Need Suggestion thinking about QNAP 639 or 809?

[JamesR219]

Hello,

I need suggestions on which NAS to purchase.

I used to have a NV+, but wasn't happy with its backup/USB copy performance and inability to get into the device to perform my own copies (via rsync, etc). So I sold it and now use a linux based server with RAID-5 and about 1.4TB of storage. It is currently about 85% capacity and its time to think about new solutions and I'm considering going back to a dedicated NAS since it seems that they have improved a bit since the NV+ a few years ago.

So, it will be used in a home environment, but I run my consulting company out of the house. The storage is mainly used for photos/videos but also software and general computer backups (time machine from laptop and mac pro). This last year, I collected about 100GB in video, and another 50GB in photos. So I can assume my usage is likely going to be on average of 200/GB year going forward.

It's very important for me to be able to easily move this data offsite and store it in a safety deposit box at the bank. I currently accomplish this by using 'rsback' (a rsync backup tool) and backup certain shares to one of 2 750GB backup drives. I have two sets of these I rotate off site as often as I remember (should do it more). I run the backups during the night time and email myself the results. It works well, and they easily complete during the night.

I also have remote sites using rsync+ssh into my current "storage" machine. I'd need to make sure I could accomplish the same thing with the new solution.

So, now I am considering going QNAP product. I am thinking about the QNAP-639 or the QNAP-809. While it may be overkill for my environment, I'd rather invest in something which will last 5+ years now then have to do this again in 2 years.

So, some questions I have..

1) What is the best way to backup ~2TB worth of data to be brought off-site?

2) I plan on running RAID-6 and would like to at least double or triple the capacity that I have now. So, I could survive with 6 drive version (4TB), but am thinking about 809 and using a slot for backup?

3) I'd like to be able to use rsbackup and collect versioned (via hard links with rsync) backups in a way where this can be accomplished during the night. I'm not sure if eSata will be fast enough for this. Does anyone know what kind of transfer numbers I might expect out of the eSata port?

4) Is it possible to plug in a single disk (hot swap) into an empty port and perform a backup via sata from the RAID volume to a single volume? Would this be the fastest copy/backup option?

4a) Is it possible to purchase additional carriers for the QNAP devices?

5) Can you ssh+rsync into the device like you would be able to with any other linux machine? I would think that CPU would become important for an operation like this (rsyncing about 160k and 65GB files each night

6) What is the benefit of going with 639 vs 809? 809 has more processing power but lacks esata ports? but with 809 I would likely have spare ports for backup to an actual disk plugged into the unit.

7) What other units should I be looking about. I have a budget of about $2500 or so.

Thanks,

-jr

 

[thiggins]

1) What is the best way to backup ~2TB worth of data to be brought off-site?

The way you're doing it, backup to alternating attached eSATA drives

2) I plan on running RAID-6 and would like to at least double or triple the capacity that I have now. So, I could survive with 6 drive version (4TB), but am thinking about 809 and using a slot for backup?

I think hot spare is possible only with RAID 5.

3) I'd like to be able to use rsbackup and collect versioned (via hard links with rsync) backups in a way where this can be accomplished during the night. I'm not sure if eSata will be fast enough for this. Does anyone know what kind of transfer numbers I might expect out of the eSata port?

Our test of the TS-639 Pro measured ~68 MB/s for eSATA backup to an EXT3 formatted drive. You know that the TS-809 Pro doesn't have eSATA ports, right?

4) Is it possible to plug in a single disk (hot swap) into an empty port and perform a backup via sata from the RAID volume to a single volume? Would this be the fastest copy/backup option?

Sure, assuming the external drive has sufficient capacity. And, yes, this would be your fastest option. The fastest NAS-to-NAS backup speed I've measured is only around 33 MB/s. Just as with an external USB drive, you'll need to unmount it safely before removing.

4a) Is it possible to purchase additional carriers for the QNAP devices?

I believe so.

5) Can you ssh+rsync into the device like you would be able to with any other linux machine? I would think that CPU would become important for an operation like this (rsyncing about 160k and 65GB files each night

Yes, you can do rsync/SSH. But note that this really slows things down. I've seen a 3 to 1 difference between unencrypted rsync and SSH.

6) What is the benefit of going with 639 vs 809? 809 has more processing power but lacks esata ports? but with 809 I would likely have spare ports for backup to an actual disk plugged into the unit.

If by "ports", you mean internal drive bays, you're out of luck. The QNAPs allow backup to external drives and rsync, but not to other internal volumes.

7) What other units should I be looking about. I have a budget of about $2500 or so.

Since NETGEAR doesn't have eSATA on any of its ReadyNASes, they're out. So, right now, the QNAPs are your best bet.

 

[JamesR219]

Tim,

Thanks for the great support and information you provide via this forum.

I realize that 809 doesn't have eSATA ports, but I am just trying to decide if the extra CPU will make it a better choice for all the SSH+Rsync I need to be doing on a nightly basis to the unit compared to the 639 with esata but the slower CPU.

Right now, my nightly rsync's from the remote server take about 3 hours against my linux box and adaptec RAID-5. I'd hope to not make them take any longer against the NAS.

I guess I am just really torn on whether or not I just upgrade my current DAS solution, keeping the server around or go with a NAS.

So, you can't copy from "Volume" to "Volume" in the QNAP? Said I create one 6 drive RAID-6 volume, and then another single disk volume of 1 2TB disk. I couldn't just rsync from /VolumeRAID6 to /VolumeSingleDisk? Even via ssh logged into the machine? Then I could eject single disk and bring it offsite? That seems like a deal breaker for me, if this would be possible it could tilt it more towards the 809 for me. More CPU and extra slots for "backup disks"...

-jr

 

[thiggins]

Unfortunately, the 809 Pro has the same 3 to 1 speed difference between unencrypted and SSH rsync. I measured 32 MB/s to a TS-439 Pro unencrypted and 10 MB/s with SSH enabled.

The GUI doesn't allow volume to volume copy. But since there is root SSH access, you may be able to do it that way.

Best bet is to ask over in the QNAP forums. They're pretty active.

 

[JamesR219]

Unfortunately, the 809 Pro has the same 3 to 1 speed difference between unencrypted and SSH rsync. I measured 32 MB/s to a TS-439 Pro unencrypted and 10 MB/s with SSH enabled.

The GUI doesn't allow volume to volume copy. But since there is root SSH access, you may be able to do it that way.

Best bet is to ask over in the QNAP forums. They're pretty active.

Thanks. I'll head over there. You would expect better performance out of 809 with SSH and rsync since I would think it is mainly CPU bound.

-jr