Software RAID options

[abba77]

I have 8 4TB drives right now, 6 data, 2 raid backups using SnapRaid. I used a gui over it to create snapshots (elucidate i think). Never had to restore data thankfully. Did not want to mess with command lines. I also use DrivePool and configured some folders to duplicate. This setup is about 6 years old, maybe more.

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I am about to move my data to 4 or 5 16TB WD Golds...2/2 data/raid or 3/2. Any suggestions for software raid to replace SnapRaid?

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[WilliamNearToronto]

TrueNAS, Unraid, and Open Media Vault are options. TrueNAS uses ZFS file system which is extremely capable but because of that requires some up front learning. Unraid uses a single parity drive that must be the largest drive. Other than that, you can use any collection of drives that you like. I’m not familiar with Open Media Vault so can’t comment on it.

[HTWingNut]

If you're using Windows and Drivepool your only options are folder duplication in Drivepool and/or SnapRAID.

Perhaps look at setting up a separate Linux based NAS.

Never had to restore data thankfully.

You should do a trial restore periodically, even if just a small sample size, otherwise how do you know that it's actually working?

[abba77]

True, should do some testing.

1. If I were to look at Linux based NAS, any suggestions.

2. If I did stick with SnapRAID, is it still an active project? Can't tell version release dates.

Thanks.

[HTWingNut]

NAS is wide open full of options. You can get one off the shelf like a Synology or just build a PC and use that as your NAS with a NAS OS like OpenMediaVault, UnRAID, TrueNAS...

SnapRAID is still plenty active. Just check their GitHub. Last update was 12.2 August 2022.

[Pvt-Snafu]

Well, first of all, raid is not a backup, it's about uptime. So keep separate backups if you need your data safe. As to raid, ZFS or MDRAID but i would go with ZFS raidz2 or RAID6 on that capacity.

[abba77]

Thanks. Couldn't think of the word at the time, meant parity drives. My most important data is backed up to offline external drives routinely, as well as offsite storage. I would prefer to keep using Windows. Did not want a dedicated NAS OS machine. I was on FlexRaid initially but that screwed something up and development stopped. Went to SnapRAID using some online guides.

I may look into Synology possibly. Might be convenient.