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ReadyNAS Rsync to FreeNAS
I have a ReadyNAS running RAIDiator 4.2.27 (the latest version) that is attached to my home network. I have installed the latest firmware updates to the NAS. My home network has no directory service enabled; all users are local.
I have built a FreeNAS box to run as a backup for the data on the ReadyNAS. I plan to use Rsync as the backup software. My FreeNAS box has 8GB of RAM. I am running FreeNAS version “9.3-STABLE-201502060108.”
My problem is that I cannot get the two boxes to communicate. I have read the user guides for both systems. Unfortunately, not being a sophisticated networking type, I am repeatedly stumped by the differences in nomenclature between the ReadyNAS guides and the FreeNAS guides. They have subtle, but crucial differences in the way that they describe the functions of these two systems and how they work with Rsync. One of my major confusions is that the two guides refer to Rsync “server” and “client” in opposite ways, so, as a novice user, It’s very confusing. The two guides also seem to use the term “module” in different ways.
I am ambivalent as to whether the Source (ReadyNAS) pushes data to the Destination (FreeNAS), or the Destination pulls data from the Source. I would like to have the Destination wake up weekly and backup my Source, so I was thinking of Push configuration with wake-up-on-LAN enabled on FreeNAS – if that’s available.
Let me set the stage in terms of what I have done so far:
ReadyNAS (Source)
- IP addr: 192.168.1.144
- I have a test share, “Backup2” set up, with some data in it,
- I have checked the Rsync box under Services>Standard File Protocols,
- I have checked the rsync icon under Shares>Share Listing for Backup2,
- Under rsync options for Backup2, I have set the default access to Read-only,
- Also under Rsync options, I have entered the IP address of the FreeNAS under “Hosts allowed access – no password or SSH options are activated
FreeNAS (Destination)
- IP addr: 192.168.1.145
- I have a Volume named MirrorPool
- I have a UNIX share named ReadyNASBackup
- For services, I have CIFS, NFS, Rsync, and S.M.A.R.T.
- I have an Rsync Module (I really don’t understand these) named Backup2TestModule with
- Path: /mnt/MirrorPool/ReadyNASBackup
- Access mode: Read & Write
- User: Grunbay
- Group: Grunbay
- Hosts allow: 192.168.1.144
Rather than tell you the thousands (OK, that’s hyperbole) of combinations that I have tried of path names, user names, etc and their related error messages, I thought some kind, and knowledgeable soul out there may be able to help set me in the right direction. Let me know if you need additional information. I plan to post this in both the ReadyNAS and FreeNAS forums as I don’t even know which side of the equation is out of balance!
Thanks in advance.
12 Replies
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Thanks BrianL. I had not seen that article, but had read a very similar article in netgear support. Unfortunately, both articles discus using rsync between two ReadyNAS boxes, not ReadyNAS and FreeNAS. I have followed all of the relevant suggestions on my ReadyNAS.
Hi Grunbay111,
If that is the case, have a quick check with our support team and see if what other things they can suggest.
Kind regards,
BrianL
NETGEAR Community
I didn't have an old RAIDiator NAS handy to test this out with, so I used the RAIDiator VM with v4.2.23. Should be about the same. FreeNAS is at 9.3 STABLE.
Here's how I configured:
On the FreeNAS side:
- Created a ZFS volume called "tank"
- Created a CIFS share called "test" to point to "/mnt/tank/test"
This also created the directory for me. - Permissions on "/mnt/tank/test" defaulted to being owned by root:wheel.
I popped open a shell via the UI and did a "chown nobody:nogroup /mnt/tank/test". - Configured an rsync "module" called test pointing to /mnt/tank/test
An rsync "module" is basically a share.
User and group are set to nobody:nogroup, just like the permissions above. - Ensure that "rsync" is enabled under "Services"
On the ReadyNAS side:
- Create backup job:
- Source: Share (backup)
- Destination: (Remote: Rsync Server)
Host: IP address of FreeNAS
Path: test (same as the rsync module)
Hit "Go" on the ReadyNAS side to start the backup job and I had a successful run.
Just going on the information you provided I'd say you're probably running into a permissions related issue.
User/group "Grunbay", as you set in your initial post, needs to have permission to this folder.
Without changing the ownership on the "test" folder I created in FreeNAS I got the following message back from the ReadyNAS backup log:
Reason for failure: Error encountered copying data from source path /backup/ ==> 10.200.101.159::test due to permission denial on one or more files.
Very helpful post, I was able to get the job to run, but it fails. I will play with it a bit and get back to you.
Thanks a million!
Which version of Rsync is running on FreeNAS?
When the job fails do you get an error message or a log explaining why?
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