Want tips on NAS setup

[Camaxide]

I got two computers, and both have their storage depleted. One of them got 25 TB of data, and can't fit any more drives - even the Bluray player is disconnected in place of another 4 TB drive.

So, I've figured it's time to get a NAS for the following reasons:

 

1: Up my storage capacity without having to replace my load of drives in the computer

2: Be able to back up my files to keep important files both on computer and NAS

3: To be able to access shared files between multiple machines and users - and thus canceling by Dropbox Pro subscription while multiplying my "personal cloud" storage by many many times.

 

I'm good with computers in general, and I build and repair them now and then, but I've never done Raid on my drives, and never had a NAS - so I want to get some tips in order to make the right investment and the right setup.

 

I am looking at maybe a QNAP or Synology "station" with 8 bays, and stuff in something like 8 x 8, 10 or 12 TB drives.

That would give 64 TB without a raid, 32 TB in Raid 1, 56 TB in raid 5 and 48 TB in raid 6.

 

I want to be able to have different folders (or what sub-structure a NAS operates with) for different users, so that I can have "public" shared folders, as well as personal folders with username (password) for different users to access their files.

I also want to be able to have an "area" for backup - or perhaps actually opposite - to have an area of important files on the NAS - which I then have a backup of where the backup is stored on my own computer - since the NAS is the location that all users will access to watch our holiday pictures etc.

 

I'd like tips on the following:

1: If I should run raid, and if so, which raid? Might I be better off getting the full storage capacity, and just let the backup on my computer ensure the safety off my data? (It could be nice to be able to add more drives later for more storage, without having to delete the entire raid and rebuild - and it's ok to wait for a new drive to arrive if one of the drives should fail - I don't have to have a spare waiting for a crash)

2: if Raid, should I have one large array? or one for backup, and another for the other ('unbackedup') files?

3: How to split files for different users to have different access rights? Just different main folders and set access on them?

 

I also know that the likely best protection for my important files is to have them stored at a different location (other household) entirely, and this might be something I aim for - but with the current estimated cost of just one NAS and drives makes that a topic for later.

 

I hope someone has some good info, and any tips on things I simply haven't thought of yet is also welcome.

[Ryois]

12 minutes ago, Camaxide said:

1: If I should run raid, and if so, which raid? Might I be better off getting the full storage capacity, and just let the backup on my computer ensure the safety off my data? (It could be nice to be able to add more drives later for more storage, without having to delete the entire raid and rebuild - and it's ok to wait for a new drive to arrive if one of the drives should fail - I don't have to have a spare waiting for a crash)

 

I would run RAID 50. With 8 disks at 8TB, you will can lose 2 disks until major data loss, around 43TB of usable space I think.  

 

14 minutes ago, Camaxide said:

2: if Raid, should I have one large array? or one for backup, and another for the other ('unbackedup') files?

 

Depends are you very worried or is this very important like you would lose a business or work with the array?

 

15 minutes ago, Camaxide said:

3: How to split files for different users to have different access rights? Just different main folders and set access on them?

 

Yes or different shares in samba.

 

15 minutes ago, Camaxide said:

I am looking at maybe a QNAP or Synology "station" with 8 bays, and stuff in something like 8 x 8, 10 or 12 TB drives.

 

https://www.synology.com/en-us/support/nas_selector?people=1&size=2&addon[]=photo&addon[]=encrypt or https://www.qnap.com/en/product_x_selector/ QNAPS doesn't put the data in the URL as GET so you will have to manually enter info.

 

17 minutes ago, Camaxide said:

I also want to be able to have an "area" for backup - or perhaps actually opposite - to have an area of important files on the NAS - which I then have a backup of where the backup is stored on my own computer - since the NAS is the location that all users will access to watch our holiday pictures etc.

 

Windows built in would work. I would also use something like Google Photos for photo backup as an offsite backup.

[Camaxide]

Thanks for a fast and full response

11 minutes ago, Ryois said:

I would run RAID 50. With 8 disks at 8TB, you will can lose 2 disks until major data loss, around 43TB of usable space I think.  

What is the difference between Raid 50 and Raid 6? I understand it as Raid 6 also spends two drives for redundancy?

14 minutes ago, Ryois said:

Depends are you very worried or is this very important like you would lose a business or work with the array?

It will be very important files but personal still. Like family pictures, projects like a game I've worked on for 3 years etc. - but I will also keep a copy of those files on my computer.

16 minutes ago, Ryois said:

Yes or different shares in samba.

what is samba?

16 minutes ago, Ryois said:

https://www.synology.com/en-us/support/nas_selector?people=1&size=2&addon[]=photo&addon[]=encrypt or https://www.qnap.com/en/product_x_selector/ QNAPS doesn't put the data in the URL as GET so you will have to manually enter info.

I've looked at QNAP TS-831X-8G & TS-853A-8G, as well as Synology DiskStation DS1815+ & DS1817+ 8GB RAM

20 minutes ago, Ryois said:

Windows built in would work. I would also use something like Google Photos for photo backup as an offsite backup.

