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AR15.COM
3/14/2016 1:12:47 PM EDT
I'm trying to decide if it would be worth it to upgrade my parent's file server from Win7 Pro to Server 2012 R2. It is a combined media/file server, running Plex Server as well as acting as file server for a small business(photography studio, 3 users). I don't need active directory, DNS, or pretty much any of the Server specific features that I can think of, although Storage Spaces sounds like it would be useful.



Does server have an integrated backup system? Right now for backup I'm using WD smartware, which is pretty terrible. If I could replace that it would be more than worth the upgrade.
3/14/2016 1:29:56 PM EDT
[#1]
Just upload to Amazon Glacier for your backups.

Use Fast Glacier
3/14/2016 1:32:52 PM EDT
[#2]

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Quoted:


Just upload to Amazon Glacier for your backups.



Use Fast Glacier
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not an option when dealing with single files that are >1gb

 
3/14/2016 1:41:13 PM EDT
[#3]
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not an option when dealing with single files that are >1gb  
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Quoted:
Just upload to Amazon Glacier for your backups.

Use Fast Glacier
not an option when dealing with single files that are >1gb  


I've got something similar at home.   I've got a Plex server which also acts as a file server among other things.  I've got about 10TB of storage and use 2BrightSparks Syncback free to keep my backups synced to a pair of external USB hard drives.   Doesn't give me offsite backup, but nothing there is that valuable where I'd be crying about it if the house burns down.  I sync my important docs to either dropbox, or drive.
3/14/2016 1:45:11 PM EDT
[#4]
What is your current setup not doing for you that you would like it to do?
3/14/2016 6:29:21 PM EDT
[#5]

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Quoted:


What is your current setup not doing for you that you would like it to do?
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That's the thing, I'm not sure what I'm missing by not using a server OS. Other than a different backup solution, the current solution works fine for storage, but it does not keep up with transcoding 1080p content with Plex. I'm gonna be swapping in some beefier hardware to handle that stuff, and was trying to decide if there is any reason to upgrade to a server OS.
3/14/2016 6:45:40 PM EDT
[#6]
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Quoted:
That's the thing, I'm not sure what I'm missing by not using a server OS. Other than a different backup solution, the current solution works fine for storage, but it does not keep up with transcoding 1080p content with Plex. I'm gonna be swapping in some beefier hardware to handle that stuff, and was trying to decide if there is any reason to upgrade to a server OS.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
What is your current setup not doing for you that you would like it to do?
That's the thing, I'm not sure what I'm missing by not using a server OS. Other than a different backup solution, the current solution works fine for storage, but it does not keep up with transcoding 1080p content with Plex. I'm gonna be swapping in some beefier hardware to handle that stuff, and was trying to decide if there is any reason to upgrade to a server OS.


Windows Server is what? $400? Are you just backing up files? It does have a built in backup feature, but for the cost of the license, there are plenty of other backup solutions that are available.

How is the current windows 7 shared? You could probably just use Shadow Copy that is built into Windows 7.

There also other NAS operating systems that are either free or pretty cheap.
3/14/2016 6:54:44 PM EDT
[#7]
2012 does have the backup utility.  It's nothing special but it would probably work for your purposes.

I don't know if I'd spend the best part of a grand on 2012 for home use though.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
3/14/2016 11:01:00 PM EDT
[#8]
Windows 10's file history would do what you want as well.  Just hook it up to a big enough external drive and let it rip.  No sense going crazy with a server OS.