Purchasing ReadyNas Pro 6 Diskless

(1) The PC software is limited to RAIDar, which looks for broadcast packets from the NAS, and reports some basic status. It is mostly useful for initial setup, particularly if you are using DHCP. Administration is done through a web interface.

(2)There's a pretty good review on the WD RED here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/red ... ,3248.html The Seagate is faster, particularly on random I/O. On sequential access the WD should be fast enough to max out the lan. The WD runs considerable cooler, which one would expect to improve its reliability.

I'd suggest dual-redundancy if you fully populate them with 3 TB drives (giving you about 12 TB of available storage)

However, you don't need to max out both NAS today. You could (for instance) start with 3x3TB with single redundancy in each system, and expand them to 6x3TB with dual redundancy as the storage grows. There is a 8 TB expansion limit from the starting point which you should keep in mind. To go beyond that limit you need to do a factory default procedure with all disks in place, which will wipe all the data on the NAS - so it would need to be reloaded from the other device.

(3) He will be able to access the NAS that is in his home. I don't use replicate, but from the specs it is a one-way sync. (There is a one-time license fee for replicate btw), Egnyte does 2-way sync and some other services (http://www.egnyte.com/netgear/), but there is a monthly charge - also since their solution includes egynte hosted servers you'd want to make sure the law firm is ok with that. Another option is to install a VPN between his office and his home, and have him simply access the primary NAS directly (but still using replicate or the built-in FrontView backup to the second NAS for backup).

Hi,

I already use an Ultra 6 Plus backed up to an Ultra 6 Pro. I now wish I just had two Ultra 6 Pro units, but that is Captain Hindsight talking. Back to you query…

The ReadyNAS units have a number of backup options, and depending on the size of the files you want to access StephenB’s suggestions are good ideas. Another option would be to schedule the backups to be done at the end of the working day from Primary to Backup ensuring the day’s changes have been backed up cross site, and then in the morning do it from the Backup to the Primary. This is a little sensitive as it won’t account for changes done outside the normal working hours, so a further suggestion… the ReadyNAS Ultra 6 units come with a button on the front of the unit that can be assigned a backup job. So if you assign a directory to the “main attorney” and one for the rest of the office he’d be able to access the files in this directory from home (safe in the knowledge no-one else is editing or adding files to the directory) and when done he would need to press the button and the backup job would start sending the files to the Primary unit.

A further thought occurs, you could have backups done from the Primary to the Backup done over RSync which allows for removing files and the backup jobs from the Backup to the Primary would be ones that don’t edit but simply adds files to the Primary.

I know this is not quite a simple process and that a two way sync would be better, but it is just an alternate solution for you to consider.

coolsnaz wrote:
A further thought occurs, you could have backups done from the Primary to the Backup done over RSync which allows for removing files and the backup jobs from the Backup to the Primary would be ones that don’t edit but simply adds files to the Primary.

If the attorney uses the secondary NAS as a local primary, then there is inherently some risk that work will be lost. The attorney might occasionally start with an outdated file, and also his changes might not always reach the primary. You can reduce the odds if you know the normal work habits, but I don't think you can eliminate the risk unless you have a true 2-way sync.

BTW, If the bidirectional rsync jobs are using the same pair of shares, you would need to be extremely careful on the timing. You can't allow both backups to be running simultaneously, and there is no facility to guarantee this. Also, if the primary backup runs first it would delete any files the attorney added to the corresponding secondary share. It's an interesting notion, but it seems pretty fragile.

One other note. When reading your first post asking about the software "and what I need to make it run", my first impression was that you were asking about the operating system. The operating system (called RAIDiator) is included on each machine in a flash memory chip. When you install the first drive and turn it on (it has to have at least one drive to operate) it will initialize the drives and then start a 10 minute countdown. During that countdown you have the opportunity to access the unit via RAIDar (the discovery program included on the enclosed CD) and decide if you want to use the default X-Raid2 system (recommended) or Flex-Raid where you manually set up the raid. After the 10 minutes window has expired (or when you manually choose the system) it will then install the operating system (referred to as firmware since it is on flash and not a CD/DVD) and do the default setup.

There are three terms we use heavily and it might help when you are reading other posts to explain them. RAIDar is a program that is run on the client machine (PC) to a) discover any and all ReadyNAS units on a network and b) start the setup and configuration application that runs in a browser window from the ReadyNAS. This configuration application is called Frontview. The actual operating system/firmware that make the unit run and includes the RAID control software is called RAIDiator. This is the ReadyNAS equivalent of Windows, MAC OS or Linux depending on which flavor you use in your office environment.

Another way the lead attorney and indeed all other attorneys can access their files from home is thorough ReadyNAS Remote. This enables remote access to the NAS from a PC outside the physical location of the device. I cannot explain it further since I have never used it.

