ConnerVT

Time for a 6 month check in. Prices continue to drop on most computer components, with memory (both RAM and solid state storage) leading the way down. Just picked up a 2TB NVMe with DRAM cache for $70. At the beginning of this year, it was selling for $110+. This is just one data point of many, many 1000's of components that make up the market, but the majority share a similar trajectory. Companies are still dealing with too much inventory, and the market won't be buying unless the World's economy improves.

Did this ever happen?

Excellent. Thank you! That is just what I was looking for. I had hoped it was as simple as this. Generally, when I start thinking like this, it ends up costing endless hours of traveling down the wrong path to the simple solution. 😖

My script runs on the Main server. I wish to run the Mover on the Backup server after the rsync from Main -> Backup has completed. @JorgeB Wouldn't adding /usr/local/sbin/mover to the script run the Mover on the Main server, and not the Backup server?

To reduce the amount of time the Main server is transferring files/running the backup script. The Backup server has only one function - a simple NAS that only is accessed by the Main server once a week. I am not concerned of the extra power used by the Backup doing a two-stage write operation (writing to cache then move to array). The transfer between Main and Backup servers would be significantly faster writing to SSD cache vs HDD array.

This is what I'm working with: I have my Main Unraid server backing up files on my Backup Unraid server. It does this by a bash script using rsync. There are SSH keys configured so the Main can write to the Backup server. The Backup spends most of its time at sleep, with the script running on the Main waking the Backup server before executing the rsync. The Backup server currently has no cache drive installed. Writing directly to the array. Backup server goes to sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity. I'm thinking of installing a cache drive in the Backup server. But the cache drive won't help if the Backup server is asleep at the scheduled Mover time. So the question I have is: Can the Mover be invoked on the Backup server by a command I can add to my script that is run on the Main server? If so, what would that look like? TIA

I use two external USB drives to backup a folder I have in my Unraid server. One drive is connected to the server, the other I keep at work. I swap them every month or so. I use the User Scripts plugin, and have a script which runs the script once a week (good for my needs) that does a rsync of the server's folder to the USB drive. You could do something with a script in Unassigned Devices, but I believe the script only runs one time, when mounting the drive. I prefer the periodic scheduled backup time, scheduling it during a maintenance quiet time, so the backup is relatively recent.

Sorry, but I don't feel this is valid. It would be true if you bought a hardware system with Unraid installed and configured. Just as it would be for a new iPhone or a toaster. Unraid is a base software platform that is capable of running on the most primitive x86 system up through the top end HPC system. Some assembly (and configuration) required. I have sat at 6.10.3 as I wasn't feeling great about some of the issues in the kernel of the previous stable release. This is an option for you, else follow the advice given above and determine what configuration changes you need to make to run this latest release.

Well, maybe not so Soon™. I won't even think of updating until I see a .1 on 6.12.

I just threw that out to make an example of how it can easily get complicated, trying to accommodate multiple different situations (and configurations) that someone could possibly wish to do. Build a better mousetrap - Someone will come up with a better mouse. That Limetech includes a basic Mover function in the software is great. Keep it simple and reliable, and easily understood for the new, first time user. But there is not anything I see in the mover's functionality that can't be written and enhanced with a script to do exactly what you desire. With the benefit that if the script I write is flawed, it isn't spread through the entire Unraid user base.

I agree with Aran. I prefer that the source devices handle the backup process rather than the destination. Especially when the source (such as a desktop or tablet) may be powered off at the scheduled backup time. I use Macrium Reflect on my Windows systems to back up to my Unraid server. I then (weekly) back up those backup files to an external USB drive that's attached to the server (with a script which rotates out the oldest files if it exceeds the USB drives capacity). Ever (other?) month, I swap the USB drive with one I keep in my desk at work. I have nothing to offer for Android. We're an iOS house here (and still haven't found a backup solution for those which I like).

What happens if cache is 90%+ capacity and everything is less than 90 days old?

Have you tried plugging the flash drive in another machine? You don't need to boot to Unraid, just to check if the boot menu come up. If it is a Windows machine, you can also run a chkdsk on it, to confirm the file system is not corrupt/damaged. This should not apply to paid licensees. There is not any connection between the Unraid software and this forum. Would you want there to be? I don't believe I (or many others) would wish for that. This is why many people selfhost, to not have these connections between their data and the Internet. Also remember that support on this forum does not come from Limetech, but from Unraid users who help people without compensation.

