NASLite Network Attached Storage

Truecrypt will work just fine.

Thank you, Georg, for these insights. Interesting I just returned from a lunchtime walk where I pondered the feedback I've received and had come to the conclusion that I was over-engineering this -- I agree I need to simplify, and I do like elegant simplicity. Good to know that only changes are propogated (akin to incremental backup). Four questions, 1) I assume if I use NASLite Mirror (rsync), the copy can only be loaded on another NASLite box, hence one reason for the backup hardware? 2) Can I simply use another PC with a USB bootable motherboard, change the BIOS boot order, and use that that PC to boot NASLIte in an emergency -- better than keeping an extra box around all the time? 4) Can NASLite rsync/mirror back up just part of the disk? 4) Any way to do the rsync more/less frequently?

Thank you, jmiliz -- it is reassuring to know that truecrypt is a viable option. I will need to play with it, and will re-read the documentation. I did not realize that the container needs to be mounted each time the client is booted. Your comment clarifies something I was wondering about -- how different clients gain access to the container, or retain access across re-boots. Sounds like a manual mount process each time, if I understand correctly. In the short term I'm not too worried about needing to reload containers, as this is primarily for limited financial information such as tax returns, etc., at least initially.

Thanks Ralph -- does your reference refer to building "client" containers only, that must be "mounted" manually by each client every time the client is re-booted? Can you generically suggest any models where truecrypt can be used to more automatically encrypt complete NASLite disks/virtual volumes? I have a feeling this will be possible once I study both NASLite and truecrypt some more, just looking for general guidance/re-assurance/expectations for now. Dave

davew:

Agree ... don't over-engineer ... I have that tendency myself sometimes, as my wife needs to remind me of ...

As to your questions:

1) No. (Also see answer to #2). The reason for the identical H/W is just simplicity. You don't actually need a second box. Mirroring can happen to another disk on the same box. But then ... depending on future plans -- and how many of the primary disks you want a mirror of -- you will want a motherboard with plenty of expansion (either lots of IDE + SATA ports like what GigaByte is famous for (but check Forums for incompatibilities), or PCI expansion cards (PCI Express may not be supported)). The other reason I use a second box: in a single box both primary and mirror disks are running 24/7; with my second box those secondary disks only run for short periods daily -- or when I turn it on to perform a mirror. Note: USB external disks are ok, but some reliability issues have cropped up -- I personally avoid those.

2) Yes.

3) No. Mirroring syncs the entire disk (it's always a single partition).

4) Every 24 hours is the only option. But if you have a second box you can control that too by using the power switch at your discretion (see answer for #1) to do it LESS frequently. (MORE frequently is only possible via manual login to the admin menu and changing the mirror settings each time before the next desired on-the-hour rsync.)

Georg

Just use Truecrypt on the client side and create the containers on the NASLite box. Simple and seemless.

Excellent and thank you!...this will help me pick my motherboard and other components, and hopefully get it ordered tonight -- looking forward to starting this build. I was already looking at a micro-ATX Gigabyte board with Gbit LAN and 5 SATA ports (also SW RAID for future-proofing), so maybe I'll go with that one -- may also look at boards that do not have on board RAID and save about $30-$40...

Just one more clarifying question for now regarding your answer to #1 above...I was assuming I cannot just mount the mirrored copy on any box running Windows or Linux because it is not an NTFS or FAT formatted disk -- is that not correct? In other words, if may main NASLite system is fried, and I have a mirror copy available, but I do not have a spare NASLite system lying around, what is the easiest/fastest way for me to get access to the files from an XP system?

Thanks again for all your help, Georg!

Great, thanks Ralph! -- all I needed to know for now...hearing a lot of great things abaout both NASLite and truecrypt, so looking forward to rolling up my sleeves on this project!

-- Dave

The answer to that one is my "Yes" answer to your #2 question. You can't get access (easily) directly attached to an XP box. But you can boot almost any computer with (for example) USB version of NL and turn it into an emergency box temporarily (as you have suggested in #2 -- and you need to obtain a new temporary (emergency) unlock code -- but that's not much trouble). Then, assuming you have an additional XP system somewhere, you can grab the files off the temporary NL box and its mirror disk.

