Linksys NSLU2 backup function?

rudeboymcc · 26 Jun 2007 at 17:29

Hi. I need a NAS that windows pcs can connect to easily and once a week i bring in a second device, back everything up and take it home.

I was looking at the Linksys NSLU2 but can't find much info about it. I know you can hack it but I don't want to do that.

If i buy one, and connect a hard disk on one usb, can i then conect a second hard disk to the other usb port and just press a button in its interface and it will back evertyhing up to the second drive?

I just want to make sure it can do this before i buy one.

also, as there's no built in drive, do the usb drives have to be ext3 or can they be ntfs?

Chief Wiggum · 26 Jun 2007 at 18:25

The NSLU2 has a backup function (no button on the front -that's for power) - but I'd update it to the latest firmware first. If you connect two drives you can schedule a job to do it.
/edit - just noticed you can also kick-off ad-hoc backups...

With the latest firmware it can support NTFS, but EXT3 supports the user permissions whereas NTFS doesn't. Also supports FTP on the latest firmware

rudeboymcc · 26 Jun 2007 at 18:44

Can i just confirm that the NTFS access is read AND write?

and so if I format both as NTFS then I can still read the USB hard disks on any windows machine without the NSLU2.

Also, I noticed it does scheduled backups, but all i need is a one click backup. one hard disk is going to be at home so won't be connected, and i just want to bring it in when i want to back it up. will i have to change the scheduled time to a few minutes in the future and wait for it?? or is there a "back it up now" option?

and what are ad-hoc backups?

Chief Wiggum · 26 Jun 2007 at 18:49

yep - ntfs is both read and write - but - you do need to do the firmware first otherwise it's just EXT3. Mine's running 2.3rc63.

Ad-Hoc is the same as a one click backup - you login to the admin part of the web gui, click advanced, backup and start backup now.

You have to turn it off when you connect and disconnect drives too.

rudeboymcc · 26 Jun 2007 at 18:55

just read the version info on the firmware page and it says :
1. FAT32/EXT3 support on Port 2 and NTFS/FAT32/EXT3 support on port 1

This would mean that only one hard disk can be NTFS - but can i just connect it as it is (it's already ntfs) or would i need to reformat it?

Also, if hte second hard disk has to be fat32, isn't there a limit on the size it can be? can i format 160gigs as 1 fat32 partition?

Chief Wiggum · 26 Jun 2007 at 19:01

read a bit further down:
V2.3R63 (7/06/2005)
1. FAT32/EXT3 support on Port 2 and NTFS/FAT32/EXT3 support on port 1

V23R61 (05/31/05)
Change List :
1. FAT32/NTFS support on port 2 and FAT32 support on port 1

indicates that both ports support all formats (which they do).

Also just noticed. The backups are not quick. Mine are 2x400gb seagates' which are 79% free. extract for backup time:

06/23 18:50:30 Drive Backup: Backup complete.
06/23 04:00:00 Drive Backup: Backup start.

rudeboymcc · 26 Jun 2007 at 19:08

sorry I'm questioning your statement it's becuase I read this on UNslug:

Can I setup the NSLU2 to use NTFS partitions?

Yes, if you are using either the latest stock firmware from Linksys (2.3R63 and above) or Unslung 6.8. Both allow an NTFS drive to be attached to Port 1. Be aware that the Release notes for 2.3R63 are wrong, here is the correction:
Disk 1 - The Disk 1 port of the Network Storage Link supports Ext3, FAT32, and NTFS file systems. (Flash drives will not be recognized.)
Disk 2 - The Disk 2 port supports Ext3 and FAT32 file systems. Insert your USB flash drive (USB key) or USB disk here.

can you still tell me they both work? (and have you tried it?) maybe something changed since they wrote the FAQ.

and how can they explain needing 14 hours to copy over about 80 gigabytes?? I won't need to do the lot though, surely it can synchronise backups (so it only copies over the newly changed/created documents)?

Chief Wiggum · 26 Jun 2007 at 19:12

no worries - one of the guys I work with uses NTFS on both his 300gb drives.

Not sure why it takes so long, but the backup function is pretty basic - it's probably quicker with NTFS, and you could also just do the copy through windows - ie map a drive to the 2nd drive and do a manual copy...