Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little self
contained box...

Any ideas for 2010?

Cheers

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

On 25/06/2010 08:38, Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little self
contained box...

Any ideas for 2010?

Cheers

Tim

Netgear ReadyNas Duo? Not completely hackable but supports NFS and SSH

Tim Watts gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

Any ideas for 2010?

Synology's kit looks interesting, but no direct experience yet.

In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little self
contained box...

Well, this is uk.d-i-y ... So build your own - which, if you're up to
doing an Linux install really shouldn't be hard.

Suggested shopping list:

Case:

http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12632

Mobo:

http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11130

(you'll need some RAM for it too)

Lots of choice here - that's a VIA processor, but Intel Atoms are cheaper.

Drives - big choice, but I'd probably look at 2 1.5TB WDC 'green' drives
or something similar - although a quick check shows the 2TB ones are
cheaper than the 1.5TB ones:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Compo...roductId=40039

And off you go..

Gordon

Peter Watson
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 09:15


Netgear ReadyNas Duo? Not completely hackable but supports NFS and SSH

That would be workable (but not optimal) - partly because NFS is slower than
rsync for loads of little files and I don't expect it can support ACLs over
NFS.

But I have a workaround for the latter (cron dumps ACLS to file for all
filesystems periodically) so it *is* of interest - I shall look it up.

Many thanks

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

Adrian
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 09:16

Tim Watts gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

Any ideas for 2010?

Synology's kit looks interesting, but no direct experience yet.

http://www.dabs.com/products/synolog...ver-dlna-sata-
usb-6KS4.html

Hmm - 800MHz processor. Decent - not sure on the hackability...

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

Gordon Henderson
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 09:48

In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little self
contained box...

Well, this is uk.d-i-y ... So build your own - which, if you're up to
doing an Linux install really shouldn't be hard.

The DIY will be the software setup

I really want an off the shelf Linkstation type bit of kit (small, and ready
to run bar reloading and tweaking the software). ITX is too lumpy and I
really don't have the time.

I'll do some more research and see if the Linkstation is still hackable -
the problem is the name covers a plethora of actual models so knowing what
you're dealing with is tricky.

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

Tim Watts wrote:
Peter Watson
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 09:15


Netgear ReadyNas Duo? Not completely hackable but supports NFS and SSH

That would be workable (but not optimal) - partly because NFS is slower than
rsync for loads of little files and I don't expect it can support ACLs over
NFS.

But I have a workaround for the latter (cron dumps ACLS to file for all
filesystems periodically) so it *is* of interest - I shall look it up.

Many thanks

Tim

Having just had a look, there is an rsync service available on the
ReadyNas as standard as well...

Cheers,

Peter

Tim Watts wrote:
Gordon Henderson
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 09:48

In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little self
contained box...

Well, this is uk.d-i-y ... So build your own - which, if you're up to
doing an Linux install really shouldn't be hard.

The DIY will be the software setup

I really want an off the shelf Linkstation type bit of kit (small, and ready
to run bar reloading and tweaking the software). ITX is too lumpy and I
really don't have the time.

I'll do some more research and see if the Linkstation is still hackable -
the problem is the name covers a plethora of actual models so knowing what
you're dealing with is tricky.

I have a WD Mybook World Edition, a neat little NAS which consumes
only 6 watts but with the big plus of having proper ssh access built
in so you can get into it, add programs (I've added rdiff-backup) etc.

Much cheaper than Synology plus a big disk, much lower power than a
d-i-y Linux box (unless you go very esoteric).

There's quite an active user community and they have developed a
proper repository of software and installation/upgrade facilities.

--
Chris Green

wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 12:17


I have a WD Mybook World Edition, a neat little NAS which consumes
only 6 watts but with the big plus of having proper ssh access built
in so you can get into it, add programs (I've added rdiff-backup) etc.

Much cheaper than Synology plus a big disk, much lower power than a
d-i-y Linux box (unless you go very esoteric).

There's quite an active user community and they have developed a
proper repository of software and installation/upgrade facilities.


