Sync and backup 2 laptops with WD mycloud nas

[sbstuff]

Hi
My setup is as follows:
2 x windows 7 laptops
WD mycloud 2TB
Cat5e Ethernet cables
Netgear gigabit router N600
All connections are cables

We have a small office doing basic 2d autocad drafting from either laptop. The initial plan was to store all data on the nas and work from this. The file size is generally less than 2mb. However this nas is far too slow and temperamental. File transfer speeds vary from 5mb/s to 80mb/s, usually closer to the 5. It is really inconsistent.
Initially this was fine, but there is now significant lag when working with files stored on the nas. Just a few seconds waiting for commands to kick in, but it is painfully slower than it should be and it adds up by the end of a day.
I can only think of 2 solutions:
1. store copies of the files on each pc, and work from these. This would require some kind of live sync software to automatically sync the updated data between the 2 laptops and the nas.
2. sync both laptops, and just have scheduled back up to the nas.

Which setup is the simplest?
Do you have any better suggestions?

Of course this would include scheduled nas backup to external drive as an extra backup.

 

[stevech]

However this [WD] nas is far too slow and temperamental.

Sorry to hear about the WD. Your experience matches the recommendations on this forum to stick with Synology, QNAP, Thecus for NASes.

Can you rationalize buying a 2 bay NAS as above and when it comes, take a Saturday to migrate the data? Professional setting - time is money. You could buy a better NAS (it's all about the software, not the hardware in NASes, I say). Buy the NAS diskless. Get/buy a 2TB or whatever single drive and put in the new NAS. Set that up as a one drive volume in the NAS software. Then copy all the data from the old NAS. When you are confident, you can switch users to the new NAS. Then pull the old drives out. Make one the 2nd volume in the new NAS (Non-RAID) and setup the NAS auto-backups and time versioning backup to use the second drive. THen the other old drive can go in an USB3 enclosure and if big enough, be used for external backups.

If the above doesn't appeal, we'd have to get more specifics to help you try to determine why the WD NAS is often quite slow.

 

[sbstuff]

That sounds like a good way to go. I am leaning toward getting something like bt sync for file syncing. I know qnap boxes are good but they are a bit expensive.
My main concern is that the Nas could be the bottleneck in the network slowing my ability to work with my CAD files. What sorry of processor would a nas need to have to ensure smooth CAD file editing?

 

[sbstuff]

Sorry... Sort of processor....

 

[stevech]

That sounds like a good way to go. I am leaning toward getting something like bt sync for file syncing. I know qnap boxes are good but they are a bit expensive.
My main concern is that the Nas could be the bottleneck in the network slowing my ability to work with my CAD files. What sorry of processor would a nas need to have to ensure smooth CAD file editing?

I mainly put all files on the NAS. Don't store on PC because of risks, as a rule.

I do use Centered Systems' SecondCopy software on PCs, to auto-backup selected folders/files to the NAS. It is very good software. I've used it for years after trying most of the competing products. I do one-way store/backup as I worry that sync will cause data loss due to human error. SecondCopy also can keep the last n versions of files.

 

[lorrie728]

Currently I am using CloudBacko for my data storage. CloudBacko Free requires only common web browsers to run. You can start backing up right away after logging in with your favourite social media account.

 

[htismaqe]

If you're worried about the NAS CPU being a bottleneck, don't go cheap.

I did that (bought a ZyXEL NSA310 because it was half the price of the QNAP TS-112P) and ended up going right back to the more expensive QNAP box.