Fastest way to move files around within the NAS?

Windows explorer is actually a very fast way to move files - but you do need to ensure that it doesn't copy/delete when you move between shares.

You can do that by opening \\nasname\c in explorer (using the NAS admin credentials). That essentially presents the full volume as one share, so if you have two windows like that open you can move files between them "instantly".

StephenB wrote:
Windows explorer is actually a very fast way to move files - but you do need to ensure that it doesn't copy/delete when you move between shares. You can do that by opening \\nasname\c in explorer (using the NAS admin credentials). That essentially presents the full volume as one share, so if you have two windows like that open you can move files between them "instantly".

Hmmm I didn't know this and will have to try it some time. I'd thought the "best" way to do this was to telnet-in and do it using Linux commands (yeah, not for the timid).

Well Telnet is a little outdated ;) but SSH into the NAS to send some command is definitively an option.
Also keep in mind that this works because it's a single volume on the NAS. Newer NAS use BTRFS and tend to do a full copy when you move from share to share.

Windows moves files when they are in a single partition (pointer update), copies them and delete them when they are on 2 partitions. I believe linux uses a similar pattern.
Windows explorer being only an interface to the Linux box, it asks to move the files, seing them in a single share it choses to update the pointers I guess.

xeltros wrote:
...Windows moves files when they are in a single partition (pointer update), copies them and delete them when they are on 2 partitions. I believe linux uses a similar pattern. Windows explorer being only an interface to the Linux box, it asks to move the files, seing them in a single share it choses to update the pointers I guess...

Yes, and I think Macs as well.

Within any computer, if you are moving between devices (USB to C drive, or C to D drive, SD card to USB, ...) then the move has to be broken down to a copy + a delete. If you are moving within the same device, then the move can be done more efficiently.

Basically the same rule applies when you are accessing network shares. Different shares appear to the PC as different devices, so the move across shares becomes copy+delete Accessing the entire volume (as described) treats the entire volume as one share.

In the case of OS6/BTRFS, the shares are structured so that trick doesn't work, but you are sticking with OS4, so that isn't relevant.


As xeltros says, you also can do this from SSH (using a command line interface similar to a Windows CMD box). Personally I don't do that very often.

I don't think its worth your time to install ssh and learn linux for this - though if you want to learn linux for other reasons, you will need to master the basic commands involved. If you do mess with ssh stuff, it is even more important to have current backups. It is quite easy to brick your NAS or destroy your files if you don't know what you are doing (and sometimes even if you do :) )

Thanks guys! Really appreciate all the pointers! I was able to enable Rsync on my ReadyNasDuo and setup up a backup job on my 104 which is running as we speak! It's about 2 TBs so not sure how long it's going to take.

Any thoughts on what I can do to get files on my laptop hard drive on to the ReadyNas? Is there a nifty trick like the Rsync that can make this more efficient? I recently bought a 5 TB NAS drive so I'm consolidating everything on to the ReadyNas (and am going to buy another 5 TB in a few weeks to be a mirror backup drive)

theproman23 wrote:
Any thoughts on what I can do to get files on my laptop hard drive on to the ReadyNas? Is there a nifty trick like the Rsync that can make this more efficient? I recently bought a 5 TB NAS drive so I'm consolidating everything on to the ReadyNas (and am going to buy another 5 TB in a few weeks to be a mirror backup drive)

The drag/drop transfers are pretty efficient, but I prefer teracopy or robocopy because I think they are more robust. Teracopy can verify.