Solved Migrating DS212 to DS218+ Really appreciate suggestions/cautions, experiences

[Danabw]

I'm moving from a DS212 (my first, and always sentimental favorite NAS) to a new DS218+.

Storage:

• DS212: 2x2TB - currently usage is 1.4 TB of 1.8 available
• DS218+: 2x4TB

Based on what I've read so far I'm going to have to use HyperBackup to make the transition, as disk swap and the migration tool aren't supported, and as far as I understand I am better off starting fresh w/the new NAS/drives since I'm going from ARM 32bit to Intel 64 bit.

NAS is for home use, overall light duty (max three users at any one time). Current primary uses are:

• FIle server - we store all of our files on the NAS, nothing on local drives
• Cloud sync - Google cloud sync enabled to back up media (photos primarily) to my Google cloud account
• Media server - light duty/occassional streaming of movies and music
• Remote access - Using DS mobile apps primarily

Potential additional uses after migration:

• email service - Thinking about using a private domain I have to setup email service for up to five family members. More of a "just for fun" activity, and likely I'll end up being the only one using it.
• Docker - I have a PI that I run a local service on for home automation, might move it (via Docker) to the NAS
• Remote backup: I might move my existing DS212 NAS to mom's house and enable remote backup so I have "off-site" backup of some key files that I don't want to back up to the cloud, but need to keep safe.

Overall, data reliability/safety and system stability is more important than overall performance for our uses.

My known questions at this point are:

• What key Gotcha's should I be aware of regarding the migration generally?
• Any warnings/suggestions related the migration process with HyperBackup?
• Filesystem (Ext4 vs BTRFS)? I'm assuming BTRFS for its additional built-in data-integrity features makes mose sense for our priorities.

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[Rusty]

If you will be setting it up as a new nas then just use hyper backup to transfer the data later on. BTRFS would be my suggestion.

 

[Danabw]

If you will be setting it up as a new nas then just use hyper backup to transfer the data later on. BTRFS would be my suggestion.

Thanks, Rusty, for the suggestions.

On another forum someone suggested that I do the following...to simply share a folder from the new drive to the old one and then copy my data over. I'm assuming the speed would be the same for either option, and doing via the shared folder/copy approach does seem simpler. Any thoughts/concerns about doing it that way?

you don't have to use Hyperbackup - create your new array on the 218+ and then create a folder, share it, and then mount it from within DSM on the 212 and then move your data. Filesystem is entirely up to you - do some reading up on the differences between the two and proceed accordingly I believe it will default to BTFRS when you create your array.

I have a spare 2TB drive I'm not using...would it be totally crazy (I'm OK w/partly crazy) to setup the DS218+ w/the drive I have, and then tomorrow simply swap in the two new drives, one at a time? Insert one of the new drives into slot two first, get it settled, then swap drive 1 w/the other new drive. I know I'm wasting some time, but I have free time today and I can get any FW updates out of the way and also just confirm I have a working system (no DOA or other issues).

Is that more insane than I think it is?

 

[fredbert]

On another forum

'The other place' or 'The Dark Side' I saw your post. If you want to start from new so you have Btrfs and a volume that isn't constrained by the DS212 max size limit (16TB?) then building up with new disks is the way to go.

There's nothing stopping you from having a play with a single 2TB now and then swapping in the two 4TB tomorrow. But I guess there may be a time hit having to repair the SHR pool twice, even with little data on it. You can always try out what works regarding copying vs HB restore. With HB you can always restore DSM configuration.

 

[Danabw]

LOL...the synology dark side indeed. "Luke, I am your NAS..."

Cool....I just finished my "I just can't stand to wait!" quick and easy setup w/a 2TB SSD. Went very smoothly, no issues.

Really looking forward to my drives arriving tomorrow!

 

[Rusty]

I'm assuming the speed would be the same for either option, and doing via the shared folder/copy approach does seem simpler. Any thoughts/concerns about doing it that way?

The reason is that you can use rsync method via hyperbackup (using the wizard) and its mechanics are much safer and interrupt resilient then a simple copy-paste. So, IMHO you will be a lot better and safer to use HB (rsync method then a pure copy-paste).

Regarding 2TB drive method I agree with @fredbert

 

[Danabw]

Thanks, @Rusty, for the additional context/info on the two choices.

