Question on a new project Remote DIY Pi3 Backup Server! Fr Robert Ballecer, SJ

[G+_Carlos Alfaro]

Question on a new project. Remote DIY Pi3 Backup Server! Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ

 

This might be a bit too ambitions but I will put the question out there to see if it is or to get some direction...

 

I want to create a DIY Remote Backup Server.

 

I can make a local backup server just fine out of one of my boxes or even a pi3.

 

My scenario is as follows: I have location A (my location) and I have access to location B (remote - power not an issue as I have "free" power for a pi3 and basic broadband). At my location I care about backing up my linux box (/home) to which I already backup multiple Win10 boxes as well as mobile phones, etc.

 

My goal, if possible, is to have a Pi 3 with a 4TB drive attached with a separate power supply (I can live with 2TB at the moment) with some sort of power management enabled to spin down the drive most of the time (I will have the backups run only after midnight and before 6 am as it fits my needs perfectly) just because I want to make it last as long as possible.

 

Does anyone have experience doing this? or suggestions?

 

which is the best distro for running the backups server? Debian or Raspian? Noobs? Ubuntu maybe? which software would be the best to use as the backup server? clients suggested for said server?

 

I have a win10 laptop at that location and I could technically have that as the backup server with a simple share. Power is not the issue, space is an issue. I can't have the laptop running all the time but the pi3 would be out of the way with the HDD and the separate power supply

 

Does anyone have experience on this? or a better suggestion?

I come from crashplan. I will, at least until I come up with a better solution, backup to S3 because I will only be saving 499.9 gigs (true, I had to do a restore to my laptop 3 weeks ago and that is the total size of my archive mostly in pictures). I like the challenge but I like to do it the right way.

 

Also, I like to mount the HDD as an encrypted partition so I know it will be safe regardless of what happens to me or the drive.

 

If it helps I am running DDWRT at both endpoints but I can't rely too much on them because they seem to be locking up a lot lately (management interface but I am scheduling a daily keep alive reboot from a weekly reboot). The Internet and wifi work just fine for most devices but some require a reboot of the router for the devices to connect to the net again, almost daily now. I am in the process of changing both ends points to a slightly faster (still old router) at both locations with more recent firmware to see if that helps.

 

If this is not too practical, S3 is recommended? or maybe those shared hosting services for about $6 per month? would they make a decent backup server?

I have been old owncloud would not be a good backup solutions as they say it in their own website not to. I know is more of a sync server.

 

Help anyone? it will be appreciated. I still have 5 more months of crashplan service so I am not in a huge rush but it is no longer a back burner project.

 

Anything I finally do I will document and share (unless I do not make the backup server).

 

Thanks in advanced.

[G+_Black Merc]

Dear God, Yes!

[G+_Travis Hershberger]

Look at Duplicati (www.duplicati.com). I've been using it with Backblaze B2, currently at 130GB stored which costs 18 cents a month! I'd highly recommend Backblaze over Amazon S3, Backblaze's B2 service is cheaper than every other standard online storage service. The only cheaper service is Glacier, which comes with it's own downsides and is very close in pricing.

 

Duplicati should work for you, even if you run your own server instead of using a different type of service.

[G+_Carlos Alfaro]

Travis Hershberger Thanks. I used duplicati a few years ago to make fast local backups but it was just testing it. I have not visited the product in a while. Out of curiosity, how did you manage such low cost? also, encrypting the drive via them or duplicati?

 

Thanks again

[G+_Travis Hershberger]

Carlos Alfaro The cost side of it, that's just how cheap B2 is. $0.005 GB/month. You can see their price comparison: backblaze.com - Cloud Storage Pricing Comparison: Amazon S3 vs Azure vs B2

 

Edit: I almost forgot, the first 10GB is free!

 

Encrypting via Duplicati's default encryption scheme. If I wanted better encryption, I'd do it with Duplicati to keep it all PIE (Pre-Ineternet Encryption) and TNO (Trust No One) to cop a couple of Steve Gibson's favorite phrases.

[G+_Carlos Alfaro]

thanks. That is actually how I heard about duplicati... thanks again

[G+_Dan Hockey]

If you are still going to experiment with the Pi Nextcloud can now be installed via berryboot. I tried Nextcloud on my synology but I couldn't get it setup to work. I have a Pi 2 and a 1tb usb hdd that I plan on doing the same thing, some day.

If you have little or no experience with linux then install the lastest rapbian then google for what you are trying to do. There's bound to be some one out that has a howto.

[G+_Carlos Alfaro]

Dan Hockey I think I will do my main backup with Duplicati for now but I will do the p3 as a hobby. I left the IT field about a decade ago but I used to build Linux servers for internal company use. I used to build FRESCO routers (anyone remembers them?) I used redhat since 4.2 and built some web servers for light use. Nothing too fancy, mainly file print servers and a webserver for an intranet. I will do my research as some of my server practices may be outdated. I still use linux as a desktop and have done so since the late 90's. I hope I can manage to get this done within a month or so. Just have had little time for it and I was in fact looking for a how to. Thanks again.

[G+_Ben Reese]

Carlos Alfaro I'm in the same boat, but with a bit more data (~6 TB on CrashPlan). I'm hoping to attach an external drive to a Raspberry Pi and leave it at my mother in laws. Start the initial backup while on my home network, then use a script to connect it to my home VPN. First I need to install Duplicati, though, and try it out.

[G+_Carlos Alfaro]

Ben Reese thums up. That was my original plan. Start the back up at home and do the incremental over the web. Let me know how it goes