Hi folks,
LS-CH1.0L Linkstation Live, 1GB, f/w 1.07
I want to do regular backups of everything on the disk and I'm wondering what the best way to go about it is.
I am assuming the best thing to do is use an external USB HDD, plugged into the USB socket on the back of the Linkstation.
I understand that it needs to be formatted either FAT32 or XFS (is this the same as EXT3?). I'd rather use XFS as it's faster (I think), but I am concerned that if the Linkstation dies I have no way of restoring data without buying another linkstation. Can I read the drive from Windows any way? If not, can I use a Knoppix / Ubuntu Live boot CD and restore data that way?
What backup options do I have? Is it simply a case that it dumps the whole Linkstation to the USB drive, or can I select different partitions/folders? Does it do it differentially? Otherwise it's a case of backing up 100s of gigs of data a couple of times a week which seems a bit pointless!
Finally, would a better solution be to buy another Linkstation? Will that back up my primary one in a better way? Are there any advantages to getting a Buffalo USB hard drive or is it the same as any other USB drive?
Many thanks in advance guys! Really want to get this sorted ASAP so that I'm not risking my data!
If you want your drive to work on a network quickly, definitely format it in XFS. If you think your LSCHL will fail, and you format your backup in fat32, you will only be able to read data, but you will be able to use a PC to do so. There is a 4 GB file size however. The other option of loading it onto a linux machine we cannot support. Theortetically it should work, but If the drive failed in the LSCHL you would be able to just replace the drive and rebuild it from the XFS backup.
The best suggestion if you want to back up data and make it secure is to get a DUO, set it up in RAID1. It will mirror the data from disk 1 to disk 2. That is one of the most secure ways to store your data. If a drive fails, replace the failed drive, and your data will automatically rebuild itself.
Hopt this helped.
That is helpful - but I already have the LS-CHL ;)
I guess I will just get a normal USB drive, format XFS, and hope if I have a LS failure it's just the disk. If the unit blows up, I can't get at my data unless I buy a new LS, which seems a bit unfair...
Hopefully somebody can confirm that the XFS filesystem would be readable under Linux...
What are the advantages of buying another LS-CH1.0L to backup my current one, rather than just a USB disk?
All of our current NAS units use the XFS filesystem. I recommend the USB backup. Linux is a free OS and you can get the Image just about anywhere you can also get alot of screen shots and walkthroughs on how to restore it back . Also your not transfering over a network. The processors are limited in these units.