Want suggestions for inexpensive NAS for backup

[cellsee6]

I have 6 computers, 3 are running Windows 10 pro and 3 are running Windows 7 pro.
I have usb drives connected to each to which a backup program (Macrium) writes an image.
I’d like to use a NAS to store the backups.
Q1) What NAS would you suggest?
Q2) What are your thoughts about the QNAP 4-bay NAS?
Q3.) What are your thoughts about configuring the drives in the NAS as RAID 1?
With 4 drives I should be able to have 2 RAID 1 arrays, yes?

 

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[Alex5723]

Maybe start by reading : The best NAS drives 2021

Your budget is also significate factor when investing in a NAS drive as is the max storage of the drive.

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doriel

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[cellsee6]

Thank you for the link

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[doriel]

Hello,
I have a Synology DS418Play (approx 500 USD without HDDs). And Im satisfied with that. In the 6 year+ usage, I had to replace one HDD. RAID set to 10 (link here). It has a web interface for easy access, but I strongly recommend not to allow the option to acces your NAS via internet – its a tempting target, its OS is very basic, although patched regullary.
Synology initial setup is very intuitive and quick, there is a wizard to guide you through.

I have no experience with QNAP, but I consider it as very solid solutions, since I read good reviews about it.

Dell Latitude E6530, Intel Core i5 @ 2.6 GHz, 4GB RAM, W10 20H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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cellsee6

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[RetiredGeek]

Cellsee6,

Do you REALLY want to have your backups on a NAS where they are vulnerable should malware get on your computer?

IMHO, that is a very bad idea.

I have a Synology DS220+ that I use for files that I want shared across our 5 computers and daily file backups of our Documents directories. I am very happy with this device. That said, my serious backups are all kept on bare HDDs that I connect via a USB 3.0 dock. By doing this my backups are never exposed to the Internet. I also use Macrium Reflect and I control it via PowerShell which I have disable the Internet while the backup is in progress.

This method is also very cost effective about $30 USD for the Dock (I actually have 2) and less than $100 USD per bare 3.5″ drive. I have 5 1Tb drives and use them in rotation so even if one goes belly up I wouldn’t loose too much.

FYI: My Synology ran $425 USD (DS220+ $221.74 (2) Segate Iron Wolf 4Tb drives $104). My backup setup: iDsonix USB 3.0 Dock (3.5 & 2.5 drives) $27.47 USD. The last time I purchased a HDD was 2016 a 1Tb WD Blue (don’t need as fancy a drive for this vs NAS!) $60 USD. Of course that was 5 years ago much cheaper now.

HTH 😎

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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cellsee6

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[cellsee6]

I assume you use a USB doc because you have few usb ports on your computer?  I assume I could purchase a 4 port usb 3.0 card and accomplish the same thing?

Would you be willing to share your Powershell code which disables the internet?

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[RetiredGeek]

No, the dock is to insert 2.5 or 3.5 inch drives into directly with an interface and usb cable to connect them to the computer.

HTH 😎

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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[RetiredGeek]

You can find the code in this post.

HTH 😎

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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[cellsee6]

Also, what anti virus software did you install on your NAS?

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[Paul T]

Get a 1 or 2 disk Synology NAS. (I have a one disk unit)
Create a shared folder. Hide it from the network and users without permissions.
Create a backup user and give that user write permission. Set your backup software to use that share and user/password for backups.
Create a recovery user with read only permissions and no password – for restoring files or systems.

If you get ransomware on a machine it won’t be able to write to the backup share so a recovery is always easy.

Backup the NAS to external disk for offsite storage if you feel the need.

cheers, Paul

p.s. I loaded Synology Mail Server on the NAS for disk /system / backup error notification.

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doriel, cellsee6

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[cellsee6]

Your answer is very interesting. Never thought of creating a dedicated user for backups.  Thank you for the information.

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[cellsee6]

What anti virus did you install on your NAS?  Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

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[Paul T]

No AV on the Synology NAS – none required as the files came from my computer in the first place.

cheers, Paul

p.s. if you have one of the more powerful Synology units you can run their Active Backup.
Active Backup for Business – Add-on Packages | Synology Incorporated

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[Rick Corbett]

Like RetiredGeek, I also used two external USB docks… but one has just recently gone ‘belly up’… no longer responding when connected.

So, being cash-strapped, I’ve been limping along with just the one external USB dock until the next ‘Black Friday’ in November when, if all goes well, I’ll be buying 2 replacements, just in case.

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