Server build query or just use hard drives

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I have been reading and looking at all the parts to build a home server. The question that is always being repeated is. A server is not a backup as you will need a duplicate server to backup your original server then you need hard disks with the same data off site in case of fire or flooding that is going to work out really expensive, OUCH.

My question

If you need a backup of the server why not just buy an external USB-3 duplicator or docking bay and just back up in a mirror the hard drive to another hard drive then you have an exact copy of the hard drive and keep it off site in case of flood or failure. What is the sense of building a server if all you are waiting on is a drive to go down and you have to rebuild it then you have gone to the expense of building the server or maybe you purchased one of the internet like Synology or Qnap.

I intend for this server to hold my media library and other files I dont need off site access or anythgin g of that nature nor do I need to stream any files over the internet I just need local access with a backup solution. If I were to build a server I will be going high end on the parts as no pre built server would ever come close to my configuration without having to spend over 2.5K.

I am just trying to figure out the cost of such a project, the parts for my build listed below hard drives will be a mixture of the following Seagate, WD, Hitachi server grade 18TB a disk for now I will buy 4 to start then buy more when the server grows. 1 parity disk + 2 X 2TB M.2 NVME cache drives WD 850X.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WiFi Intel LGA 1700 £300

Intel Core i5 12600KF £277

Ram Crucial 64Gb £148

Fractal Design Node 804 PC Case £106

10GB NETWORK CARD £100

SERVER RAID CARD £20

Software Unraid £103

Seagate or WD Hitachi server grade 18TB discs I will add more as and when needed

The above build comes to £1050 I already have the SSD’s and hard drives as the parts are used or shop seconds returns so saved a few pennies here and there the discs are also used.

Just need some advice should I save the money and just do a hard drive to hard drive backup straight from my pc what would the benefits of a server as it seems you need a backup or duplicate of the ortiginal server to stay safe seems an awful expense when a hard drive to hard drive abckup will suffice so why bother going to the expense of a server build. I don’t need access to my files over the interweb I just need access to the drives from my pc and somewhere to store them. I really don’t know what to do to tell you the truth as at some point I am going to have to have a back up of my server for every 16TB of data written to the server.

I am also aware a backup to an identical hard drive will work out expensive as that is roughly £550 for two exact same discs so backing up to individual hard drives is expensive also no matter what I do it is getting pretty wallet crushing expensive.

Thoughts anyone.
 
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Suppose I was going with a build it like this to last me a long time I was looking at lesser components as this build is really expensive I have other work files that I need to keep for a long time and would be absolutely devastating if I ever lost them the idea of a NAS seems to be you need another backup of the nas it would be ok if the nas in question was all you needed unfortunately you need a backup of the nas to be 100% certain so my thoughts were to just back up to external hard drive mirrored, as you have stated hard drive to hard drive backup that works out more expensive so maybe a NAS is the way to go.

Ok I will go back to the drawing board and find a lesser Mini ATX motherbaord processor ram build try to bring the ceiling price down to a more reasonable level.

Thank you for replying.
 
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