Only that it requires the server to be connected to the Internet. Otherwise, it behaves like a Pro license.

Unraid assigns the disks based on the drive's serial number. You assigned Disk 1 to 9VS5AGSW You assigned Disk 2 to 9VS59YHL It does not matter if you physically move the drives or switch the controller cables from one connector on the motherboard (or even install a new controller and connect the drive to that). 9VS5AGSW will still be assigned Disk 1 and 9VS59YHL assigned Disk 2.

Yes. Remember that the license is tied to the GUID of the flash drive. When you are ready, you will copy the contents of the Trial drive to the older Plus flash drive (the "config" folder is really the most important thing, assuming both systems are running the same Unraid version), then put the "Plus.key" file from the old drive into the newly copied "config" folder. Then you use this "old" drive in the new server. I highly recommend you make a copy of both flash drives first, less you make an error when copying one thing to another. Saves a bunch of grief when that happens.

Are you using the same SATA connectors on your motherboard? When M.2 is used on your MB, some of the SATA connectors are disabled (PCIe lanes are shared between the two, and M.2 has precedence).

There is no need to preclear a drive before using it for Parity. The preclear application writes zeros to the entire drive to prepare it for use as a data drive in the Unraid array. As installing a new Parity drive requires the parity to be rebuilt which will write to every location on the drive anyway. Here is the relevant section from the Unraid manual for replacing a Parity drive: https://docs.unraid.net/unraid-os/manual/storage-management#upgrading-parity-disks

As I see it, it is dependent on a few things: How important is the data? Is the data backed up somewhere else? (Parity is *not* a backup) How critical is the server availability? (The array can run emulating the data with the parity drive while you rebuild/recover) I would say that unless you have 10+ TB ready to load on the server, or the existing 4TB are on the edge of failure, install the new 18TB drive now as Parity, take the current 4TB dive and add it to your array, then add any new drive to the array in the future.

Perhaps use something like Uptime Robot?

Hey! I resemble that remark... 😝

If where you are is Earth, this is quite true. I went through the same recently, looking for a PSU for my backup server. A Ryzen 1500X clocked down to about half speed (no Docker or VM, it's just a NAS for a couple hours a month) and 3 rust drives. I could have realistically run the system on a 150W PSU. Looking for a half decent, known brand 450W ATX PSU, choices were really limited. Some unheard of brands with barely a Bronze 80 rating were sub $100. Expanding my search to higher capacity, I ended up buying a 550W Thermaltake PSU. Much more than I wanted, but fit my budget requirements.

SanDisk and Samsung are currently the two largest brands in the consumer flash memory market. If you going to sell counterfeits, who would you copy? There's a lot of counterfeit Gucci and Rolex. Not many knocking off Casio watches.

Do you have "nvidia-persistenced" in a script on your system? And did it execute since upgrading to rc6?

Which flavor/processor did you get? The N5105? CWWK has been putting out a different model of board each week it seems (and case, and processor...). I am using one of Topton's air-cooled N5105 systems for my bare metal OPNSense firewall. There is a huge thread at STH forum on these as well. It has worked well for me, but I don't push my router that hard at the moment. Waiting for the symmetrical 1G that is supposed to arrive by the end of the year. But I read about folks running Proxmox, full Windows, etc. on these units. I'm not sure I would push my luck that far. As a NAS board, it should be OK as long as you keep expectations in check. It probably would be a good choice as the backup server I just built, considering it just sleeps for 2 weeks, then does less than 30 minutes of rsync-ing. If I was buying the parts I might have gone this route, but I had enough leftovers for nearly the entire system. The only gotcha I would watch for is there may be lack of driver support and/or compatibility with Unraid/Slackware and the hardware. FreeBSD (pfsense/opnsense base) just started driver support for the i226 nic (opnsense = yes, free pfsense = not yet). I'm unsure where Unraid is with this at the moment. Internal video support? Not sure. I've read about folks doing microcode updates for the processor and BIOS updates emailed to them from China. For me, I would really not wish to get that far into the weeds for a $200 computer board. Looking forward to reading of your experience.