NAS or add storage capacity to server?

[Texashiker]

Small business network with around 2 dozen workstations, of which we need to start backing up 6 or so workstations with important data on them.

Would it be better to go with a NAS device, or add hard drives to the windows directory server?

We have a Dell 310, which has Windows 2008 R2, a quad core Xeon and 12 gigs of memory. The server runs DNS, active directory, roaming profiles and a couple of applications.

I have one slot on the server for another hard drive. The server supports 4 hot swappable drives, three of which are being used right now.

I thought about getting a couple of 2 gig sata drives, swap them out on the server from time to time and use them for backups.

Or, would a dedicated NAS device be a better option?

 

[nk215]

I would get the HDs. I only store less important files/data on my NAS for the only reason: When something goes wrong with the NAS hardware, I can't just pull the HDs, connect to my Windows machine to get the files off. Even if you have another NAS over night to you, you most likely can't just re-use the HDs and get it up and running right away. You'll have to restore from backup. The entire process will take a day; initialize HDs + Restoring from backup.

 

[alzan]

Depending on the amount of data to be backed up I'd go with a NAS, preferably with a RAID option and swappable drives. Backing up and restoring to/from the NAS will keep the server from getting bogged down during those operations.

Keep the one open slot on the server for future expansion.

 

[Lorne]

A slight tangent here but is it possible to connect a SAN to a NAS that has a second Gb port?.
Google is only giving me comparrisons between the two but no ideas of add on devices.

 

[Texashiker]

Depending on the amount of data to be backed up I'd go with a NAS, preferably with a RAID option and swappable drives. Backing up and restoring to/from the NAS will keep the server from getting bogged down during those operations.

Thank you.

We work 8 - 5 and no evening shift. I was going to set the work stations to backup during the night at different times.

The drives that came with the server are about 1/2 full. I might to install larger drives soon.

 

[alzan]

Thank you.

We work 8 - 5 and no evening shift. I was going to set the work stations to backup during the night at different times.

The drives that came with the server are about 1/2 full. I might to install larger drives soon.

No problem.

I've had good success with the few units with which I've worked; even the ones with just software RAID maintain acceptable to good throughput during operations.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

It seems to me that you want to have the scheduled client backup capability of the server system. If it's possible to configure a "NAS" to perform that function according to a schedule, I never heard of it.

Add some drives to your server. I won't ask how you have those drives configured at the moment, and I'll assume that you have additional ports or a port-multiplier which admits the option of adding more storage and extra drives.

 

[Texashiker]

Add some drives to your server. I won't ask how you have those drives configured at the moment, and I'll assume that you have additional ports or a port-multiplier which admits the option of adding more storage and extra drives.

The server has a spare bay for hot swapping a drive.

 

[Carson Dyle]

You have _one_ server in a business with more than 20 PCs? And you're just now looking into backing up some of the PCs on the network? What about backup of the server itself?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

OP - using the same server for everything is okay, to a point. But as has been mentioned, yes, it's very important that you be backing up the server somehow as well.

Microsoft's recommendations for Active Directory are pretty clear - your directory server should be running AD DS, that's it. Now, that doesn't stop people from using their Directory Servers as file server, and it's fine in light load environments (20 desktops is pretty light.)

But I would still want a separate set of HDDs for my backups and file storage. For various performance, reliability, and fault tolerance reasons, you don't want to be running a crap-ton of different services on a single RAID array.

If I were you, I'd be pissed off, because this just went from being an ask to being a project.

Other people will disagree, I'm sure, but this is my advice:

1) You should have a separate NAS box. Something like one of these would be adequate. You can use it for backups, and you will probably find that NAS has other handy uses as well. (Network home folders, snapshot functions, sharing MP3s and porn with other people in the office, etc.)

2) You should also add a SAS enclosure and some more disks to your 310. The 310 should not be your primary storage server, but you should back up the important stuff on the NAS (customer/client data, etc.) to the 310 as well. You will probably need to add a SAS card to the 310. Then you mount something like this in the rack and toss in a few drives. (You don't need to use all 12 slots, but room to grow doesn't hurt.)

