On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:58:07 +0100 mick mbm@rlogin.net wrote:
On Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:52:28 +0100 Chris Walker alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk allegedly wrote:
[ some snips ]
2009 is a long time ago. Time to upgrade. :-)
I didn't realise it was so long ago until I started looking for the receipt. It's stored as a scanned image on the NAS ;-)
But of course you have a backup copy... :-)
Isn't that what RAID is for?
So, as you might well assume from the previous line, no I don't have another copy as I've always trusted RAID to deliver everything for me. I'm beginning to see the error of my ways though.
I'd agree with Steve. If you wish to continue to use a separate NAS, then build a PC to hold the disks and copy the data to new disks. I've had success with both debian and ubuntu in both raid 1 and 5. My current NAS uses 4 * 2 TB disks in a raid 5 array (backed up to a 6 TB USB disk) built using ubuntu server 16.04. (Incidentally, if you haven't already seen it, the "Wintel Guy" has a useful site at http://wintelguy.com/raidcalc.pl giving all sorts of useful info about raid configurations.)
Thanks. I'll take a look at that site. I'm tending to move to the 'build a PC for NAS' idea. I've looked at small(ish) cases and now need to start looking for suitable motherboards and power supplies.
Noel Galer suggested that I look on ebay for a replacement Edimax NAS box. Been there, done that, but all the t-shirts were sold out.
You don't want an old T shirt anyway.
I've already got plenty :-)
I think the drives hold something like 850GB of files of all sorts.
Given that, I'd go for 2 * 2 TB disks in raid 1.
Ok. Assuming that's the route I take, and adopt your maxim of backing that up to a large USB disc, can I automate that? I don't mind copying stuff to a NAS but then don't want to have to go to the trouble of copying stuff to a USB disc as well. The reason I want it to be automatic is that I know things will be overlooked if they're not.
P.S. I remembered to copy this to the list as well this time!
On 29 Sep 2016, at 17:42, Chris Walker alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk wrote:
But of course you have a backup copy... :-)
Isn't that what RAID is for?
No.
rm -rf /
Now recover from your RAID
— Sent from my Psion 5MX
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:42:25 +0100 Chris Walker alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk wrote:
Ok. Assuming that's the route I take, and adopt your maxim of backing that up to a large USB disc, can I automate that? I don't mind copying stuff to a NAS but then don't want to have to go to the trouble of copying stuff to a USB disc as well. The reason I want it to be automatic is that I know things will be overlooked if they're not.
In asking the question about automating the task of a backup, I don't mean running a backup for example, overnight. Instead I was wondering if it was possible to automatically copy anything new from the RAID to the USB device as it's written to the RAID.
For a device to house the discs, I'm considering one of these - http://www.ebuyer.com/722189-hpe-proliant-gen8-g1610t-819185-421-4gb-ram-mic... and using Debian as the OS.
Assuming that, to start, I use my existing discs, but later expand to 2 * 2TB drives, I assume that I can use all 4 drives but have each pair mirror one another. So that I have the 1TB discs mirror each other and the 2TB similarly mirror each other. Can I do that using RAID?
Next question concerns the filing system. Somebody has suggested to me that I should be considering zfs. I've no experience of that so is that something I should definitely do or possibly consider, or not bother with?
On 30/09/16 10:45, Chris Walker wrote:
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:42:25 +0100 Chris Walker alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk wrote:
Ok. Assuming that's the route I take, and adopt your maxim of backing that up to a large USB disc, can I automate that? I don't mind copying stuff to a NAS but then don't want to have to go to the trouble of copying stuff to a USB disc as well. The reason I want it to be automatic is that I know things will be overlooked if they're not.
In asking the question about automating the task of a backup, I don't mean running a backup for example, overnight. Instead I was wondering if it was possible to automatically copy anything new from the RAID to the USB device as it's written to the RAID.
I expect it will be possible, but not sure exactly how. I think some cloud backup systems copy files straight away.
For a device to house the discs, I'm considering one of these - http://www.ebuyer.com/722189-hpe-proliant-gen8-g1610t-819185-421-4gb-ram-mic... and using Debian as the OS.
I've thought about getting one of those too.
Assuming that, to start, I use my existing discs, but later expand to 2
- 2TB drives, I assume that I can use all 4 drives but have each pair mirror one another. So that I have the 1TB discs mirror each other and the 2TB similarly mirror each other. Can I do that using RAID?
