Home computers and backup

[safeorigin]

hmmm... 4 desktops and 3 laptops...

[oj88]

Sir OJ, is that a WD Green drive? How's the performance?

Are you using a gigabit router?

Have you considered WD Sharespace?

Yup. It's the EARS model. Performance is not an issue as this is more of a backup storage server (among others) rather than a gaming rig.

I have two 8-port gigabit switches connecting most desktops and some laptops. Standard 802.11g for the rest.

Sorry, no experience using WD Sharespace.

Right now, I ran into a setback in that, "Vail" proved to be still a bit buggy and with some features still not in their final state. This is not surprising as it is still in beta. However, I really need a working backup server now.

So here I am installing WHS v1. :D I'll just move to WHSv2 when it is finally released.


EDIT: My bad, I thought that the WD Sharespace is an online storage service. Didn't realize it was a product. :P Edited my reply above.

[oj88]

Dashboard of WHS v1:


Joined 4 computers so far. Had problems backing up one of the desktop. Still figuring out why.

[ParticleX]

90tb for your backup purposes, anyone?
http://hackaday.com/2010/10/21/90-tb...storage-needs/

[oj88]

That ain't too far into the future. I'd probably hit 6TB in probably a year or less.

[Horsepower]

Thanks. Planning to setup a NAS myself. I'm looking to build 2-4Tb but I only plan to buy an enclosure.

[oj88]

Added a new 2TB hard disk. It was easy as pie... all done in about 5 mins, including installation and boot-up.

Before. Around 200+ GB remaining free space


Adding the new HDD into the storage pool took just a few mouse clicks

[oj88]

-cont'd-





After the upgrade... more free space

[oj88]

On a side note, I bought an OMNI Mini Digital Power Meter earlier to get the actual consumption of my servers and connected network devices.

Picture borrowed from the Internet


It turns out that collectively, they're consuming around 150 Watts at idle. These consists of:

Server 1: P4 2GHz running ClearOS (Gateway router): 55W
Server 2: Sempron 140 LE 2.7GHz running WHSv1: 50W

The following collectively consumes around 20W:
8-port Gigabit switch
Nokia ADSL Modem
Wireless AP

The two UPS (APC Smart 700 and APC Back-UPS RS 500) has parasitic consumption of about 15W and 10W, respectively.

The CRT Monitor when turned on consumes a whopping 60W!

Note that accuracy is +/- 10W for the servers as it is dynamically changing depending on things like processor utilization and hard disk access.

It is interesting to note that the old server (Intel P4) with just one (1) 40GB hard disk consumes 5W more than the new one (Sempron) that has two (2) 2TB "Green" drives. When they say that newer equipment is more power-efficient is really not BS after all.

[Horsepower]

I was about to order a Kill-A-Watt from the US when I read the specs that it's only 110V. hehe.

If you don't mind, how much did you get that omni and where?

[oj88]

Yeah, when I found out about Kill-a-Watt, I was disappointed that they didn't have 220-240V versions of it. When I searched for an alternative from the only 1st world I know that uses 220V; UK, I saw a lot of generic ones. I have a pending order of a generic copy from Singapore via eBay which I placed 3 weeks ago. Snail mail sucks.

I got the Omni from Ace Hardware, SM North EDSA Annex. Costs a little under P1k. I was in my usual "alone-time-hardware-browse-mode" when I spied upon it at the electrical section. The Omni model looks exactly like the generic ones (re-badged, no doubt). Anyway, I was actually surprised to know that it's already available locally now. I wished I hadn't ordered online.

Sulit have the Omni on sale for about P850-950 apiece.

[CVT]

That ain't too far into the future. I'd probably hit 6TB in probably a year or less.

Some of my friends say that this is the modern version of gluttony (one of the seven deadly sins....)...

11.1K:transform:

[oj88]

Some of my friends say that this is the modern version of gluttony (one of the seven deadly sins....)...

11.1K:transform:

Hahaha... Not if you're backing up 10 computers with a range of hard disk capacities between 160GB to 1.5TB.

Besides, hard disks are dirt-cheap and power-efficient, especially the "Green" variants.... what more could you ask for? I say, stack 'em, pack 'em, and rack 'em.

[oj88]

OT: Need some help. What's the typical running rate for each kWH on a residential grid?

I see that my equipment used up 7kWH in 2 days. That translates to about 105kWH in a month. How much would that cost?

Unfortunately, I don't have my Meralco bill with me.

[CVT]

Hahaha... Not if you're backing up 10 computers with a range of hard disk capacities between 160GB to 1.5TB.

Besides, hard disks are dirt-cheap and power-efficient, especially the "Green" variants.... what more could you ask for? I say, stack 'em, pack 'em, and rack 'em.

Siguro naman, hindi 'personal' ang 10 computers kaya hindi technically matatawag na 'gluttony' ng mga purista....

I agree with the cost(GB/Php) and power consumption of the hard disks...

11.1K:transform:

[safeorigin]

*sigh* I wish solid state drives were cheap and had large capacities...

[oj88]

Kinda weird. I always see my servers pull 150W on average. But when I checked it out tonight, it's just at around 130W. Nothing's changed as far as I can tell, and everything's still powered up and working.



Ten computers signed up. It's a shame that WHS limits the number of computers and users to just 10. I had to take out the HTPC (Windows 7 Media Center) from the list to remain compliant.

[oj88]

Nov. 15, 2010: Changed out the Sempron LE-140 for an Athlon II X4 630. I just felt that the Sempron is not cut out for the job.

[oj88]

January 8, 2011: With only 11% free space left on my original 4TB storage pool, I got out and got me two more 2TB WD GreenPower drives.

8TB should hold me over til Holy Week

View from WHS Disk Management plug-in


Actual pic

[oj88]

Reviving the thread.

Currently have 8TB (4 x 2TB HDDs) with about 70% utilization, any practical backup options?