Offsite or local?

[Beyondtech]

Good afternoon,

 

Ok, let me fill you in with some background info...

 

I have a house in the US (Texas) with some freeNAS boxes, and a media server. This house also contains an offsite business backup box. 

This house has a really good internet setup with a 1000mbit up and down link. I know, totally insane and overkill, and I am serious. 

 

I also have a house in Bermuda, this is where I spend most of my time, once again, this house has a NAS box and my computers I use on a daily basis. This house has an internet link of 25 down, 5 up. 

These two networks are connected through open VPN. 

I have other users accessing through the VPN, 1 in Switzerland, 1 in Baltimore.

 

I generally am just using word docs but the occasional picture or two. 

 

I am considering adding a file server.

 

95% of all the usage (which isnt very much, light load, 2-3hrs a day) is in Bermuda. 

 

Here are my two options: 

 

Add a file server in the US with the gigabit link and have a 'relatively' slow access from my primary location in Bermuda

 

Add a file server in the US and in Bermuda. Use the Bermuda when in Bermuda and other users will access through US box. Then perform a nightly sync.

 

Which is a better idea?

 

Please ask questions if required.

 

 

 

[suchamoneypit]

Your probably better off with the nightly sync as the download speeds in Bermuda will be a serious bottleneck, although if your just exchanging word docs and pictures, 25 mbit is plenty. Large files/transfers will be slow though.

[leadeater]

So in all your locations you already have NAS's, including Bermuda? You are looking at adding a File Server in US and/or Bermuda?

 

First thing I'll start off with is a NAS is a File Server, not exactly sure why you are wanting to add a service to any of the locations you mentioned that you already have. What exactly are you trying to gain by adding a File Server that your current NAS's can't do?

 

FreeNAS already supports both replication and rsync natively so if the NAS in Bermuda is not FreeNAS but a commercial product then it most likely supports rync, very common feature.

 

If you have a clear reason why you need to add a File Server then any extra details would help, details provided doesn't make it seem so.

 

Also holy crap I wish I had internet that fast.

[Bittenfleax]

I think nightly backups like others are saying. It seems like a good solution. However, redundancy will be needed. It will be a lot of hassle if you are in Bermuda and the US site/box goes down for any reason and it does not sync with Bermuda. Then US (well the Switzerland and Baltimore) users will not be getting the most up-to-date items.

 

However, using the cloud (Microsoft, Google for example) can be a much more safe and affordable (not that this is a problem with your financial status, haha)  and sometimes a quicker solution to the one you are proposing/editing? Also, with cloud the Baltimore and Switzerland users can access without needing to VPN accross countries.