Hi, so I have finally decided to upgrade from my old and awesome HP EX495 (a great little box that served me very well!). I've decided to build a new server, Windows Server 2016 with Essentials role. I am planning to use the old HP box with its x2 pool as storage for backups coming from Server2016 (backing up server system drive (bare metal), data from the pool and historical user backup). I like the idea of those backups not being physically on the same machine, hence keeping both machines. The Server2016 will get its own licese of DrivePool. Before I migrate I would like to ensure I am approaching this properly, so I have a few questions to ask. Some of these were asked before but I am still not clear.
Existing HP box:
Old HP EX495 with 4 hot-swap bays, Pentium Dual-Core E5200 @ 2.5GHz with 2GB memory, Windows 10 64bit, 1 License of DrivePool, with a pool of 4TB+5TB+5TB with 2x duplication
Boot drive 500GB
Storage drive 4TB (wil continue to be part of existing x2 pool)
Storage drive 5TB (wil continue to be part of existing x2 pool)
Storage drive 5TB (wil continue to be part of existing x2 pool)
New Server 2016 build:
Enclosure with 8 hot-swap bays, Core i7-4770 @3.4GHz with 16GB memory, Windows Server 2016 with Essentials Role, No DrivePool installed yet. I will be getting more drives as necessary.
Boot drive 256GB (SSD)
Storage drive 8TB (will be part of a new x2 pool)
Storage drive 8TB (will be part of a new x2 pool)
Storage drive 8TB (will be part of a new x2 pool)
Requirements:
New Server2016 becomes the main storage (NAS)
Data from old HP box transferred to new server
Server2016 runs Essentials backup for users/computers for daily/weekly backups
Server2016 storage pool to be 2x
Server2016 system drive AND storage pool to be backed up to old HP box for daily/weekly backup. Old HP will continue to act as a NAS with SMB share hosted on its own x2 pool
Questions:
1) Is DrivePool compatible (i.e. provides official support) with Server Folders? Can I redirect ServerFolders to the Drve Pool?
2) What is the best/proper way to backup a Pool on Server2016 over the network to the new destination (SMB share on the old HP box, hosted on x2 pool)?
3) Also if possible, what backup software compatible with DrivePool can back up the Drive Pool while also providing bare-metal server backup over the network to the HP box? (SMB share on the old HP box, hosted on x2 pool)
4) How do I ensure I am only backing up one copy of files even though the Pool would be 2x duplication?
5) Is DrivePool compatible (i.e. provides official support) with NVR software, can I point my security cameras to store files on the Pool?
6) Is it possible to redirect backup folder on Server2016 to the SMB share on HP with its x2 drivepool?
Any feedback is appreciated, thank you!
