Hey everyone! I'm trying to repurpose an old server (a core 2 duo Xeon) that I've turned into a NAS/backup server, but it's quite a power hog, using more energy than three mini PCs combined! I've got Debian, Docker, and CasaOS running on it, but keeping it on 24/7 isn't viable. I thought about using Wake-On-LAN to wake it up for backups, but I have multiple devices (Raspberry Pis, mini PCs, and laptops) that would potentially wake it up at once, which seems chaotic. I'm looking for an open-source solution that pulls data from these devices, ideally something that can be containerized or has a GUI. I'd be open to installing agents on the client devices if necessary. My goal is for the server to run for just a couple of hours a day to pull the data and then shut down to save power. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
Honestly, using rsync over SSH isn't as messy as it seems. Once set up, it can be straightforward to use. You can have your backup server initiate the backup process on the client machines and pull the data to itself. Plus, if you are using ZFS for snapshots, you can have some really effective backup strategies. Just a few scripts can handle the bulk of it, and you can configure what to back up on either end easily.
You might want to check out OpenIPMI if your server supports it; it can help manage power states effectively. That way, you can control when your server wakes up without manually dealing with everything. Definitely worth a look!
Have you considered AmandaBackup? It’s a pretty solid backup solution that might fit your needs. It’s open-source and can work with multiple systems pretty easily, so you won’t have to manage everything individually.
Good point! It sounds like a solid way to leverage existing tools without overcomplicating it.