Linux Server/NAS Backup

xl3b4n0nx · December 26, 2017

Hello,

I am looking for a way to backup my server. At the moment it is only 8TB but that will grow over the next year. Currently I backup on Crashplan, but they have decided to discontinue their home user service. I want to avoid the Crashplan for small business because it essentially doubles my current cost.

I also have a backup on a set of external hdds that I combined into one drive using mhddfs. I will be moving out of my parents house in about 6 months and I can leave those drives set up there or I can get an equivalent amount of internal/external storage for essentially an offsite copy on a different machine. This is a decent option, but there must be something better.

I am looking for any suggestions for an equivalent backup solution to Crashplan. Could be a service or a better idea for a setup of my own. Any help is appreciated.

paddy-stone · December 26, 2017

A cheap NAS like a WD mycloud/external would be a better solution cost wise IMO. Or make a cheap server, with an integrated CPU and GPU, those can be pretty cheap, then use a cheap-ish case/chassis with enough space for the drives you want to have max. Cheap PSU, but not crap... total should be around £200 or less, then add RAM, then add the drives and use freenas or other suitable OS for your needs.

If you go for a service, that is gonna be expensive for 8TB+, and then say that is 5 years, will add up considerably. The same amount of storage on a self-built NAS, should last 5 years I would think if not a lot longer depending on your backup schedule. So about £500 possibly for cheap NAS build and the 8TB storage, then add drives as needed.. I wouldn't bother with anything more than using snapshots, redundancy is kind of taken care of with your main server, and snapshots in case of accidental deletion/corruption.

Or just use USB for backup, personally I prefer having a backup server, then if server 1 has issues server 2 can take over streaming/backup duties until you get server 1 fixed.

xl3b4n0nx · December 28, 2017

That sounds like a good idea. I have a plan to retire my desktop to my be my main server and my current to be a remote backup. That sounds like a good plan. Currently all of.my backup is on external drives. I would like to switch that to internal drives that only kick on when i need to do a backup. I am using Ubuntu 16.04 for my server. Do you have a recommended tool for doing snapshot backups?