USB attached storage vs. NAS
My question is basically an opinion question. I have to replace my current backup system and, after spending way too much money on Iomega REV drives and disks (which aren't manufactured anymore or really even supported), I've decided to backup my critical data directly to some type of external hard drive. With the cost of multi-terabyte HDDs becoming very reasonable, this approach appears to me to be my best option. So now the question becomes, do I buy a USB connected HDD or should I opt for a NAS device. I have a small network, but I do backup critical client databases every night. I'm sure that other members of EE have similar situations and I'm looking for some direction as to my best alternative. TIA....
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Use a viable online backup tool in conjunction with a NAS(local) Cloud(remote) backup policy, 2 copies.
That would be my recommendation.
That would be my recommendation.
Since backups are best done to more than one media, it is easier and cheaper to get several disks to backup to and which you can then rotate, than getting several NAS.
I recommend that you get a USB dock for your disks, then you only need to get cheap 2nd PC disks which you can drop into that dock for your backups. For backups it is more important to have a higher quantity than to look at the high quality of the disks. If one fails, that doesn't matter much, you just replace it with another. Every disk will fail, whether it is a high quality expensive disk, or a cheap 2nd hand one. Besides that, rotating between the disks will give you several versions of your backed up files, so if necessary you can return to an old version if necessary.
In the link is an example of such a dock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1KT17D2195&cm_re=usb_dock_disk-_-9SIA1KT17D2195-_-Product
I recommend that you get a USB dock for your disks, then you only need to get cheap 2nd PC disks which you can drop into that dock for your backups. For backups it is more important to have a higher quantity than to look at the high quality of the disks. If one fails, that doesn't matter much, you just replace it with another. Every disk will fail, whether it is a high quality expensive disk, or a cheap 2nd hand one. Besides that, rotating between the disks will give you several versions of your backed up files, so if necessary you can return to an old version if necessary.
In the link is an example of such a dock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1KT17D2195&cm_re=usb_dock_disk-_-9SIA1KT17D2195-_-Product
ASKER
Thanks for all the feedback. Since I've also had some (albeit, infrequent) problems with USB, I've decided to go the NAS route. It's a little pricey, but since the information I have to backup is my livelihood, it just seems like the right way to go!
But remember, NAS also has some disadvantages nobody wote about yet.
e.g.
The NAS is usually always on and usually accessible from the user account that is currently logged in, especially if its also used as a daily data storage drive.
So if the NAS is always on and always reachable and accessable from the currently logged on user, a virus for example could just delete/encrypt all files on NAS also your backup files.
If an attacker manages to break into your router, he also may further attack your NAS and cause damage.
A good and safe backup is only a good and safe backup once its offline and stored at a safe place after you have made it,
a NAS cannot provide this requirement.
But there are NAS out there with an USB port. You could from time to time attach another external USB HDD to copy the most im portant stuff off to another USB-HDD.
BTW. Do not use ANY flash based Drives for backup storage.
e.g.
The NAS is usually always on and usually accessible from the user account that is currently logged in, especially if its also used as a daily data storage drive.
So if the NAS is always on and always reachable and accessable from the currently logged on user, a virus for example could just delete/encrypt all files on NAS also your backup files.
If an attacker manages to break into your router, he also may further attack your NAS and cause damage.
A good and safe backup is only a good and safe backup once its offline and stored at a safe place after you have made it,
a NAS cannot provide this requirement.
But there are NAS out there with an USB port. You could from time to time attach another external USB HDD to copy the most im portant stuff off to another USB-HDD.
BTW. Do not use ANY flash based Drives for backup storage.
On other hand with NAS you can do more things, you can establish VPN server on NAS for quick connect to the LAN, you can use it as DHCP or Proxy. Also you can create users (or integrate with your AD) to create folders (backup) for users etc.