CentOS NFS Virtual Server - Nightly replication to Remote VM

DustinB3403

So here's what I'm looking at doing.

Creating another XenServer host, with yet another CentOS VM just for the purpose of running a NFS server on it, that would copy from my current primary backup target on a nightly basis.

I would like to have the option to Share a USB drive from the hypervisor to the VM, but I know this is difficult (impossible) with XenServer for the way that the pass-through works.

So am I better off just installing CentOS to the hardware, and share the USB directly from that and then eject and swap the USB weekly?

or

Am I better of building another XenServer host leaving the data on site. (which doesn't protection from local events)

Dashrender

Do you have to go USB? Can you not get a NAS device instead?

DustinB3403

@Dashrender No it has to be USB, there is no budget at the moment for this.

Plus I have several USB drives that I'd want to use so I'm not stuck replicating on site.

Online services aren't an option either

DustinB3403

I did find this,

http://wiki.xenproject.org/wiki/Xen_USB_Passthrough

Which leads to this http://wiki.xenproject.org/wiki/XenPCIpassthrough

Which may work..... I need to see how stable the Passthrough functionality is when using multiple External USB drives.... (1 at a time, but rotating)

Dashrender

@DustinB3403 said:

@Dashrender No it has to be USB, there is no budget at the moment for this.

Plus I have several USB drives that I'd want to use so I'm not stuck replicating on site.

Online services aren't an option either

Well, if NAS isn't an option, cloud storage wouldn't be either!

You can pickup the WD MyCloud 4 TB for under $200 - they are so cheap as to make the pain of USB not worth it. At least to me.

scottalanmiller

If the goal is to "use existing drives" why not take an old desktop or grab a Raspberry Pi and plug them into that and make a NAS out of it? $30 tops.

DustinB3403

@scottalanmiller said:

If the goal is to "use existing drives" why not take an old desktop or grab a Raspberry Pi and plug them into that and make a NAS out of it? $30 tops.

Because the goal is to virtualize everything. Right?

Until you can't anyways.

Danp

@DustinB3403 Maybe you could come up with a similar solution using XO?

DustinB3403

@Danp That might be exactly what I'm looking for. It certainly seems like it is.

I'll have to test it tomorrow when at the office.