Best backup strategy (with current resources)

[Houe]

Hello,

I have read a lot of the backup threads posted here and still don't know exactly how I should proceed for backing up my freenas server. Here is some information about my situation:

FreeNAS server running 4x4TB in Z2 (8GB ecc)
Currently have ~2TB of photos and docs I do not want to lose (this is all I need to back up)
I want to keep a offsite backup to guard against theft, fire, hardware failure etc.
I only have USB external hard drives to back up (larges is a 4TB drive).

1. I know a second server is the preferred way to backup a server - but I already stretched by budget to build the FreeNAS server so this simply is not an option. I'd love to - but just can't.
2. Formatting an external USB drive to zfs would allow me to use replication but from what I've read is very dangerous because if zfs encounters a single problem probably all is lost.
3. From what I've read people in my same situation either connect the external hard drive to a mac/pc and then just copy the files from freenas over.

So is option 3 the best way to use an external hard drive to back up? I guess I'm at the stage of saying some backup is better than no backup. But what is the best way to use an external usb drive to accomplish the back up to store offsite? Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

 

[Ericloewe]

2. Formatting an external USB drive to zfs would allow me to use replication but from what I've read is very dangerous because if zfs encounters a single problem probably all is lost.

All things considered, I'd say it's a wash between a traditional filesystem and ZFS, on a single drive. USB is the problem, or rather, the lack of XHCI support and the craptastic quality of your average USB/SATA bridge.

 

[Houe]

Ericloewe thanks for the quick reply. So you don't think it really matters what file system is used on the external. Thanks for the vote.