All my video's are in 4K and are very large files, and it is many many thousand images - I easily take a couple thousand pictures during a holiday - and I record all my gf's handball matches - so there is quite a lot to back up. I read Google Photos is max video 1080p and some other limits - and not sure about their speed limit - Dropbox's speedlimit is high for a free service, yet still it takes ages to upload and download large chunks of files there - like many days. but it worked fine for backup purpose until we hit the 1TB limit.

[Ryois]

 

6 minutes ago, Camaxide said:

Thanks for a fast and full response

What is the difference between Raid 50 and Raid 6? I understand it as Raid 6 also spends two drives for redundancy?

It will be very important files but personal still. Like family pictures, projects like a game I've worked on for 3 years etc. - but I will also keep a copy of those files on my computer.

what is samba?

I've looked at QNAP TS-831X-8G & TS-853A-8G, as well as Synology DiskStation DS1815+ & DS1817+ 8GB RAM

All my video's are in 4K and are very large files, and it is many many thousand images - I easily take a couple thousand pictures during a holiday - and I record all my gf's handball matches - so there is quite a lot to back up. I read Google Photos is max video 1080p and some other limits - and not sure about their speed limit - Dropbox's speedlimit is high for a free service, yet still it takes ages to upload and download large chunks of files there - like many days. but it worked fine for backup purpose until we hit the 1TB limit.

 

 heres about Raid 50 vs Raid 6
Samba is the way that Windows, Linux, and MacOS can share files. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_(software) ik ik Wikipedia...

ok what device is up to you.

What is your upload speeds? 

Heres some info from Google. 

Spoiler

https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6220791?hl=en&ref_topic=6156061

• Unlimited free storage.
• Photos are compressed to save space. If a photo is larger than 16MP, it will be resized to 16MP.
• You can print good quality 16MP photos in sizes up to 24 inches x 16 inches.
• Videos higher than 1080p will be resized to high-definition 1080p. A video with 1080p or less will look close to the original.

<1080p is NOT semi-equal to 4K GOOGLE!>

 

Heres some info from Dropbox. 

Spoiler

https://www.dropbox.com/help/space/upload-limitations

Files uploaded via the desktop app or mobile apps have no file size limit.

Files uploaded to dropbox.com must be 20 GB or smaller.

All files uploaded to your Dropbox must be smaller than your storage quota. For example, if your account has a storage quota of 2 GB, you can upload one 2 GB file or many files that add up to 2 GB. If you are over your storage quota, Dropbox will stop syncing.

 

 

[Camaxide]

28 minutes ago, Ryois said:

What is your upload speeds? 

I currently got 100mb/s up and down - but gets a lot less through Dropbox since they have a capped limit on speed to them.

About google I really don't like that they convert or really change my files in any way - I do as much lossless I can as well as 4K as I love high quality playback - so it's likely not for me - but I'm sure there are some other good options - but I feel that over time my best solution there is a second offsite NAS to care for my backups - as no service will give "unlimited" storage without some quirks to it.
though for now I guess I'll focus on the onsite storage and how best to make that as safe as can be - and keep in mind that I should do a second offsite NAS at a later time.

Ah of course, raid 50 means 5 and 0 - so it's striping the disks - but over multiple disks - so the more disks I got the less % I lose of storage capacity.. ? (compared to Raid 6)
If a raid 50 goes down from a broken disk, I can simply order a new one and replace that faulty disk and I'll be back rocking it with no data loss?

[Ryois]

Just now, Camaxide said:

I currently got 100mb/s up and down - but gets a lot less through Dropbox since they have a capped limit on speed to them.

About google I really don't like that they convert or really change my files in any way - I do as much lossless I can as well as 4K as I love high quality playback - so it's likely not for me - but I'm sure there are some other good options - but I feel that over time my best solution there is a second offsite NAS to care for my backups - as no service will give "unlimited" storage without some quirks to it.
though for now I guess I'll focus on the onsite storage and how best to make that as safe as can be - and keep in mind that I should do a second offsite NAS at a later time.

Ah of course, raid 50 means 5 and 0 - so it's striping the disks - but over multiple disks - so the more disks I got the less % I lose of storage capacity.. ? (compared to Raid 6)
If a raid 50 goes down from a broken disk, I can simply order a new one and replace that faulty disk and I'll be back rocking it with no data loss?

Within that same array I do believe https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/the-enterprise-cloud/raid-50-offers-a-balance-of-performance-storage-capacity-and-data-integrity/ 

[Camaxide]

So, after reading a lot and seeing the various tips I currently got planned to get 10 x 8TB disks - and 1 8slot NAS and a 2 slot NAS.
Then I plan to run for storage 6 drives in Raid 6 to get 32TB of storage with two disk "parity"
For my own personal backup I then want to use one of the disks in the 8-slot NAS running no raid which is for my own backup files - the 2-slot NAS will be having an identical drive which I frequently copy the files over to.
The last disk is also for backup files, and will also be using one drive on each NAS and will be my partners backup.
The 2-slot NAS will be located at my parents house and copy will go over internet.

Does the setup seem like a good idea, or does it have any flaws?
Also, it should be fine to do incremental manual copies between the backup disk at my own home, and my parents home? Is there usualy a system for that within the NAS? or do I simply hook up both locations and copy through something like total commander? (to get easily incremental updates of the backup)