DIY Fireproof NAS

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#389535 8-Oct-2010 12:38

RichardBigBuddy:
"The simpler option in my opinion is to have proper off site backups" - this can get pricey
I have 250GB in Back up files - with 30 GB backing up every day - of site pricing and bandwidth ( upload speeds are the crippler) is an issue .

but you can always use 'unlimited' plan? i thought actrix and some others offered unlimited plans at a premium price.

RichardBigBuddy

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#389543 8-Oct-2010 12:56

"but you can always use 'unlimited' plan? i thought actrix and some others offered unlimited plans at a premium price."

Are you talking unlimited broadband plans ? I may have missed something but as far as I can tell all NZ broadband limits the upload speeds quite severely and thats the speed you need for off site backups.

k1wi

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#389551 8-Oct-2010 13:13

I would imagine that if your safe is strong enough you probably wouldn't need shock absorbers. Just so long as it's not going to bang around inside. (i.e. It's fairly secure).

As for condensation, it shouldn't be a problem, particularly if it's a frost free fridge, but in any event, water won't condensate on your components if they're warmer than the air around them.

As to using plugs in and out - you would need an fireproof insulator to isolate the cables/wiring between the inside and outside. Metal would be out because it's not an insulator and plastic is out because it's not fireproof... and given that it's mains powered, you'd have to be really careful that it didn't arc. Something like replacing the plastic on the pass-through with ceramic or something. Asbestos? lol

jls

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#389563 8-Oct-2010 13:36

"The simpler option in my opinion is to have proper off site backups" - this can get pricey
I have 250GB in Back up files - with 30 GB backing up every day - of site pricing and bandwidth ( upload speeds are the crippler) is an issue .

Well if your talking ADSL or something similar, that amount of data is indeed uneconomical, but don't forget about/underestimate the bandwidth of good old sneaker net.

One of my current setups involves 3 portable 2.5" laptop drive enclosures 500Gb each (eSATA for Speed), the daily backups are copied/encrypted to the drive in wee hours of the morning, and each day the drives are rotated. The end result is one drive is always on site, one is off site and one is in transit, worst case is that you are gonna have data that is a day or two old, your requirements will determine if that is acceptable or not.

Just more ideas :)

PANiCnz

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#389614 8-Oct-2010 15:41

Just implement a proper tape backup system and get a third party to store them offsite.

RichardBigBuddy

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#389621 8-Oct-2010 16:03

We have some logistical problems with "proper" tape backups hence the use of NAS.

FreakyKiwi

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Master Geek

#389622 8-Oct-2010 16:04

ummmm fridges burn like you wouldnt believe...

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RichardBigBuddy

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#389627 8-Oct-2010 16:15

Thats interesting Freaky, its not what the fire service told me. Have you seen this ?

mattRSK

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#389636 8-Oct-2010 16:29

Yeah fridges burn,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ivj1CXXMiM&feature=related

Have you thought about having an argon system in a server room maybe?

FreakyKiwi

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Master Geek

#389637 8-Oct-2010 16:32

Yeah...door seals burn nicely - so the doors open...Also the plastic feet melt / burn so it leans forward.

Remember its a thin steel box, full of nasty foam that does burn, possibly flamable coolant, and then the inside is a nice plastic which also burns...

If you do see a nicely prserved fridge/freezer in a house fire for example would all depend on where the fire occurred, what was in the fridge (ice etc...) and how quickly the fire was extinguished.

Fire sprinklers, monitored heat and smoke sensors, and offsite backups are all essentials...

(excuse any spelling as its friday and almose knockoff time!)

EVERYTHING BURNS! Just got to get it hot enough

boby55

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#389698 8-Oct-2010 19:37

You could always try a box, Made out of 100mm Think Lead

Fraktul

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#389748 8-Oct-2010 22:43

Lead has a low melting point.

You want something which maintains a high degree of structural integrity at high temperatures while also having low thermal conductivity.

I don't know the details of your situation but as others have suggested off site backup is in most instances a more practical approach than building a superduper fire/theft/earthquake/EMP/war/a*hole proof enclosure for your NAS.

Ragnor

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#389791 9-Oct-2010 02:21

What sort of budget are you working with? What sort of connectivity options do you have, is there fibre into the building?

Co-locating an offsite storage server/nas in a decent data center and having a dedicated link there isn't too expensive.

traderstu

332 posts

Ultimate Geek

#389808 9-Oct-2010 09:14

OK, thinking outside the square, how about a concrete bunker (could be a largish dia culvert pipe) set below ground outside the building as far away as cost of running power & data cable allows? Should be reasonably easy to waterproof and cool.

webwat

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#389848 9-Oct-2010 12:07

traderstu: OK, thinking outside the square, how about a concrete bunker (could be a largish dia culvert pipe) set below ground outside the building as far away as cost of running power & data cable allows? Should be reasonably easy to waterproof and cool.

Below ground introduces a flooding risk and pumps etc eventually stop during a powercut.

Its probably not cheap to build a fireproof room but have a look at the options. If you only need a 2 hour fire rating then extra layers of Gib, possibly over metal wall framing, should do the trick. Concrete might get you really fireproof. Make sure the door and cable entries also have properly rated firestops, and your cooling system too. You might need temperature sensors that shutdown all active gear when it gets too hot, and any outside ventilation should not let in the weather.

There is no substitute for offsite storage, and a point-to-point wireless link to somewhere secure offsite might be a good alternative to buying storage space that needs an internet connection.

Time to find a new industry!

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