Source and destination backup drives

[ian1331]

I currently have two brand new 12TB Seagate Enterprise NAS drives dedicated as server storage space for media. I have added these two drives as 12TB1 and 12TB2 to a pool. These are mounted safely inside the server and need to be the "working" drives in the computer and not be loaded with duplicate files.

I also have 5 random drives of mixed size in an Orico USB enclosure with no raid or software capability. I have made these into a new pool called ORICO BOX. I then added this pool to the above pool.

All I want to do is continue to have the two 12TB drives fill up equally with new data, and have that data backup equally onto the drives in ORICO BOX. I have been trying combinations of pools and drives inside of drives, and all the drives together but it always wants to duplicate portions onto the 12TB drives and then random amounts onto the ORICO BOX drives.

This seems like it should be simple enough, but perhaps I've over complicated or misunderstood the features of the software. Any suggestions?

Thanks from a newb,

Ian

[MrPapaya]

I'm sure you figured it out already... From the images you posted, it just looks like a simple change is needed.

The pool called ORICO BOX is fine as is. The one in the first image is not correct. You should have:

A pool that has 12TB1 & 12TB2 with NO duplication set. (lets give it drive letter W:)

A pool called ORICO BOX with NO duplication set. (with the assorted drives) (Lets call it drive letter X:)

Now, drive W: essentially has 24TB of storage since anything written to W: will only be saved to ONE of the two drives. You can set the balancing plugin to make them fill up equally with new data.

Drive X: essentially has 28TB of storage since anything written to X: will only be saved to ONE of the five drives.

 

At this point, you make ANOTHER new pool, Lets call it Z:  In it, put Drivepool W: and Drivepool X:. Set the duplication settings to 2X for the entire pool. Remember, you are only setting Drivepool Z: to 2X duplication, no other drivepools need changed.

 

What this should do (if I didn't make a dumb typo): Any file written to drive Z: will have one copy stored on either 12TB1 OR 12TB2, AND a duplicate copy will be stored on ONE of the five Orico Box drives. You must read & write your files on drive Z: to make this magic happen.  Draw it out as a flowchart on paper and it is much easier to visualise.