I took a look this AM at using Hyperbackup to do the transfer, and am having troubles getting the Rsycn option to work.

Source NAS: Hyper Backup installed and running, using wizard to create backup task.
Target NAS: Hyperbackup and Hyper Backup Vault installed, Hyper Vault opened/running, but not doing anything in the app.

Both NAS are on the same network/SSID (ethernet).

Steps: On the source NAS:
Open Hyper Backup
Select + icon to create new task. Backup Destination screen opens
Choose File Server>rsync option. Backup Destination Settings screen opens.
See screen caps below for settings and resulting error that appears when I get to the choose a shared folder step.
I've reconfirmed I entered PW correctly, and server name/IP address fills in autmatically when I select the drop-down so the target NAS is being found automatically. Port 873 is prefilled automatically, I did a quick Google and 873 seems like the right port for rsync TCP.

On the Backup Destination screen, if I select the Remote NAS Device option (instead of the rsync option) that option works - I can select the target NAS and target folder and am prompted to choose the folders I want to backup. However, you mentioned the "rsync method" in your reply so I'm assuming I should be using the rsync option from Hyper Backup.

Am I missing something obvious here? Thanks!

 

[Rusty]

Make sure that you have enabled rsync service on the destination nas in File services inside control panel

 

[Danabw]

Make sure that you have enabled rsync service on the destination nas in File services inside control panel

DOH! Dammit, I was just looking at that setting last night when I was playing w/my "test setup" w/the 2TB drive, but got distracted and forgot to enable it. That solved it. Thanks! Doing a quick test-backup w/rsync to see how it goes.

I'm assuming the trade-off on using rsync for it's higher level of safety is that it will be slower overall.

 

[Danabw]

@Rusty & @fredbert

Drives arrived, and I began the process. (Exciting music plays...)

Since I had already set the box up, I decided to just add one of the new drives to the second slot and then add it to the pool, and then I would swap out the first drive and be done. I started that, but the process to add the drive to the pool is much slower than I anticipated. About an hour after starting, it's only showing 15% complete. <eek> <Darth Vader theme>

Thinking now that I'd just like to turn it off, reset the box, and start over w/the two drives inserted. Just want to make sure that won't cause me any headaches, and that my assumption that a start-from-scratch will be faster than the process to add drives to an existing pool. Is that assumption correct? I have a feeling my assumption isn't correct and it's a loooooong wait either way.

Thanks!

 

[fredbert]

I decided to just add one of the new drives to the second slot and then add it to the pool, and then I would swap out the first drive and be done. I started that, but the process to add the drive to the pool is much slower than I anticipated

Sounds like I may have been right? Which doesn't happen very often!

...single 2TB now and then swapping in the two 4TB tomorrow. But I guess there may be a time hit having to repair the SHR pool twice, even with little data on it.

 

[Danabw]

Sounds like I may have been right? Which doesn't happen very often!

Yup. It's slooooooow.

Will it be faster if I just reset the box, pull out the 2TB drive that's in slot one, and insert the other new drive in that slot, and start over? But probably won't bother start over at this point anyway, the current process on disk two will be finished up by later this evening, and when I swap in the other new drive into slot one that can run overnight.

Patience is a virtue, I hear. ;-)

 

[Danabw]

I know how everyone is on pins and needles on this, so...

First drive finished while I was out for some errands and a meeting, and I've just replaced the temp 2tb drive in slot 1 w/the second new 4tb drive and the storage pool is being repaired. I'll wake up tomorrow w/everything ready to go, and start moving over my files.

Thanks for the help w/this, @Rusty & @fredbert, my success is all your fault.

 

[fredbert]

You're applying the same philosophy I used when deciding when to upgrade Macs ... could a new one do another video conversion tonight or will it finish while I'm asleep, just like the current Mac will do. If it finishes when I'm asleep then the new one won't be fast enough to justify replacing. I've saved ££££ applying this

@Danabw I'm getting the feeling that, for you, waiting for birthday presents is utter torture

 

[Danabw]

That's a pretty accurate feeling you have, @fredbert. It's like you're a mystic medium or something!

I've finally solved that issue by pretending that my birthday is every day! ;-) I do pity my wife (the saver in our family) who has to watch all the delivery notices from Amazon. Drives her a bit crazy.

