Reorg’ing the Home Server
on 12.07.06, 06:54am in computers • comments (5)
Some new thinking regarding my home network based on my recent data loss (see ‘Backups: Why Im An Idiot‘). In no particular order:
- I’m moving the bulk of my data off a home server and onto a RAID-based NAS. I like the concept of having a dedicated instant-on box (like the Infrant) for my home storage that I can access from any type of machine or other computing appliance (Tivo, Xbox, etc). No more device drivers, no more wierd USB issues, just an appliance.
- I’m moving some data to the cloud and will be hosting my home family website and photos up there instead. After much thought (and convincing from friends), there’s really no reason to host a website at the house.
- Robocopy and/or xcopy are awesome for quick, local backups.
More on this later on, but I’m already feeling better about this plan.
Josh (December 7, 2006 @ 10:36 am)
I just had a RAID failure a week or so ago, error in the rebuild process, and lost a bunch of data. Fortunately it can be replaced, but it was a wakeup call.
What hosting service do you plan to use for your web site and photos?
Brett Slaski (December 7, 2006 @ 11:26 am)
I assume Steve, you will still keep some backup of the RAID data. They are not fool-proof, stuff does happen. Sorry to push on your bubble.
Steve (December 7, 2006 @ 12:11 pm)
Yes, I should have added to #3 - that I’m backing up the most important things from the RAID to another external drive.
Steve (December 7, 2006 @ 12:11 pm)
Josh, I’m using dreamhost - same place that furrygoat.com is hosted.
Andrew (December 9, 2006 @ 11:33 am)
Okay, I have felt the pains that you all have felt. Let me tell you what the best way I have found is.
The Hardware: I purchased hot swappable SATA drive kits from http://www.granitedigital.com
Software: Either windows backup (server or regular version), write your own copies using copy or xcopy, or any flavor of backup software.
Have the backup software copy from all sources nightly. Then, swap the internal drive with another internal drive kept at a safety deposit box kept offsite every 2nd week.
Also, make copies on CD/DVDs of any important pictures, etc. on a 6mo. basis. I just realized that my library of personal pics, etc is getting quite large. The best thing I have found is do yearly folders with the folder structure being moved forward yearly.