True, NL does not use FAT or NTFS; to get access to any NL (mirror disk or primary disk) EXT2/EXT3 file system directly from XP is possible with some free utilities that run under Windows ... they are discussed elsewhere in this forum. But it's an extra step (probably worth it in an emergency). Another possible way to access is by booting almost any PC with a Live CD with Knoppix (or similar) on it ... if you are just a little adventurous and want to play with Linux ...

AGAIN -- regarding SOFTWARE Raid -- I think you still have missed that NL does NOT SUPPORT that ! Hardware Raid ONLY ... I doubt NL will ever support Software Raid, so that software-Raid-future-proofing under NL is not a sensible objective ... save the $30-40 unless you want to use that board's Raid under Windows.

As far as NL users' experience with GigaByte (and possible problems) check this forum by searching for GigaByte.

Georg

I really appreciate the specific answers/suggestions. Yes, I was considering furture-proofing both with an eye towards possible NL SW RAID add-on, as well as for general future use of the board. So thanks for setting me straight on NASLite expectations! Also good advise to search for issues with various boards...will do. If you or anyone has a favorite AM2 or LGA 775 mATX board for a NASLite box that supports 5-8 SATA conenctions and GBit ethernet, please let me know! Thanks again, Georg!

This would not be a suggestion for your NL box, just want to share an experience ... I just recently picked up a refurbished Dell with a very modern mobo. (Inspiron 530 desktop.)

First surprise: **NO** IDE ports. This means SATA **ONLY**. Which *might* cause a problem with NL if you need an optical drive (does not apply to the USB version ... the USB stick can be formatted on a different PC), because I think I read that SATA optical drives might be unsupported in NL (someone else can confirm this ??) unless the BIOS supports an IDE legacy mode.

Second surprise: **NO** 4 pin Molex power connectors. This means I can't even used a spare standard IDE DVD-RAM/RW drive via an IDE-to-USB or IDE-to-SATA converter, unless I modify the Dell power supply. (This concern won't apply to you at all, since you are hand-picking the PSU.)

Third surprise: The intel G33 chipset. Trying to use my Acronis True Image 9. And I think Acronis uses a linux kernel like NL. Using the FULL version of Acronis TI recognizes *NO* hard disks !!

Anyway ... older (let's say "well-established" ... "been-around-for-a-while") mobo ... will save you money, and may be these kind of troubles.

Don't fret too much, but use the feedback from previous posts ... my NL experiences are all on Intel socket 478 mobos from various vendors and very few issues -- all of them solved.

I think you're on the right track ... have fun with it.

Georg

Thanks Georg -- I'm online trying to find a motherboard that has all components that are listed in the NASLite Hardware Reference Guide. Can't even get past the first item, Gb Ethernet -- first 7 motherboards all use Marvell (not listed) or Realtek 8111/8211C...only Realtek 8139/8129/8169 are listed in the guide. I'm sure I'll find some that match, but my question is simply how important is an exact match?

Edit -- getting an Intel NIC listed in the HW guide, so I do not need to worry about LAN drives. -- Dave

I placed my hardware order:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103204
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106121
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227124

Probably more horsepower than I need, but I've found is that with quality components, I have been able to dismantle systems and re-build using the same components several years later. Went with a low power processor and low power drives, in an attempt to both be environmentally responsible, and not burn down our entertainment center! I hope I do not need the Intel NIC, but I figured if I order it, the on-board LAN would probably work

Thank you very much for all the great advice you guys have provided last 24 hours...will let you know how the build goes.

Nice ... let us know how things work when you have it up and running.
Georg

I hope it's not to late to pitch in
Are you going the hardware raid road, or not at the moment
I seem to remember that the WD green power drives don't play nice with raidcards
The moment they power down, the card "thinks" the drive is dropped and the array corrupted
resulting in continued bad array faults and rebuilding