[ale] Use opensuse 13.1 to build NAS machine

[JD]

Inline ...

On 12/31/2014 09:12 AM, Narahari 'n' Savitha wrote:
> What I had in mind.
> 
> On the machine that holds backups (let me call this NAS box), I was planning to
> create folders for each device I plan to backup.
> Example
> 
> /backup/MainDellWin7Laptop
> /backup/TouchPadTablet

Strongly recommend using the 'hostname' for these. That way most backup scripts
don't need to be changed just for the target location.

> Under each of the folders there will be a MMDDYYYY_HHmmSS folders where the
> delta backups are held.  I plan to do a push model from each of the devices
> using some sort of cronjob script.  I am exploring software that is native to
> the OS's

You shouldn't care about any directories under the top level for the `hostname`
backup.  Versioning needs to be part of the backup tool used, not something you
maintain manually except in extreme situations.

IMHO.

> I was trying to understand what is it that NAS gives you vs a solution that is
> homegrown.

Huh? I don't understand.  NAS - Network Attached Storage.  It is storage on a
network - nothing more.  NFS, Samba/CIFS are the usual share modes.  Use NFS for
UNIX-link OSes to have full permissions controls. Use CIFS/Samba for Windows or
only data stuff where ownership/groups/permissions aren't important.

> Another thing I plan to do is to share the media from the backup box to Apple TV
> and/or other machines in the house.  Is SAMBA the solution ?

Don't know anything about appleTV - except a relative in a mostly Apple house
uses Plex Server to share media.  I use Plex Server here and love it (er
mostly).  Plex is a DLNA server and almost any DLNA client can access. No need
for samba is that is the purpose.

Most UNIX-like backup tools will transmit data using librsync - so no need to
have nfs or samba for those. I've heard about Windows backup tools that also
provide network-based backups, but most home users are forced (due to
complexity) to use CIFS network shares.  For Windows, I use a sub-optimal
technique - quarterly images with daily data-only backups.

For Linux, I use rdiff-backup. There have been many posts here about it, plus
ALE-NW has done a few backups-only presentations over hte years. Google should
find those.  This http://www.kirya.net/articles/backups-using-rdiff-backup/ is
the best, easiest, rdiff-backup explanation and how-to I've seen anywhere.  If
you are using rsync, the commands are almost the same, but rdiff-backup provides
so much more that we need in a backup solution.  I have tried to get the Windows
port of rdiff-backup working - never worked well after a few years trying, so I
stopped. Don't have any current data.

If you come out to the GA-400 group on Sunday, I'm positive we can get you doing
rdiff-backup in an almost complete way for all your UNIX-like systems. There
isn't anything hard, just many, tiny, steps for it all to fit together in a most
excellent way that basically always, always, works.  rdiff-backup can transfer
data over ssh, nfs, or any other file storage mode that is mounted as local
storage to the backup storage.

Everyone is invited.

> 
> -N
> 
> On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:46 AM, JD <jdp at algoloma.com <mailto:jdp at algoloma.com>>
> wrote:
> 
>     So - how, exactly, do you expect to backup each machine? Is there a tool picked
>     out? That will drive the sort of storage which needs to be presented.  Do you
>     want to pull or push the data?
> 
>     I know exactly how I'd do backups for Linux systems and know how doing a
>     complete Windows backup is a pain (must have images) and don't have a clue about
>     OSX backups besides that timemachine seems to ahve compatibility issues with
>     many storage options.
> 
>     Also - please clarify what "backup from all my tabs" means. It isn't clear.
> 
>     If you already have experience with a specific backup tool, that is usually
>     where most folks start.
> 
>     Oh - and asking for a simple backups, nothing sophisticated, when there are 4+
>     different OSes involved is not possible.  We all want something simple for a
>     complex problem solution. That isn't how the world works, as you know. ;)
> 
>     On 12/30/2014 11:26 PM, Narahari 'n' Savitha wrote:
>     > Folks:
>     >
>     > Happy New Year in advance.  Let this coming 2015 be a Happy, Healthy, Safe &
>     > Peaceful New Year to you all.
>     >
>     > I have the following setup on a slightly old box.
>     >
>     > Athlon BE2500 CPU.
>     > 4GB RAM
>     > 14 inch CRT monitor.  (Yes I have one and it works and I love it)
>     >
>     > All the following are internal drives
>     >
>     > 256GB SSD that contains the OpenSuse 13.1 OS (I think tumble weed but not sure
>     > how to find out)
>     > 1TB with Windows on it and tons of media.
>     > 1TB with OpenSuse currently but will be formatted with XFS
>     > 1TB with empty space(back up may be)
>     >
>     > 500 GB USB 3 drive
>     > 250 GB USB 3 drive
>     >
>     > 500 GB USB 2 drive.
>     >
>     > ========================================
>     >
>     > Now, I need your help to setup NAS and/or SAMBA so it can do (not sure if
>     I need
>     > NAS or not)
>     >
>     > a.  backup from all my tabs to USB drive and the internal drive.  Simple
>     backup
>     > nothing sophesticated.
>     > b.  swappable usb drives so I can take it to my safe box once a month
>     > c.  backup from my Windows based PC's.
>     > d.  backup from my Mac.
>     >
>     > ============
>     > Be able to read the media from any of my Windows machines or Mac so I can play
>     > the media
>     > Apple TV be able to read the media that is ripped and put on the so called
>     NAS box.
>     >
>     > Questions are
>     >
>     > 1.  Do I need a NAS setup (no RAID etc., ) ?
>     > 2.  Do I create NFS/SAMBA mounts exposed so each device can write to that
>     > respective folder(thru good client side scripts)
>     > 3.  How to make backup of backups as in tab write thru network share at
>     say 3 am
>     > and at 5 am cron copies them over to removeable USB drives ?
>     > 4.  Any good SAMBA simple to understand links ?
>     >
>     > Thanks in advance.
>     > -N
>     >
>     >