Backups via USB

[PeterFig]

Now that my FreeNAS mini is up and running, I'd like to back it up to an external drive connected via usb every week or so, automatically.

• I plugged in the drive.
• In the UI, Storage->Volumes->Volume Manager, I named and added a new volume containing only this disk.
• I can see the new root volume and root dataset in the UI. Away with you, foul Windows file system, or whatever you were!

Now what? Create a dataset underneath called "weeklyBackup"?

And, is there a nifty way to copy all my datasets over?

I am familiar with cron and rsync, which is how I'd do it in a regular filesystem. But I'm sure there is a FreeNAS or ZFS way of doing things...

Thanks!

 

[nojohnny101]

are you going to be taking this USB drive off-site periodically?

reason I ask is because USB drives are strongly not recommended to be used with FreeNAS because hinders collection of information (SMART status for one) and a USB connection is inherently unstable.

if you have an extra slot in your freenas mini then i would just put it in a spare sata port. if you do that, then you can just use replication (excellent support in freenas) to replicate from one pool to the other internally. if you have a bit of extra cash and want to do it properly, then pick up some cheap hardware, find yourself a friend, store your backup server with said friend, then replicate to it remotely over SSH.

 

[danb35]

Nothing about ZFS replication depends on the destination being attached to a SATA port; it will work just fine with a USB drive as well.

 

[PeterFig]

Are you all referring to, from the GUI, Storage->Periodic Snapshot Tasks coupled with Replication Tasks? If so does that mean I can use the same box for "Remote Hostname"?

 

[danb35]

Yes, though the GUI isn't really very well-designed when it comes to local replication.

 

[PeterFig]

So I should use this stuff from the freebsd.org handbook?

 

[nojohnny101]

never said that replication doesn't work over USB, just that it is not recommended. SATA is always preferred to USB.

see here for how to do local replication:
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/local-zfs-replication-task.15677/

simple as change "remote hostname" to "localhost" and makes sure your SSH keys are in order