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Automatic Backups


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Alan Lawrence

I would like the ability to have Sense automatically back up my server to my NAS on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis.

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Stephen Healy

Status changed to: Open

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Mike Hughes

I have two portable HDD USB backups and a monthly reminder in my IOS reminders to do the job. Not rocket science.

As you say, it makes sense for NAS owners but not USB.


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Stephen Healy

Thanks for the input Mike. For NAS, this is very easily achievable so will put this back to the dev team.


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J

Stephen - will that include for those of us who use USB HDD (see my other comment and that from "danfoord") as it does make sense for USB for me as it is permanently attached.


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Stephen Healy

Hi J, USB would need slightly more consideration but could still be a possiblity, but hard to give a timeline indication on this. It seems a common theme for USB backup drives that are always connected is mainly due to inconvenience of making the connection at the rear of the unit; perhaps in future we should have a more conveniently placed port more towards the front of the server. This would make it a lot easier to disconnect and reconnect your backup drive as and when you please (which we feel would be preferable).


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danfoord

In my opinion, I don't think the two things are not really related. Is it hard to disconnect the USB drive, yes... but would making it easier to disconnect mean an automated backup or at least a reminder / notification is not required... personally I would still like this. Either based on a schedule or perhaps after a % change in storage, something like that.

I actually like having the USB port at the back. Having one at the front for those people that would like to disconnect drives I can see being useful for sure, but I quite like the fact that I can hide the drive and cables away. Given that the drive can't be used for other storage (it's sole purpose is backing up), there doesn't seem much point in removing it after each backup.


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Mike Hughes

I certainly wouldn’t wish to see the USB for backup move to the front but equally, as a user of a USB HDD backup (x2), I also don’t want permanent attachment if, for example, there’s an impact on sound quality. Personal to me I’ve upped the quality of my system whilst downsizing to three boxes - Zenith, DAC and imminently an integrated amp I hope - so the last thing I want is something else I need to find space for permanently. It’s much easier for me to do the backup; unplug and put away.


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Stephen Healy

The reason for the removal of Automatic Backup in 2.0 was that the feature needed quite a lot of improvement from its state in version 1.4.x, so whilst it worked well for some it created problems for others. The work involved for innuOS was so great there was simply not time to revise Auto Backup, so was easier to remove it for the time being.
The Backup facility will be getting a rework soon which leaves us in a good place to reconsider this; an automatic function certainly makes sense in the case of NAS drive backups which are always available. We'd still need to re-evaluate its use with USB drives; we'd generally advise disconnecting these when backup is complete, so is much better suited to a more manual/on-demand approach.
Perhaps an occasional reminder in the notifications to update the backup would be a good idea?


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J

J

Hi Stephen - thanks for the update on Backups ... Personally, I am keen to have an auto-backup option re-instated. I backup my 4TB HDD to a 4 TB Toshiba Canvio Basics USB HDD - I have a large collection of CDs and (although I am now toward the end of my extensive ripping journey !!) I ALWAYS leave the USB HDD plugged in. I realise if there was a catastrophic power surge that this might put the USB disc at risk - therefore I have a second 4TB Toshiba Canvio Basics USB HDD which I swap in every 3 months and take a quarterly backup, I then unplug it and put it back upstairs in a darkened cupboard when hopefully its safe.
So ... it would be a benefit to have a regularly scheduled backup running - as it is I backup every time I add a new CD - I can see from the USB disc that it only powers on when I invoke backup - after a short while of being inactive the light goes out and it goes into sleep mode.
I'm sure a lot of other people whoo rip or upload a lot of stuff leave their USB drives plugged in as its a real faff to get round the back to unplug and plug in constantly.
For those who backup infrequently then they probably won't be too bothered what functionality you implement as long as there is a backup function when needed.
For those who backup frequently like me then I'd suggest the auto-backup option is sorely missed.


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danfoord

Per 'Js' comments - I'm the same. I have a USB plugged in permanently, it's not easy to get to the back of my device and keep plugging unplugging. Auto backup would be ideal, but if that's not possible, then a reminder notification in the sense app, that allows the user to trigger a backup would be super useful (based on a schedule)


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J

V2.0.5 backup is manual only ... it would be helpful to reinstate the auto-backup feature that was present in v1 ... when a lot of new music is being added by ripping or importing it is too easy to forget to backup !!


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Stephen Healy

Merged with: Auto Backup

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Jim Nixon

+1


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popthinker

I would like this as well.


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JerryC

Good idea


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Alan Lawrence

Seems like an easy fix.


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Candy Snow

PS - I don't actually care what backs up my server as long as it does it regularly without my intervention (coming from an IT background where regular backups were a good way of keeping both your job and your sanity ! )


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Candy Snow

I was surprised automated backups are not available ! (I'm a new Zenith user)


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Nuno Vitorino

Status changed to: Under review