Product data

Table Of Contents

Storage Concepts and Technologies

Warning

Attempting to migrate RAID sets on non-Linksys NSS storage systems can result

in RAID set corruption and possibly storage system failure.

Storage Backup

Backup is the activity of copying files or data so that they will be preserved in case of

equipment failure or other catastrophe. There are several different storage backup options:

1. Local CIFS backup within the source array (same device) or to a second (or more) LAN

attached NSS

2. Remote backup to a remote CIFS server or to a third party storage solution

3. Snapshot, a volume backup with instant access to a previously captured backup

Linksys NSS contains a backup utility that can create full and incremental backups.

Directories, files, and folders can be backed up on a configured schedule to other Windows-

compatible (CIFS) NAS devices or remote servers. Backups (and restores) are managed by

the administrator and are used to archive a specific list of shares for offline or offsite storage.

Backup images can be used to recover from a major system failure, such as would be

required to restore the shares after repairing a failed disk in a RAID 0 array. Full and

incremental backups may be specified, as well as a time interval between scheduled

iterations (daily, weekly, monthly). Backups are managed via the ‘Backup’ utility within the

device GUI.

Linksys NSS supports backup for both agent (software)-based and agent-less backup

architectures. The NSS does not require the management of agent software. However, a third

party agent software product may be used where it supports the ability to use a CIFS or FTP

mount point as the backup target. As long as the backup software is not server based, any

client based product should work for backups.

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Note

In the past, many businesses have used storage applications (e.g. BackupExec, NetBackup)

to backup various storage platforms to tape drives. Today, the cost associated with using

another NAS as a backup target can be significantly less than the amount of power, floor

space and labor required to maintain a tape-based infrastructure.

Local Backup

The local backup options include:

• Local CIFS Backup to another volume/share within the source array on the same

device (Figure 15)

• Local CIFS Backup to a second (or more) LAN attached NSS across the LAN (Figure

16)

Using a local source array as backup target can reduce storage costs and recovery time.

Linksys NSS can replicate to a duplicate NSS backup target or to any storage platform. It

relies on established communication protocols (FTP, CIFS) for backup.

17 EDCS-593805 v1.0

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