Thanks! That's spot on the sort of thing I was looking for. 150 quid fro
1.5TB and 180 odd for 2TB.

I see it supports NFS natively. I'm trawling around now for the hacking
groups Looks very promising.

Cheers

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

On 25 June, 08:38, Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little self
contained box...

Any ideas for 2010?



The Excito Bubba 2

http://www.excito.com/

_Seriously_ good.

Sid.

Sidney Endon-Lee
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 22:30

On 25 June, 08:38, Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want a
proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little
self contained box...

Any ideas for 2010?



The Excito Bubba 2

http://www.excito.com/

_Seriously_ good.

Sid.

Yes - that is cool, very very cool.

Out of budget though SWMBO has granted permission to spend 150 odd after
I pointed out we have 60GB of photos and I only have a 20GB quota at a
university I used to work at ;-

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 12:17

I have a WD Mybook World Edition, a neat little NAS which consumes
only 6 watts but with the big plus of having proper ssh access built
in so you can get into it, add programs (I've added rdiff-backup) etc.

Much cheaper than Synology plus a big disk, much lower power than a
d-i-y Linux box (unless you go very esoteric).

There's quite an active user community and they have developed a
proper repository of software and installation/upgrade facilities.


Could I just check Chris: is this the user community you are talking of:

http://mybookworld.wikidot.com/

and do you remember which version you have? I'm looking at the WDH1NC15000E

http://www.dabs.com/products/western...-mybook-world-
edition-1-5tb-65X5.html?refs=50473

- I'm just cautious about finding that was a big design jump and none of
the hacks work anymore!

I'm looking at putting rsnapshot on mine.

Cheers

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

On Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:14:30 +0100, Tim Watts wrote:

I'm looking at putting rsnapshot on mine.

I'm using a (hand-rolled) rsnapshot-type system but it seems that
copy-on-write deduplication filesystems (of which there seem to be one or
2 operating in userspace via fuse, plus sun's zfs if that's still viable
for linux) do snapshotting as a byproduct of their modus operandus anyway.

--
John Stumbles

I'm more non-competitive than you

wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 12:17

Tim Watts wrote:
Gordon Henderson
wibbled on Friday 25 June 2010 09:48

In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a small portable 1-2TB backup box, ethernet, internal disk,
appliance form factor and most importantly, replaceable linux - I want
a proper filesystem (no VFAT) and direct access to rsync and ssh on
this.

Wifi would be cool - but optional.

Buffalo would have been my choice 2-3 years ago, but all the wiki's on
hacking the LinkStation (Pro) seem seriously out of date.

I don't want a cobbled together solution (too busy) but just a little
self contained box...

Well, this is uk.d-i-y ... So build your own - which, if you're up to
doing an Linux install really shouldn't be hard.

The DIY will be the software setup

I really want an off the shelf Linkstation type bit of kit (small, and
ready to run bar reloading and tweaking the software). ITX is too lumpy
and I really don't have the time.

I'll do some more research and see if the Linkstation is still hackable -
the problem is the name covers a plethora of actual models so knowing
what you're dealing with is tricky.

I have a WD Mybook World Edition, a neat little NAS which consumes
only 6 watts but with the big plus of having proper ssh access built
in so you can get into it, add programs (I've added rdiff-backup) etc.

Much cheaper than Synology plus a big disk, much lower power than a
d-i-y Linux box (unless you go very esoteric).

There's quite an active user community and they have developed a
proper repository of software and installation/upgrade facilities.


Just got one (2TB MyBook World Edition "Whitelight").

Very impressive. Added the Optware ipkg stuff documented at

http://mybookworld.wikidot.com/

Changed a few UID/GIDs around to match my main systems and installed a few
bits including rsnapshot.

Long story short, it's sync'd up 645GB of 538,000 files in a couple of days
(that's good BTW). Now, an rsnapshot run over the same domain takes about 35
minutes which is bloody good for a device in its class.

A very good machine indeed

Thanks for the tip!

Cheers

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.