NAS How To

Introduction

In Part 1, I described using rsync to back up files from a NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ to a Synology DS109+. In Part 2, I showed how to set up rsync between the DS109+ and a QNAP TS-109 Pro. In Part 3, we covered using a Western Digital My Book World Edition II (white bar) as an rsync target. This time, I'll describe how to use a Buffalo and Seagate BlackArmor NASes as rsync targets.

Buffalo

Buffalo has had the ability to back up to other Buffalo NASes for some time. But it turns out, like most other NAS manufacturers, the feature uses rsync with customized rsync target discovery routines layered on top of it.

Unfortunately, Buffalo allows the use of only pre-populated pick lists (Figure 1) for setting the backup source and destination. So, since you can't enter anything that the Buffalo doesn't discover, it's impossible to enter non-Buffalo rsync targets.

Figure 1: Buffalo Backup Folder selection

Fortunately, you can use a Buffalo NAS as an rsync target. You just need to know the trick for specifying its rsync module name. Figure 2 shows how to set up a backup folder that can be used for rsync (and attached) backup. You must check the Disk Backup box to enable access by the rsync service. If you don't, your rsync server won't be able to connect to the Buffalo rsync target.

Figure 2: Creating a Buffalo backup target folder

Note that I also highlighted the Volume name, which you'll need, since Buffalo uses a combination of the volume and backup folder name to create the rsync module name. The form volumename_foldername is used.

Note that volumename differs across Buffalo NASes. Figure 2 shows a LinkStation LS-XHL, which uses "Disk 1". A Buffalo TeraStation Duo, on the other hand, uses a volume name of "Array 1", which you would enter as array1 when creating the rsync module name.

In this example, the rsync target name you must use is disk1_backup. Note that no space is used in the volumename, even though it appears in the Volume name displayed.

Figure 3 shows the Synology DS109+ backup settings for a test to the Buffalo rsync target module just created. Even though I didn't password-protect the Buffalo folder, the Synology requires a username and password be entered. So I just used the default Buffalo admin login: admin / password. Once I had everything entered, the backup ran with no problems.

Figure 3: Synology DS109+ backup job to Buffalo rsync target