Learn how to use a local backup drive on your windows 7 system to replicate the data on any or all of your directories on your Synology NAS (Network Hard Drive Device) DS710+. This post will show how using DeltaCopy, you can have all the data on your NAS backed up continually to a local hard drive on your windows system. Backups are all about redundancy, and this is just another redundant copy of your data should the worst happen.
The NAS Itself
I’ve been through multiple NAS devices and I have finally found one I love. It’s the Synology NAS DS710+.
Synology DiskStation 2-Bay Scalable Network Attached Storage (Black): Electronics
Briefly, the reasons I really am impressed with this device (in order)
- It is blazing fast. I’ve seen 90% of the Gigabit Network in use
- Great Features Including Rsync support
- Great User Interface (written well in ExtJs)
- High Quality Workmanship
- Low Power Consumption (idles at about 18 watts)
After buying multiple other NAS devices, I finally did some real research and found a great site that reviewed several NAS devices. I finally ended having several emails with the author of the review and based on that, bought the DS710. For you information, the review site of multiple NAS devices I really like is: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/networking/ and the reviewer is: Hugh Barros.
Installing DeltaCopy On Windows Computer
Installing DeltaCopy is very straight forward and there are several blogs on the net. You can get the download from the site http://www.aboutmyip.com/AboutMyXApp/DeltaCopy.jsp but I’m not sure if that is the official location or not. If you know, please add a comment to this post and I’ll update it. One site that goes through a step by step install is here: http://www.aboutmyip.com/AboutMyXApp/DeltaCopy.jsp
Configuring DeltaCopy to Act as Rsync Server to NAS
First thing you need to do is open a port in your file wall so that the NAS can reach out to your computer. The port you need to open is: 873.
Then, I recommend installing DeltaCopy as a service. You do that by running the “DeltaCopy Server” from your start menu.
You need to setup a virtual directory where rsync will target the download. Here is what that looks like:
Notice the Existing Directory box has an entry for each virtual directory you want to setup on your windows hard drive. The name is very important. It’s a required field in the NAS setup called “Backup Module”. To me, that’s very confusing because I would think a module is some kind of compiled at in, not the name of the virtual directory. I’m not an rsync wizard though so I’m guessing it may have meaning to those that are. You do need to create a username and password for the NAS client to work with this server. I’m on a trusted internal network so I would prefer it work without authentication, but I guess this is reasonable. I do not use encryption because I want to be able to access these files natively on the windows hard disk I’m rsync’ing to.
Creating Backup Job on NAS Plus Scheduling
Now, on the NAS (DS710+) side, you need to go to Backup / Backup and Create a new backup job. Below is the setup screen for that.
Notice that 192.168.1.108 is the IP address of my windows workstation with the drive on it. I’m sure I could setup dns and use the system name instead. Something for later. Also, notice the password is masked. On the DeltaCopy side, the password is not masked. IMHO, a very bad practice. I always shutter when I see my password and not stars as is best practice and almost always followed.
Now, when need to create a schedule so that the data is updated every day. You simply go to the 4th tab “Scheduled Backup” and tell it to backup once a day. This is creates a mirror (with incremental not checked on setup) so that it will not take long to run. I set mine to run at 3AM every day. You can also configure email to go out if any error occurs. A very nice and important feature.
That’s about it. I’ve only had the device for a couple days, but so far, it’s a winner!
Hope this helps.