Incremental Backups not working with SMB Shares

Where are you backing up to/from?

If you are backing up to/from a Windows machine what version of Windows is on it?

You may wish to open a support case. I see you have a previous case #25130896

Hi,

I am backing up from the NAS shares to the attached USB drive. I finally figured out the remote windows time stamp and windows archive bit. I get the same response from both, all files are moved to the backup drive always.

Thanks, JMc

Why are you using the SMB protocol for this?

Enabling Rsync on a share and using Rsync would be better.

Which filesystem is on the USB disk?

The NAS shares are SMB and are supporting many locally VPN connected Win 7/8 users. The USB drive has been formatted with NTFS so that catastrophic recovery can be accomplished with a Win 7/8 desktop.

Will RSYNC run in this environment.? It is interesting to note that the ReadyNAS software manual repeatedly states that RSYNC is for 'expert' users only!!

Can you point me to an RSYNC tutorial. Am I to unstand that the RSYNC process runs on the ReadyNAS?

OK,

Reading the ReadyNAS OS 6.2 manual again it says "Using Rsync is the preferred backup method when backing up from one ReadyNas Device to another."

So I want to copy data from \NASserver\data\AccountingBackup to \NASserver\media\USB_HDD_4\AccountingBackup

where:
\NASserver is my new ReadyNAS 3130
\data\AccountingBackup is my SMB share on the NAS server
\media\USB_HDD_4\AccountingBackup is the destination folder on the removable media device

How do I do that with Rsync through the New Backup Job dialog?

The RSYNC process should
create the destination folder if it is not there
Overwrite any older (not matching) files with new files from the share
Report any status or errors

Is this possible? JMc

Full / Incremental Backup Jobs from SMB Shares w/RSYNC to USB Removable Media (HDDs)

Updated: May 15, 2015 with an assist from StephenB :D

This process creates a Backup Job from an SMB Share to a Removable Media HDD using RSYNC. This Backup Job automatically builds any required directory structures and can be configured to empty the target HDD as required. It also performs incremental backups on the 2nd pass.

The following steps have only been tested on a ReadyNAS 3130 running 6.2.4. Test them thoroughly before betting your data on them.

STEPS:
1 - Enable RSYNC on SMB Share using IP address of ReadyNAS
2 - Add a Backup Job and source: Share to destination: Share (bug workaround)
3 - Edit Backup Job and convert the destination to the USB port (use the port and not a drive name)
4 - Edit Backup Job and convert the source Share to an RSYNC backup
5 - Attach Backup Drive

STEP 1: Configure RSYNC Protocol on SMB Share(s)
Select Shares: Shares
Select SMB Share: Settings
Click Network Access Button
Click RSYNC Protocol Button
Move Slider to ON
Click SECURITY
Default Access: Read Only
Click HOSTS
Click + Button
Enter 127.0.0.1
Note: This is the default Local Host IP address
Click Yes
Click OK

STEP 2: Add the Backup Job Share to Share
Select Backup: Add Backup
Edit the Backup Job Name
Click Backup From: Local: Browse and select the Source SMB Share
Click Backup To: Local: Browse and select any other Share name
Note: this is a bug workaround and is a temporary selection
Click Next
Select Backup Schedule as desired
Select Schedule full backup: First time
Select On completion send: as desired
Click Finish

STEP 3 Change Backup Job Destination to USB Port
Click on Backup Job created in Step 2
Click Settings
Click Destination
Select Type: [usb]
Select Name: desired USB port.
Note: by selecting the port and not a media or HDD name allows this backup to output to any device attached to the port.
Click Path: [/DestinationFolder]
Note: This is the destination path name on the Backup Drive. It can be anything. RSYNC will create the path if it is not extant upon backup.
Click OK and complete the Backup Job edit

STEP 4 Change Backup Job Source from SMB Share to remote RSYNC server process
Click on Backup Job created in Step 2
Click Settings
Click Source
Select Type: [remote]
Select Name: [remote: Rsync Server]
Select Host: enter 127.0.0.1 the default Local Host IP address
Note: this must be the same address used in Step 1
Click Path: enter the name of the SMB Share just the name no /s or \s
Click Login: Enter a user name with Read/Write Privileges on the SMB Share
Click Password: Enter the user’s password
Click Test Connection will respond with “Successfully connected IP::Share Name
Click OK
Click OK and exit the Backup Job edit

STEP 5 Attach Backup Drive
Attach a new Backup Drive to the destination USB port
Click Settings: Format to empty the drive
Click the Power Button: Restart
Note: Although Eject and Format operate correctly and you will be able to browse, add files and folders to the Backup Drive it is not ‘Mounted’ and RSYNC will not operate. The only way to ‘mount’ the USB Backup drive is to Restart the ReadyNAS unit. Obviously after normal working hours. This bug has been reported to NetGear.

STEP 6 TEST, TEST, TEST

Remember, many Bothans died to bring you this information.

Be well and do good work, JMc

Maybe it's smart enough to realise that the Remote Rsync server is the localhost and the data doesn't need to go over the network?

Rsync is a great protocol for backups.

Glad you've got it working.

You can also use 127.0.0.1 for the IP address - by convention this is localhost on computer systems, so it avoids the need for a static IP address.

Though reserving an IP address for the NAS in your router is a good practice (and more robust/managable than using static addresses)