Whatever you buy, make sure it's compatible with the hardware and OS you're running.

Belt and suspenders, dude.

I would get the HDs. I only store less important files/data on my NAS for the only reason: When something goes wrong with the NAS hardware, I can't just pull the HDs, connect to my Windows machine to get the files off. Even if you have another NAS over night to you, you most likely can't just re-use the HDs and get it up and running right away. You'll have to restore from backup. The entire process will take a day; initialize HDs + Restoring from backup.

This post, man... no. You need more of the beauty that is Linux in your life.

Most NAS boxes are just running Linux software RAID - drop those HDDs into another Linux box and it'll probably show right up, assuming a compatible version of Linux. You might - might - have to run an import command.

I wouldn't run a 2-disk home NAS in a business environment for other reasons. (Performance, reliability of hardware.) But importing a RAID volume on Linux is totally doable.

If you want to be able to import your RAID on Windows, well, fine. Use a Windows server and file sharing services.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Also, the 310 is old enough that I'd probably be looking for another server to stick in a closet just in case. Or maybe even use as a live standby, depending on how much downtime you can tolerate, or can't tolerate.

 

[Texashiker]

You have _one_ server in a business with more than 20 PCs? And you're just now looking into backing up some of the PCs on the network? What about backup of the server itself?

We have a windows 2000 server with 512k memory. It runs AD, DNS and a single application for the accounting department.

OP - using the same server for everything is okay, to a point. But as has been mentioned, yes, it's very important that you be backing up the server somehow as well.

I work for a not-for-profit organization. Its not like we have extra money to throw around. The Dell 310 will have to do until we get some extra money from somewhere.

We still have some windows XP machines that are finally being phased out.

The server is being backed up to an external hardrive.

What I would like to do is get a new server and decommission that old win 2k server. But we are doing good to order a couple of new workstations a year.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If money is that tight, I have two things to say:

1) Somewhere, some nerd has a list of companies that went under due to data loss. It's long. You really can't not afford some kind of backup. For the love of god, figure something out. I'm begging you.

2) Subscription based public cloud service like Google-Everything are pretty much made for organizations like that. Depending what line of work you're in and how appropriate it is. Google in particular offers hefty discounts to nonprofits.

 

[alzan]

We have a windows 2000 server with 512k memory. It runs AD, DNS and a single application for the accounting department.




I work for a not-for-profit organization. Its not like we have extra money to throw around. The Dell 310 will have to do until we get some extra money from somewhere.

We still have some windows XP machines that are finally being phased out.

The server is being backed up to an external hardrive.

What I would like to do is get a new server and decommission that old win 2k server. But we are doing good to order a couple of new workstations a year.

Is this in addition to the server you referenced in the OP?

Didn't realize it's a non-profit.

You may be using this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300135

Backups can be set to use the NAS for output if that's the route you take.

 

[Texashiker]

If money is that tight, I have two things to say:

I am using roaming profiles to keep user documents synced on the server.

Important applications are backed up separately, such as payroll and accounting. The payroll and accounting applications have their own backup feature. I make multiple and regular backups of those applications which is separate from everything else.

Is this in addition to the server you referenced in the OP?

Didn't realize it's a non-profit.

You may be using this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300135

Backups can be set to use the NAS for output if that's the route you take.

Yes and thank you.

I had to beg and plead to get them to buy a new server 4 years ago.

 

[imagoon]

I work for a not-for-profit organization. Its not like we have extra money to throw around.

Chairty or otherwise? MS practically gives the software away for not-for-profits and esp charity.

 

[boed]

Frankly, I would get a new server (or a used one but then beef it I up - I've done this for some of the non profits I support), set up VMs on it so you can have as many servers as you need - e.g. ad/dns/wins/dhcp, Exchange, remote desktop, ftp, etc. Put larger drives in your 310 so it can be a backup system - as old as it is, with enough memory you could still load the VMs on it in an emergency. As imagoon says - there are certain sites where you can by the MS not-for-profit stuff for less than 10% of what business pay for the same software.