[SOLVED] Backing up one NAS to another NAS of different brand

[box o rocks]

Is there any way I can use one of these Ethernet to USB adapter cables to back up A Buffalo Linkstation that has a USB port to a WD MyBook that only has an Ethernet port? (The Linkstation would be connected to the router (network) like normal, but the MyBook would just be used as a backup device)
The Linkstation doesn't see the MyBook as a backup device when both are on the router.

 

[SamirD]

You have your linkstation incorrectly configured if you cannot see both nas units. I have multiple nas units and I can see all of them on the network and many of them can back up each other directly.

 

[box o rocks]

You have your linkstation incorrectly configured if you cannot see both nas units. I have multiple nas units and I can see all of them on the network and many of them can back up each other directly.

I'm a babe in the woods when it comes to networking. Dumb as a box of rocks. I can see both NAS on the network, it's just the one can't see the other for backup.

I really only need to know if the adapter cable will work for my application? It's cheap enough I guess I could just buy it and try it, but I thought I'd come here first.

 

[SamirD]

I'm a babe in the woods when it comes to networking. Dumb as a box of rocks. I can see both NAS on the network, it's just the one can't see the other for backup.

I really only need to know if the adapter cable will work for my application? It's cheap enough I guess I could just buy it and try it, but I thought I'd come here first.

I see what you're saying now. Generally, most nas units depend on something else connecting to them for copying for one nas to another unless they have a built-in OS that has some sort of copy script capability.

You may have to specify the WDBook IP address to the Linkstation for it to 'see' it.

As far as using a usb to ethernet, no way that will work as the usb ports on nas units are for external drives and possibly printers, not usb ethernet adapters.

 

[box o rocks]

...As far as using a usb to ethernet, no way that will work as the usb ports on nas units are for external drives and possibly printers, not usb ethernet adapters.

That's the answer I was wanting. Thank you.

 

[SamirD]

The two solutions you have are to have the WD copy files from the Buffalo or use another system to copy from the Buffalo to the WD. This can actually be faster than going nas to nas when you have 2x ethernet connections as one can be to one nas and the other to another allowing both to run at full speed.

 

[box o rocks]

The two solutions you have are to have the WD copy files from the Buffalo or use another system to copy from the Buffalo to the WD. This can actually be faster than going nas to nas when you have 2x ethernet connections as one can be to one nas and the other to another allowing both to run at full speed.

I don't think the WD has an automatic copy option. I'd have to do a copy manually every time I wanted a backup... which I'm doing now. I wanted the Buffalo automatic backup routine to do a daily B/U to the WD over night. But it says it only can do that to devices plugged into its USB port... or another networked Linkstation.

I'll probably just get a large flash drive or add another USB HDD, and live with that.

 

[SamirD]

I don't think the WD has an automatic copy option. I'd have to do a copy manually every time I wanted a backup... which I'm doing now. I wanted the Buffalo automatic backup routine to do a daily B/U to the WD over night. But it says it only can do that to devices plugged into its USB port... or another networked Linkstation.

I'll probably just get a large flash drive or add another USB HDD, and live with that.

I just checked my wd nas and it has kinda--you really need to use the WD as the source or have another WD unit. If you can post some screen shots of the buffalo configuration screen, I bet I can figure out how we can do it.

 

[USAFRet]

I just checked my wd nas and it has kinda--you really need to use the WD as the source or have another WD unit. If you can post some screen shots of the buffalo configuration screen, I bet I can figure out how we can do it.

Therein lies the problem of using that WD/Seagate "backup" software.
You must do it their way.

Its just a drive. There are multiple other ways to do this backup stuff.

 

[SamirD]

Therein lies the problem of using that WD/Seagate "backup" software.
You must do it their way.

Its just a drive. There are multiple other ways to do this backup stuff.

This is actually just what options there are in my WD's web interface.

Personally, I would just script a robocopy to run at a particular time each day and that would be enough. Either that or ssh into the box and simply set up a cron rsync.

 

[box o rocks]

I'm lost.

 

[SamirD]

I'm lost.

robocopy is a very popular command line program built into windows that is very good at mirroring and keeping backups in sync.

ssh is a secure way to connect to a linux console, which is possible on most nas units.

Cron is a task scheduler in linux environments.

rsync is a better version (much better actually) program like robocopy common on most linux platforms.

Hope this helps!

 

[gggplaya]

If you want an easier method with a user interface instead. You can use a free program called "WINSCP" to copy from one NAS to another using your PC. You can set up a SYNC so it keeps track of files copied and can resume in case it's interrupted. Your bandwidth will be split in half, since your PC's gigabit has to copy from one NAS and write to another on the same gigabit cord. At best you'll get about 50MB/s of transfer speed. But it's a quick and easy solution.
https://winscp.net/eng/index.php

 

[box o rocks]

If you want an easier method with a user interface instead. You can use a free program called "WINSCP" to copy from one NAS to another using your PC. You can set up a SYNC so it keeps track of files copied and can resume in case it's interrupted. Your bandwidth will be split in half, since your PC's gigabit has to copy from one NAS and write to another on the same gigabit cord. At best you'll get about 50MB/s of transfer speed. But it's a quick and easy solution.
https://winscp.net/eng/index.php

Thanks, I'll look into it. But if it runs in Win10, I would have to leave a PC on all the time for overnight B/Us to get done wouldn't I?

 

[gggplaya]

Thanks, I'll look into it. But if it runs in Win10, I would have to leave a PC on all the time for overnight B/Us to get done wouldn't I?

Correct.

Perhaps, you can look into finding a used QNAP or Synology NAS if you want something with easy to use backup apps with full featured GUI's.

You can install RSYNC on a WDbook, but it's all command line interface.

 

[SamirD]

You can install RSYNC on a WDbook, but it's all command line interface.

rsync is native on the ssh on my wd I believe so nothing to install.

I still think there's a way to get the buffalo to do it--I just have to see the web interface to see how it can be done.