[Michael Lynch] Dives Deep into ZFS: Revolutionizing Data Backup with TrueNAS
[Michael Lynch], a self-proclaimed expert in hardware and data storage, recently made the bold move of replacing his trusted Synology NAS with a custom ZFS solution. And while some may raise an eyebrow at such a choice, [Michael] has found a feature that makes it all worth it: the ability to back up encrypted data without having to decrypt it first.
The only hurdle? TrueNAS, the platform [Michael] chose for his ZFS build, only allows for unencrypted backups to other TrueNAS systems. But, as [Michael] discovered, this roadblock can be easily bypassed with the right tools and a bit of know-how. And in today’s article, we’ll take a deep dive into those tools and the steps [Michael] took to achieve his goal.
Unlocking Encrypted Data Backups with TrueNAS
The solution [Michael] came up with involves the use of a handful of shell scripts to manage full and incremental backups and restores of encrypted datasets, all without having to decrypt the data beforehand. While TrueNAS does have native capabilities for this, it is limited to backups to other TrueNAS systems. Thanks to [Michael]’s solution, he can now easily send his backups to off-site cloud storage with just a bit of extra effort.
And that’s not all – [Michael] has another trick up his sleeve when it comes to monitoring backups. He has found a nifty service called Cronitor, which offers monitoring for cron jobs (scheduled tasks) with a free tier option. By utilizing Cronitor’s unique URL, [Michael] can be notified if his backups fail to run by simply integrating this URL into his existing cron job.
How the Cronitor Integration Works
The setup for Cronitor integration is simple – [Michael] just adds the unique URL provided by Cronitor to the end of his existing cron job. This way, if the job runs successfully, the URL will be visited and [Michael] will receive no notification. However, if the job fails to run, Cronitor will send a notification to [Michael] as a warning.
This integration requires no additional software, making it a simple yet effective solution for added peace of mind. And with the frequency of successful backups often taken for granted, it’s a good reminder to take a moment and carefully consider our data storage methods, including disaster recovery plans.
Conclusion
It’s clear that [Michael] is not one to shy away from cutting-edge solutions when it comes to data storage. His switch to a self-built ZFS solution may have raised a few eyebrows, but his clever workaround for encrypted data backups with TrueNAS and integration with Cronitor show his true expertise in the field.
