Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite ax DDR4. I have 2 8TB Exos HDDs that I've got mounted in my case but have not plugged in yet. The MB manual shows how to set up the RAID, however it does so on a system that has no operating system. I'm worried that enabling the options mentioned might somehow wonk out my currently running system that uses a few NVME SSDs for everything.

 

Is the BIOS the way to go, then set up a backup function in Windows to backup to that drive? Or is there a better way to just plug the drives in, boot, then configure everything in Windows?

 

Please let me know, Thanks ahead of time!

 

-GokuGogo

[LIGISTX]

12 minutes ago, GokuGogo said:

Hi all,

 

I've had my system running for about a year now and I wanted to set up a RAID array as a long term backup solution. I'm mainly wondering if I should be setting this up through BIOS or if there is a way in Windows to do this better.

 

My MOBO is a Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite ax DDR4. I have 2 8TB Exos HDDs that I've got mounted in my case but have not plugged in yet. The MB manual shows how to set up the RAID, however it does so on a system that has no operating system. I'm worried that enabling the options mentioned might somehow wonk out my currently running system that uses a few NVME SSDs for everything.

 

Is the BIOS the way to go, then set up a backup function in Windows to backup to that drive? Or is there a better way to just plug the drives in, boot, then configure everything in Windows?

 

Please let me know, Thanks ahead of time!

 

-GokuGogo

I would do it windows with windows storage spaces. You can set up a mirrored pair of drives in there, and that way it is totally separate from your mobo and SATA controller. If you end up changing mobo’s, it won’t have any impact on the array being able to be read by a new/different machine since it’s all software handled by windows. 

[GokuGogo]

28 minutes ago, LIGISTX said:

I would do it windows with windows storage spaces. You can set up a mirrored pair of drives in there, and that way it is totally separate from your mobo and SATA controller. If you end up changing mobo’s, it won’t have any impact on the array being able to be read by a new/different machine since it’s all software handled by windows. 

That sounds fantastic, I was thinking about upgrading down the line and giving my Mobo and CPU to my brother. This seems perfect. Thanks!

[Kilrah]

Note that RAID is NOT a backup. It only protects against outright drive failure, which is only one of the many ways you can lose data, and a lesser frequent one at that.

See it as a way to "not interrupt your work if a drive fails", i.e. increasing availability but not backup/data safety.

 

Backup should be separate.

[LIGISTX]

8 hours ago, Kilrah said:

Note that RAID is NOT a backup. It only protects against outright drive failure, which is only one of the many ways you can lose data, and a lesser frequent one at that.

See it as a way to "not interrupt your work if a drive fails", i.e. increasing availability but not backup/data safety.

 

Backup should be separate.

This…

[GokuGogo]

@Kilrah@LIGISTX I'm using the RAID drive AS a backup. I have my BOOT and accessory drives separate. So I have two copies of my data, one of which (the RAID array) has the ability to experience a drive failure without losing a copy. Am I missing something? Sorry if I was unclear.

[Kilrah]

What if your PC gets destroyed by a power surge, flood, fire? What if you get hit by a virus/ransomware? Having both copies in the same machine and online at the same time they're always at risk of being hit together. 

[GokuGogo]

7 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

What if your PC gets destroyed by a power surge, flood, fire? What if you get hit by a virus/ransomware? Having both copies in the same machine and online at the same time they're always at risk of being hit together. 

Fair point! An external NAS was next on my list and/or a cloud storage provider. Unfortunately I have a bandwidth cap so even with a cloud provider it would take me 4 months to back everything up if my household used zero internet otherwise. As of now, I keep a copy of my most important files on my laptop, my MacBook storage RAID array, my PC, some on a portable SSD, and now the PC RAID drive. Until I move or get a bomb-ass job after I graduate, this'll have to do for now.

 

I appreciate the advice on my current shortfalls! I'm falling down the tech rabbit-hole by the day so my goal is to be ultimately redundant with backups for my whole family at some point. I'm just outta cash. I only mounted the RAID drive into my PC cause I didn't have enough to get a decent external enclosure AND enough storage to last me the next two or three years.

 

What do you think would be the best next step for backing things up? I'd guess either cloud or a NAS server at a family members house to make it off site.

 

Thanks!

[Kilrah]

I currently have a NAS at home that handles the main backup, and an external drive that is stored at a friend's as offsite that I bring back every week or so to update.

Used to be 2 externals that were rotated but figured I could turn one into a NAS to that the main backup could be automated multiple times per day and versioned. 

[GokuGogo]

11 hours ago, Kilrah said:

I currently have a NAS at home that handles the main backup, and an external drive that is stored at a friend's as offsite that I bring back every week or so to update.

Used to be 2 externals that were rotated but figured I could turn one into a NAS to that the main backup could be automated multiple times per day and versioned. 

Awesome! Sounds like I have a solid roadmap for the future, thanks for the advice!