Backup Solutions For The Home - Opinions Needed

[garak0410]

As most people have these days, I have a growing collection of digital photos and videos. The rate of growth on digital video is obviously the fastest. I've taken regular videos (especially with the onset of better smartphone video) since my daughter was born (now 6.) I couldn't fathom losing these videos.

I am looking for storage suggestions. Let me tell you my current setup.

My main PC has a 2TB C drive, which hosts the OS and most of my Windows 8.1 libraries (Photos, Documents, Music.) I have 2TB D Drive which has my digital videos.

I currently backup with FILE HISTORY to a Western Digital My Book Live DUO NAS. While I've been questioned about this, I run my backup drive as a RAID0 so I can get the full 8TB that this device offers for backups. My comfort level was that the chances of both my system drives and backup drives dying at once would be slim and I can always rebuild/repair/replace the RAID0 NAS if needed. I also "auxiliary copy" my documents and photos backups through iDrive online backup and SkyDrive. I do not have an auxiliary copy of my digital videos. I am considering a weekly dump to an external 4TB drive and keeping at work.

So, here's the meat of my question. Too many people think it is suicide for me to remain on RAID0 even if I think I am OK with rebuilding it if and when it fails. I remain on RAID0 because I want the SPACE. However, I may be better with some JBODS and a different backup program so I can selectively choose when I back up...how long to keep the backups...which drives they should go to, In this, I've considered changing my NAS to RAID1 just for the extra redundancy. But then, do I trust the NAS OS to not fail me (which I've read many bad reviews on just about all NAS units when the NAS OS fails and how hard it is to recover).

So, looking for suggestions for a good backup program that doesn't slow my system down, options for storage and if I should have RAID drives at home or JBODS for backing up.

Thanks...
Brian

 

[drtweak]

I have something similar. I have 2 2TB in raid 0 on my PC. Then i have a 4TB backup drive that i backup every few weeks. I keep my backup drive in a Fire Proof Safe. That to me is what matters lol. because god forbid something happens to the house then its all gone.

But yea I would put it back to a Raid 1 because a Raid 0 is a Pain in the @$$ to recovery files from if its even possible and most of the time its not (By an convential means that is) But better to have the redundancy than the speed and space. This way if the NAS OS dies, or a Drive Failes you can at LEAST open the NAS up, take out the drive, and pop it in another Enclosure or PC and you can get the data off without issue. Can't do that with a Raid 0

 

[garak0410]

I have something similar. I have 2 2TB in raid 0 on my PC. Then i have a 4TB backup drive that i backup every few weeks. I keep my backup drive in a Fire Proof Safe. That to me is what matters lol. because god forbid something happens to the house then its all gone.

But yea I would put it back to a Raid 1 because a Raid 0 is a Pain in the @$$ to recovery files from if its even possible and most of the time its not (By an convential means that is) But better to have the redundancy than the speed and space. This way if the NAS OS dies, or a Drive Failes you can at LEAST open the NAS up, take out the drive, and pop it in another Enclosure or PC and you can get the data off without issue. Can't do that with a Raid 0

Thanks for the reply. I am not so concerned with the recovery of RAID0 since it is just going to be File History. Since my post, my gears turned a little more and I'm going to try this:

As mentioned, I have several online backups for my pictures and documents. I am going to keep my RAID0 so I can have 8TB of space for File History so it can just do its thing.

I purchased BackupForAll and will run regular, "serious backups" of my pictures and videos to a 4TB drive. Will set it up to do regular fulls, incrementals and age off. Not too concern about letting it age 1 week since I still have File History. Then I may get one more 4TB external to copy weekly and keep offsite. It is a lot of work but worth it.

 

[drtweak]

Yea i feel ya. Most of our users have at least 2 external drive that can keep 1 weeks worth of data and then have them swap it out ever week and make sure the one not in use is in a safe place.

But yea that setup will work