Data is continuing to move over (slowly). The two partners in crime (DS212 and DS218+) should be done w/the last of our non-media general files and detritus by tomorrow AM if the current transfer speed maintains.

Then I'll start moving on to media...that seems like it may take weeks via Rsync. tens of thousands of family pictures, large audio library, and a much smaller collection of movies, scans, and misc. stuff. I'll do a "set it and forget it" and let it run while I live my life.

 

[fredbert]

I've finally solved that issue by pretending that my birthday is every day! ;-) I do pity my wife (the saver in our family) who has to watch all the delivery notices from Amazon. Drives her a bit crazy.

Deliver to work and only order stuff that can be secreted into you normal briefcase/rucksack!

With the DS218+ you can add extra RAM. Now, some people will say you can go over the 2+4GB specification by either using 2+8GB or taking the thing to bits and swapping the hidden 2GB stick to something bigger also.

I've stuck with 2+4GB and haven't seen our RAM usage spike over 75%. I'm running a lite Mail Server with AV scanning (that's 500MB RAM), Plex, Video Station, Audio Station, Docker containers, Moments, Dive, loads of other stuff. It's not overly taxed most of the time but then it's not swapping RAM to disk either. My setup idles at about 45% RAM, which is just over the standard 2GB.

This was the RAM stick I used

Crucial 4GB DDR3L-1866 SODIMM Memory for Mac | CT4G3S186DJM | Crucial UK

Buy Crucial 4GB DDR3L-1866 SODIMM Memory for Mac CT4G3S186DJM. FREE US Delivery, guaranteed 100% compatibility when ordering using our online tools.

uk.crucial.com

And I think @Telos has used it too in another Synology NAS.

 

[Telos]

And I think @Telos has used it too in another Synology NAS.

That is correct. I bought two, Crucial 4GB Single DDR3/DDR3L 1866 MT/s (PC3-14900) 204-Pin SODIMM RAM - CT4G3S186DJM.

Initially, I installed both, replacing the Synology RAM card, but a few weeks later I had problems rebooting the NAS, so I reinstalled the Synology RAM alongside one of the Crucial RAM cards. Presently 6GB seems fine. If I need more, I'll try the second card again (both tested fine upon installation).

 

[Danabw]

Read my mind! I've been on Amazon looking at Crucial 4GB sticks. I've also, admittedly, been looking at the 8GB version as well. There are some posts of folks running the 2+8 configuration w/out issues.

However, I think for my uses a total of 6GB should be plenty. I'm looking at this on Amazon, which the US Crucial site says is compatible w/my DS218+:

Crucial 4GB Single DDR3/DDR3L 1866 MT/s (PC3-14900) Unbuffered SODIMM 204-Pin Memory - CT51264BF186DJ at Amazon.com

Buy Crucial 4GB Single DDR3/DDR3L 1866 MT/s (PC3-14900) Unbuffered SODIMM 204-Pin Memory - CT51264BF186DJ: Memory - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Interestingly, the stick you guys are using shows as not compatible w/my DS218+ on the Crucial site. I know you're using it, of course, so presumably since they intended that item for use in a Mac they didn't bother to test it on Synology devices. The specs look exactly the same on the two:

CT4G3S186DJM (yours)
CT51264BF186DJ (what I'm looking at)

Did you guys choose the Mac package for a particular reason?

 

[fredbert]

A couple of years ago it was what others had had success with. It was nearer £40 back then, not £25. Also Crucial didn't have any results for DS218+. Looks like they add XYZ-free for Mac version, whatever that proves.

If they guarantee the cheaper 'non-Mac' version then go with that because if there's any issue Crucial will resolve it. I've always bought direct from Crucial not Amazon. In fact I think I've only bought Crucial memory sticks and haven't had any issues, even when Macs where very finicky.

It's a cheap upgrade and the NAS will be better for it.

EDIT: @Danabw Found this page. So you'll see that you need a stick that meets 'DDR3L-1866 unbuffered SO-DIMM'. The Crucial UK page brings up 1600 and 1866 sticks, so just be sure to get 1866.

Synology DDR3 Memory Module | Synology Inc.

Synology official DDR3 memory modules ensure 100% compatibility and reliability.

www.synology.com

 

[Danabw]

Thankks, @fredbert

I had noticed the 1866 and 1600 versions, and had meant to confirm that I should stick w/the 1866, thanks for predicting my next question.