I'm sure you can, but first, if you are replacing the disks because they're old or your worried about them, then replace the disks because they're old, not hang on to them! If there's any doubt about the old disks, I'd stop using them
You could do what you describe - you'd end up with two independent raid arrays. Look at the Wikipedia RAID article, there are various combinations
Next question concerns the filing system. Somebody has suggested to me that I should be considering zfs. I've no experience of that so is that something I should definitely do or possibly consider, or not bother with?
Personally, though I've heard of zfs, I've never used it. I wouldn't have a clue how to use it or its tools. I'd check up on how to create, use, fix a zfs partition & raid with a zfs filesystem. If you're happy, I guess carry on. Personally, I'm just happy with ext4 (or 3), as I know how to use it .
Good luck.
Steve
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:52:57 +0100 steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:
On 30/09/16 10:45, Chris Walker wrote:
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:42:25 +0100 Chris Walker alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk wrote:
For a device to house the discs, I'm considering one of these - http://www.ebuyer.com/722189-hpe-proliant-gen8-g1610t-819185-421-4gb-ram-mic... and using Debian as the OS.
I've thought about getting one of those too.
Ok. I've taken the first step and ordered one of those from ebuyer. They also offered hard drives to go in it and I'll take Mick's advice and add some new drives too.
But instead of going for 2 * 2TB, I'm going to add 2 * 3TB as the price difference doesn't warrant going for the smaller drives. EBuyer had those at around £95 instead of £97 at scan.co.uk.
Assuming that, to start, I use my existing discs, but later expand to 2
- 2TB drives, I assume that I can use all 4 drives but have each
pair mirror one another. So that I have the 1TB discs mirror each other and the 2TB similarly mirror each other. Can I do that using RAID?
I'm sure you can, but first, if you are replacing the disks because they're old or you're worried about them, then replace the disks because they're old, not hang on to them! If there's any doubt about the old disks, I'd stop using them
The existing drives aren't that old so I'm happy to keep those until the new drives turn up - I have yet to order those.
You could do what you describe - you'd end up with two independent raid arrays. Look at the Wikipedia RAID article, there are various combinations
I've looked at several sites including this one - https://raid.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/RAID_setup and also this one - https://www.howtoforge.com/software-raid1-grub-boot-debian-etch.
Next question concerns the filing system. Somebody has suggested to me that I should be considering zfs. I've no experience of that so is that something I should definitely do or possibly consider, or not bother with?
Personally, though I've heard of zfs, I've never used it. I wouldn't have a clue how to use it or its tools. I'd check up on how to create, use, fix a zfs partition & raid with a zfs filesystem. If you're happy, I guess carry on. Personally, I'm just happy with ext4 (or 3), as I know how to use it .
I would be concerned if something were to break and be faced with the difficulty of recovering data from a zfs disk so I might well stick with what I'm familiar with and that's ext3/4. I will again take Mick's advice though and in time add a USB disc for backup.
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:52:57 +0100 steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:
On 30/09/16 10:45, Chris Walker wrote:
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:42:25 +0100 Chris Walker alug_cdw@the-walker-household.co.uk wrote:
For a device to house the discs, I'm considering one of these - http://www.ebuyer.com/722189-hpe-proliant-gen8-g1610t-819185-421-4gb-ram-mic... and using Debian as the OS.
I've thought about getting one of those too.
It's turned up and I've been experimenting with it while waiting for a power lead adapter to arrive. The lead is to allow me to use a 120GB SSD which I have here.
I've been trying Ubuntu server running on to a 64GB USB stick. I have a question concerning updates. I've always had my machines tell me that updates are available but only to install them when I give the go-ahead. There is however an option with Ubuntu to either auto install them or to have Landscape manage them. I've not come across Landscape before and while I could easily google it, can somebody who has experience of it tell me if it's good, bad or indifferent?
What ought to be my preferred option with installs on a server?
My only additional software install in my experiments has been to install the Open SSH server but when I finalise the install to the SSD I intend to have a crack at an Owncloud install so that I have a centralised store for calendar events and address books.
Final question concerns a CBM Flash Disk which is supposedly built in but I can't find any documentation for it in any of HP docs, and nor online. Can anybody shed any light on what it can be used for please?
-
Chris Walker -
Huge -
steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk