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NAS as Backup w/ Snapshots: Moving large folders on source drive, how do I avoid duplicates?
Hello Forum Members:
I use my ReadyNAS as a backup of my large photo collection that resides on external USB drives connected to my Mac. I use Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) as the software for a nighly backup. I do not use CCC's so-called "SafetyNet" (it does not matter, if you do not know what that is), but instead I use the "Smart" Snapshot function on the NAS with a daily snapshot schedule. CCC deletes all folders and files that only reside on the NAS, but they continue to exist in snapshots, so I am covered. I use this setup for years now and it works well for me.
However, I now need to move around a large number of files and folders on one of my external USB drives. This is not a problem for the backup mechnism, but I assume that the snapshot function will create significant redundancy, as it will consider all files and folders in the new location as completely new. I would like to avoid this.
Is there an intelligent way to manage this situation or do I have to delete all my snapshots and start from scratch (with the side effect of losing potentially important files of the last couple of years)?
I would be grateful for suggestions.
Thanks,
Hal
HAL_9000 wrote:
Ok, so you say I do the following:
- Create all the new folders on the USB drive.
- Let CCC replicate those on the NAS.
- Move folders around on the USB drive and on the NAS in parallel so that the structure is identical afterwards.
- Run CCC again.
- Because I move the folders in the shares on the NAS, the links to the files in the snapshots are updated automatically.
- Also, CCC's backup should be minimal after the move as all the files are already there.
Correct?
Yes, with one clarification
- Create all the new (empty) folders on the USB drive.
Then populate those folders on both devices, and arrange them as desired on both devices.
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HAL_9000 wrote:
(with the side effect of losing potentially important files of the last couple of years)?
You do have two independent copies of the files (one on the NAS, and one on the USB drive). Deleting snapshots won't affect the copies in the main share.
Though personally I must say that I maintain at least 3 independent copies of everything I care about. Getting another USB drive and creating a second backup before you begin would certainly mitigate the risk.
Or are you saying you have files you care about that are only in the snapshots?
HAL_9000 wrote:
Is there an intelligent way to manage this situation?
You could move the files around on both devices (with CC not running). If the file attributes (including date) match, then the backup program probably won't copy them again. Moves on the NAS would change the metadata (directories) but that won't create nearly as much snapshot space as CC copying the photos again.
Though if you create new folders, the dates folder dates won't match. You could create them on the USB drive first, and then have CC replicate them on the NAS. Then exit CC, and carefully do the moves on both devices.
Thanks a lot StephenB!
StephenB wrote:
HAL_9000 wrote:(with the side effect of losing potentially important files of the last couple of years)?
You do have two independent copies of the files (one on the NAS, and one on the USB drive). Deleting snapshots won't affect the copies in the main share.
<snip>
Or are you saying you have files you care about that are only in the snapshots?
Sorry, what I meant was that I am using the snapshots for the purpose of backing up the originals of files that I might have accidentally deleted or modified. If I delete the snapshots, I might loose files that at the moment I do not know I need.
I have all files I care about on the USB drives as well as the NAS.
HAL_9000 wrote:Is there an intelligent way to manage this situation?
You could move the files around on both devices (with CC not running). If the file attributes (including date) match, then the backup program probably won't copy them again. Moves on the NAS would change the metadata (directories) but that won't create nearly as much snapshot space as CC copying the photos again.
Though if you create new folders, the dates folder dates won't match. You could create them on the USB drive first, and then have CC replicate them on the NAS. Then exit CC, and carefully do the moves on both devices.
Ok, so you say I do the following:
- Create all the new folders on the USB drive.
- Let CCC replicate those on the NAS.
- Move folders around on the USB drive and on the NAS in parallel so that the structure is identical afterwards.
- Run CCC again.
- Because I move the folders in the shares on the NAS, the links to the files in the snapshots are updated automatically.
- Also, CCC's backup should be minimal after the move as all the files are already there.
Correct?
HAL_9000 wrote:
Ok, so you say I do the following:
- Create all the new folders on the USB drive.
- Let CCC replicate those on the NAS.
- Move folders around on the USB drive and on the NAS in parallel so that the structure is identical afterwards.
- Run CCC again.
- Because I move the folders in the shares on the NAS, the links to the files in the snapshots are updated automatically.
- Also, CCC's backup should be minimal after the move as all the files are already there.
Correct?
Yes, with one clarification
- Create all the new (empty) folders on the USB drive.
Then populate those folders on both devices, and arrange them as desired on both devices.
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