Backup install

[Jtcdesigns]

I'm going to be ordering two identical servers with all the same specs and each will have 2 USB sticks for the OS.. I was wondering if there is some sort of setup where I can have the Nas4Free on both.. but one of them basically works as a mirror.

I like redundancy and assuming one usb stick died then I can boot it off the other one..

My thoughts are probably no.. just wondering if anyone has come up with a solution? For now I'll install Nas4Free on both USB sticks then once I'm done I'll save the configuration to my computer.. then I can just upload the config file to the other USB stick incase of an emergency. Since I'll have 2 USB sticks in the machine its probably best I only have one plugged in and the other on standby as to not boot from the wrong one.

[raulfg3]

one usb stick died then I can boot it off the other one.

best for it is to clone your boot USB key.

I use Acronis True Image, but dd can be enought: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=266

[Jtcdesigns]

yeah I have an acronis boot cd.. I'll probably just use that since I don't know much on dd

[raulfg3]

I have Acronis installed on my win7 desktop, ( that use normally to backup win7 Boot disk, prior to some install, so in case that do not like me I can easy revert to previous stata)...

OK... the case is that is really easy for me shutdown Nas4Free , detach USB key ( A CF in my case), and plug in my PC, so do a backup or restore a previosly backup is really easy, all this history is because you probably do not work if boot Nas4Free from Acronis Cd ,because you need a valid formated HD for store image of boot CD, and UFS & ZFS are not valid destination for this (sorry), only NTFS & FAT are valid ( and ext linux format I think).

[Jtcdesigns]

Are you using the latest acronis? I think I have 2011 but when I boot from it I have the option of cloning an entire disk.. which I believe does a block level copy instead of a file level which would require the file system support.. I'll have to look into it since in theory should work. Otherwise what I will do is install nas4free on one USB stick and adjust the IP and whatever else I need.. then I can boot from the CD and install the OS onto the other USB stick and then upload the config file from the primary USB stick.. then from now on I'll just keep making backups of the config file and if the main USB ever goes down I can just upload the latest config file to the other stick...

The only thing I will probably miss out on is system logs which I assume get saved to the USB stick. I'm hoping I get approval soon of the new hardware I requested. I'll have 2 Identical systems.. Matching quad core dells with 8GB ram and 6TB for a zfs raid (which I haven't done before) with 3 separate gigabit nics. My only concern is setting up HAST but I gave them an estimated weeks time for server setups and transfering to the new hardware. I did find that someone did it on here with a how to which I will print up and if I can I will try to whip up a visual HOW TO of the setup.

Know what would be cool is setting up some form of mirror setup with the USB sticks.

Another thought I just had... how are you mounting your CF card internally? I had a box that had a parallel port so I bought a parallel to CF adaptor..I have heard from some that you don't get the best of speeds but it didn't seem to be a problem. I have found some places that offer a dual CF adaptor.. Essentially if your board supports mirroring you could mirror the CF cards and install on that.

[raulfg3]

Know what would be cool is setting up some form of mirror setup with the USB sticks.

Sorry , not possible, as far as I know.

how are you mounting your CF card internally

I use a CF2Ide Adapter( 10€) and connect it to my motherboard IDE port .

I Have an IDE CD-Reader, So I configure CF2IDE as Mastwer , and CD_Reader as Slave.

[raulfg3]

have found some places that offer a dual CF adaptor.. Essentially if your board supports mirroring you could mirror the CF cards and install on that

Do you say something like this: http://www.cf2ide.nl/product_info.php?c ... cts_id=113

Perhaps can be possible to phisically have 2 CF, but is not easy/good to have a mirror of 2 CF to boot nas4free from it.

It's better to have a replacement CF in your desk, with a clone image on it, ready to replace existing one in your NAS.

[alexey123]

Jtcdesigns Beter way for make doubled server - use HAST. https://wiki.freebsd.org/HAST
If you want just have reserve only - no need any acronis or any softwares
Just prepare 2 usb or hard disk for system, configure first server, download xml config and upload downloaded config to second server (you need change IP and hostname only)

[Jtcdesigns]

alexey123 I will be using HAST on the new systems once I get the hardware approved and ordered. My main goal was to have an exact duplicate of the USB boot drive. But as I said I'll probably just install the OS on both USB sticks and just update the config files on both.. the only thing I won't have is the log files.

[armandh]

it is [IMHO] much easier, once running to save the config.
burn a second USB stick from the cd or image
boot the new one and configure the nic and IP
then restore the configuration

a few more steps but sure to work

in my latest N4F there is a pouch stuck inside the side cover
with the OS CD and a [not boot-able] usb of the config

in general I do not like booting from USB. YMMV
in my experience USB booting is a bit flake in all but the latest hardware

mine all boot an embedded OS from industrial grade PATA or SATA flash,
http://www.logicsupply.com/categories/f ... sh_modules
or small Hard drives set to spin down after 5 minutes. [old spare]
and I have NEVER had a boot device failure
I tend to save configs at what ever hardware I am on.

So far I have had ONE data drive fail and the data was recovered from the degraded pool mirrored drive.
the device was rebuilt, updated from FN7 to N4F, and reloaded, it is back in use.
the drive was later replaced under warranty