How to Backup the OS?

[Tim01]

Hello,

I don't think I understand correctly how things work as far as backups go within FreeNAS.

I created a simple raided FreeNAS test server with 2 500g disk drives with a raid 0, as the storage drives. I have the FreeNAS OS running on a 8g USB flash drive sticking out the back.

Our plans for when we load up a production server is to backup all the storage drives to tape and keep it off-site. However, the problem is I am facing is how to back up the 8g USB Flash drive and/or the FreeNAS OS itself, whether I use a USB flash drive in production, or go with a regular drive.

Does FreeNAS have in it somewhere regular backup software to for example backup itself onto another drive or onto DVD/Bluray? Or, could I simply just make a copy of the USB flash drive onto another one?

Is there a way to backup EVERYTHING onto tape? Or just the storage drives?

Thanks for the guidance!

 

[hugovsky]

You just need to backup the config file. As long as you have that, it's ok.

 

[cyberjock]

You don't back up the OS drive. You backup your config file. Then when your USB drive fails, you simply reinstall FreeNAS again and upload your config file. Total downtime = 15-20 minutes.

 

[Tim01]

Well that's much easier than I expected...

Thank you both, for the help!

 

[depasseg]

In addition to backing up the configuration, you can easily mirror the Boot USB drives:
http://doc.freenas.org/9.3/freenas_system.html#mirroring-the-boot-device

 

[Tim01]

In addition to backing up the configuration, you can easily mirror the Boot USB drives:
http://doc.freenas.org/9.3/freenas_system.html#mirroring-the-boot-device

Thank you, I really like that option. I must have looked right past that in the manual.