[OpenIndiana-discuss] About zpools and usage plan

[Martin Frost]

David, your advice to back up data regularly is good, but rsync'ing
from one array to another is not the same as backing up.  I don't know
how often you rsync, but right after you do, you can't restore a file
you accidentally deleted or clobbered yesterday.  At most you have one
previous version of the dataset available.

Although it doesn't sound like you do, maybe you use ZFS's snapshots
on one of these arrays.  That can provide good backups that date
back over some amount of time, depending on available disk space for
retaining the snapshots.  Ideally you would create snapshots on the
main array and use 'zfs send' to copy them to the backup array, or
at least create snapshots on the backup array before or after each
rsync from the main array.

Martin

 > From: David Scharbach <david.scharbach at mac.com>
 > Date: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 11:28:49 -0600
 > 
 > I use Raid-Z2 for my main array.  6 disks would give you effectively 4 disks usable with the ability to tolerate ANY 2 disk failures.  Mirroring would allow for 3 disk failures ONLY if the failures were in different sets, if I understand mirroring correctly.  There is a risk that the right 2 failures could cause the entire array to be pooched.
 > 
 > Regardless, BACKUP you data regularly.  Do not rely on your production to keep data safe.  I have 2 arrays in my server, an 8 disk RaidZ2 and a 4 disk simple array.  I was to lame to figure out replication so I fell back on an rsync script to ensure my data is in two places.  In a perfect world, I would have it in 2 different physical boxes in different locations but anything of real value is also stored in the cloud (Wuala).
 > 
 > Cheers,
 > 
 > On 2013-08-02, at 9:08 PM, Harry Putnam <reader at newsguy.com> wrote:
 > 
 > > Looking for a little advice about setting up a home lan server.
 > > 
 > > So far just tinkering with a vbox oi as guest install hoping to make
 > > whatever nasty blunders on disposable data and OS.
 > > 
 > > But getting right to it:
 > > 
 > > In a previous life I ran oi and used mirrored sets of discs for
 > > everthing. 
 > > 
 > > Mirrored OS discs, and 2 sets of mirrored data discs.
 > > 
 > > I was advised back then that mirrored sets of discs, given  my small
 > > usage, would be the most secure (not meaning agains penitration or the
 > > like...just keeping data from loss) and handiest way to handle my home
 > > lan.
 > > 
 > > So, wondering what the current thinking is?  Like say, mirrored as
 > > opposed to a collection of discs in raidz or whatever its called.
 > > 
 > > My needs will be well handled by something like 3tb of storage so
 > > something like 6 1tb discs for a mirrored setup.
 > > 
 > > What else could I get with those 6 disks in terms of redundancy and ease
 > > of maintenance?
 > > 
 > > 
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 > 
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