OP, if you are setting this up for a professional lawfirm, I highly recommend Enterprise disks. Nothing good can come of value engineering and using consumer grade disks. If you have a problem, and the fault is disk related, any other IT guy will immediately remark on the use of consumer grade disks. For one, its been my experience when exchanging Enterprise disks under warranty that the OEM will work with you on the replacement. I have had several brand new replacements sent over the years, including one just last week. And, Enterprise disks are typically built better, have better specs and URE rates.

Consumer disk exchanges can be pot luck. Sometimes you get the same model, other times they send you an equivalent, and that equivalent may not be on the HCL. Your ability to demand a certain model is less with consumer disks.

As far a backup/sync between the NAS units is concerned, you need to be concerned with in use files. Files copied when a user (or more than one user) is using the file during the copy process. Results can be unpredictable. I recommend you look @ solutions that will provide versioning and maintaining x number of deleted files for a period of days.

Take a look @ http://www.Egntye.com. They have a solution that integrates with the Readynas as the local cloud.

Alternatively look @ http://www.box.com Business/Enterprise plans. The other option that comes to mind is MS Exchange, but unless they have a Win Server it can get pricey for hosted exchange and 3TB of data.

claykin wrote:

OP, if you are setting this up for a professional lawfirm, I highly recommend Enterprise disks. Nothing good can come of value engineering and using consumer grade disks. If you have a problem, and the fault is disk related, any other IT guy will immediately remark on the use of consumer grade disks. For one, its been my experience when exchanging Enterprise disks under warranty that the OEM will work with you on the replacement. I have had several brand new replacements sent over the years, including one just last week. And, Enterprise disks are typically built better, have better specs and URE rates.

I agree that good enterprise disks are the best option. Cost may be higher, but there would be a big impact if the law firm lost their files.

claykin wrote:
Take a look @ http://www.Egntye.com. They have a solution that integrates with the Readynas as the local cloud. Alternatively look @ http://www.box.com Business/Enterprise plans. The other option that comes to mind is MS Exchange, but unless they have a Win Server it can get pricey for hosted exchange and 3TB of data.

A fully supported turnkey solution has a lot of advantages, especially for firm that is too small to have their own IT department. Egnyte would certainly simplify things, since the syncing is automatic, and there is cloud backup to boot. The cost may be a factor, also the law firm would want to review the privacy policies and security - ensuring that legal privilege is maintained, etc. But it is worth exploring - it allows the lawyers to focus on their practice, and not get sucked into becoming IT guys.

Thank you all for your suggestions and clarifications.

There is a VPN connection already in place. He frequently works from home using the VPN connection. He just would like to have a faster way of accessing his files and modifying them than through the VPN connection. He mainly complains that it's slow to save files back to the server after he modifies them, and some of the files are huge (even though he has an insanely fast 50 Mbps up/down link at the office). This is why I thought the ReadyNas would be a good option. I was hoping he could connect to the one at his home, make the changes he wanted and then have that synced back to the primary.

The main issue is that some people in the office work during off hours, so there would be no way for me to time a two-way rsync. He's based in L.A. and has an employee in Colorado and another in N.Y. who work late night hours. They will always connect to the primary.

So my hopes of him connecting to it from home are dashed. This plan has basically changed to having one ReadyNas as a storage server in the office with a backup one at home. Takes care of trying to add on to his tape robot to back up this extra data.

Also good points about not having to buy 6 hard drives. I'll buy more as needed. He can start off with 4x3 with dual redundancy for 6 TB of storage and add more later.

As far as enterprise vs desktop, I understand the risks and that's why I'm getting 2 ReadyNas and having dual redundancy. Only way for a real total failure would be if 3 hard drives from both the primary and secondary failed...and if that happens...I'm blowing up the Seagate or WD manufacturing plant for the good of all humanity. (Please do not report me to the CIA or any other anti-terrorism organization. It's just a joke....I think.)

What VPN endpoint and Windows clients is he using? What type of VPN connection (IPSec, PPTP, L2TP, SSL)? You may just need a more modern endpoint to speed up his VPN connection.

I have a Zyxel USG series endpoint and use Greenbow VPN client and have fairly speedy connectivity. I can fully saturate my 6Mb/s upload bandwidth.

While it will be slower to access (and save) large files over the VPN, I agree that it might be worth reviewing his home setup with him.

How fast is his home link (I assume the 50/50 is in the main office)? Is he using wifi at home - if so that might actually be the speed bottleneck.

He's running Microsoft Small Business Server 2008, so he's just using the VPN option from the server's operating system which is setup as a PPTP VPN.

I tested my bandwidth from home and I have a 18Mbps down and ~900Kbps up link. I tried copying a 10.3MB file from the server to my computer and then copy it back to the server in a different location. My download transfer was fast as was expected about 2.0MB/s. When I tried copying it back it took about a minute to copy back with a transfer rate of around 120 KB/s. This is what he's complaining about. He wants this to be faster. The best way to really increase his upload speed would be to increase his up bandwidth with his ISP which he could.

Again one of the main reasons why I was thinking of the ReadyNas for his home, was he would be able to work off of this while he was working from home.