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Recommendations for an inexpensive DIY backup? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 days ago by beastlykings@sh.itjust.works to c/datahoarder@lemmy.ml

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Hi there, I've been meaning to go get more serious about my data. I have minimal backups, and some stuff is not backed up at all. I'm begging for disaster.

Here's what I've got: 2 8tb drives almost full in universal external enclosures A small formfactor PC as a server, with one 8tb drive connected. An unused raspberry pi. No knowledge of how to properly use zfs.

Here's what I want: I've decided I don't need raid. I don't want the extra cost of drives or electricity, and I don't need uptime. I just need backups. I want to use what drives I have, and an additional 16tb drive I'll buy.

My thought was that I would replace the 8tb drive with a 16tb one, format it with zfs (primarily to avoid bit rot. I'll need to learn how to check for this), then back it up across the two 8tb drives as a cold backup. Either as two separate drives somehow? Btrfs volume extension? Or a jbod connected to the raspberry pi, that I leave unplugged except for when it's time to sync the new data?

Or do you have a similarly cheap solution that's less janky?

I just want to back up my data, with an amount of rot protection, cheaply.

I understand that it might make sense to invest in something a bit more robust right now, and fill it with drives as needed.

But the thing I keep coming to is the cold backup. How can you keep cold backups over several hard drives, without an entire second server to do the work?

Thanks for listening to my rambling.

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[–] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (12 children)

I only buy used drives. The money I save from buying and using them is more than enough to backup everything multiple times. I personally think a new drive but only one back up is not safe.

Other thought, if you want to be seriously safe about your backup you should put it at your parents house or work in case something happens to yours.

But the thing I keep coming to is the cold backup. How can you keep cold backups over several hard drives, without an entire second server to do the work?

You could just plug them into your server or computer and move them there. Also, a server doesn't need to be expensive. You could just buy a used optiplex for 40$.

[–] Galapagon@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago (7 children)

where are you getting used drives from?
my dad and I both have hypervisors. Any suggestions on how to share backups without a vpn?

[–] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 3 points 2 days ago

I originally got my used drives from an electronic recycling company. They were selling them around 3-5$ per TB.

Then I got a ton of my sysadmin family member.

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