NAS questions

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dasadler
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NAS questions

Post by dasadler »

I understand that with a diskless NAS I would need to purchase and install some hard drives. I am curious about a few things:

1) Does the diskless NAS box automatically recognize the drives when installed or is it necessary to run some configuration program?
2) If the NAS box (2 bay) is populated with two HDD, does the NAS box provide some program that allows you to set up mirroring or using the two drives independently? Or is that program on the HDD?
3) If the NAS box is used for NAS, can it also be used for backup or must another device be used?
4) If it is used for backup, does the NAS box typically provide backup software? And if so, must we use that or can we use something like Syncback?

Thanks in advance - I am obviously new to this and a little nervous.
Don

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BobArch2
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Re: NAS questions

Post by BobArch2 »

I cannot answer all your questions but perhaps this video might help?
Regards,
Bob

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StuartR
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Re: NAS questions

Post by StuartR »

Do you have a specific diskless NAS box in mind? I suspect the answer to your question might depend on the exact NAS box you buy.
StuartR


dasadler
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Re: NAS questions

Post by dasadler »

Thanks all - I will check out that video. Here is the NAS box I am interested in: ZyXEL NAS520 2-Bay Media & Personal Cloud Server

https://www.zyxel.com/us/en/products_se ... .shtml?t=p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.amazon.com/ZyXEL-NAS520-2-B ... AZyXEL#Ask" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with two WD Red drives; not sure what size just yet: https://www.amazon.com/Red-4TB-Hard-Dis ... T41H6T6YY6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by dasadler on 05 Jul 2016, 21:37, edited 1 time in total.
Don

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BobArch2
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Re: NAS questions

Post by BobArch2 »

dasadler wrote:Thanks all - I will check out that video. Here is the NAS box I am interested in: ZyXEL NAS520 2-Bay Media & Personal Cloud Server

https://www.zyxel.com/us/en/products_se ... .shtml?t=p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.amazon.com/ZyXEL-NAS520-2-B ... AZyXEL#Ask" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with two ED Red drives; not sure what size just yet: https://www.amazon.com/Red-4TB-Hard-Dis ... T41H6T6YY6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I have no experience with that setup, but the units (box and HDs) have some nice features and specs.

My NAS is a WD 3TB My Book Live. [Perhaps time for an update :hairout: ]
Regards,
Bob

dasadler
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Re: NAS questions

Post by dasadler »

Oops... I meant WD Red drives... stupid fingers. I will edit & correct.
Don

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StuartR
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Re: NAS questions

Post by StuartR »

dasadler wrote: 1) Does the diskless NAS box automatically recognize the drives when installed or is it necessary to run some configuration program?
2) If the NAS box (2 bay) is populated with two HDD, does the NAS box provide some program that allows you to set up mirroring or using the two drives independently? Or is that program on the HDD?
3) If the NAS box is used for NAS, can it also be used for backup or must another device be used?
4) If it is used for backup, does the NAS box typically provide backup software? And if so, must we use that or can we use something like Syncback?
I can answer some of those questions by following links you provided to the boxes you are thinking about.

For example the ZyXEL box...
ZyXEL web site wrote: Backup support:
One-touch copy/sync button for external USB/SD-capable devices backup
Backup planner:
- Instant/Scheduled backup
- NAS to NAS synchronization/archive backup
- Rsync
- NAS to external USB hard disk backup
...
...
System Management
JBOD, RAID 0/1
If you wanted to run your own backup software you would have to treat the NAS box like any other files. You would run the backup software on a PC, not on the NAS box.
StuartR


dasadler
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Re: NAS questions

Post by dasadler »

Thanks to all.
Don