Time Machine Service

[1100feet]

G'day all.
Assuming the next evolution of the Mac Mini comes with USB3 I'm hoping to replace my 4 bay ReadyNAS with a Mini Server and USB3 RAID setup.

I'm currently using my ReadyNAS as a Time Machine service and was wondering....
With Server Edition, to use time machine service, does it matter if you have other folders and shares on the HDD (RAID) you want to use for TM?
Will it just add a folder and set the shares for TM
or
Does it like to have a drive of it's own?

Cheers.

 

[radiogoober]

Good question. I'd like to ask if there is a way to set a per-user time machine size quota with Lion server.

(what usb3 raid solution are you considering?

 

[Bear]

Will it work yes? However, you would want to back up those folders to a different disk. Backing something up to the same disk is like having no backup at all if the disk fails.

 

[1100feet]

@Bear
Thanks.
The other files I was talking about are movies and tv collections (which sometimes get backed up onto a single drive and put in a sealed bag in the shed). Not that fussed about "backing them up" more than this.
Any other files on the RAID will be backed up to CrashPlan (or similar) running on the mini server the raid is attached to.

@radiogoober
Until I know for sure they are bringing out usb3 I'm not investing too much time looking at solutions.
I had a quick look at this one
http://www.hotway.com.tw/products/h8r2-su3s2.htm
I'm sure there are more (better) out there.

 

[Foogoofish]

I don't mean to start an off topic point....but.....

Why would you switch to a USB3 connection, when anything taking data off of your server is limited to a 1GB/s ethernet connection, less over wi-fi?

Are you really going to notice a difference? I mean, it would be a shame to have the lovely fast USB 3.0 being held back by a crappy switch running at 100 meg.

 

[1100feet]

@Foogoofish
I know the bottleneck will the the network infrastructure - I'm running gigabit throughout and dual band wireless so the ATV2 is not on the same band that the phones/ipad is using.

Currently I'm stuck at 1Gb with the ReadyNAS (so no diference). I'm starting to store more things on the NAS like family movies etc and although I still have over 50% free I'm starting to look towards an upgrade plan.
Another NAS or a bigger one is quite costly.
For the cost of an 8bay NAS I could almost get a mini server and 8bay usb3 Raid setup.
I like the file server to be always on - so not wanting to hang the Raid off the 27inch iMac. And will have the Plex media server (streaming to mac mini in the lounge and ATV2 in the bedroom) and crashplan backup running on the server backing-up selected files.
Thunderbolt = $$$ compared to similar options.
FireWire = old dying tech and only 800Mb
USB3 seems to be the best option. + if I want to plug directly into someones computer or laptop and copy large amount of data I can do it quickly.

Happy to discover holes in my logic.

Thanks.