External Drive question

[georgenoise]

Looking for a solution to problem so I thought I would start here. I think what I am looking for is an external drive that can hookup either USB or eSata to a DVR recorder for a camera system but can also simultaneously hook into the network either wired or wireless(preferably wired) which will effectively let us backup the system to the server and from there to their private cloud.

The system they bought only supports backup to an external USB drive and nothing else. It can be attached to the network and setup to view remotely either locally or externally(via browser, iOS, or Android app) but has no option to backup to a given folder on the network. I figure if the device above exists I can just write a script that will copy the contents of the drive on a schedule and then hopefully configure the DVR to automatically backup to the drive.

Basically their trying to find a way to make the system headless and automated so they don't have to touch anything unless they have to review something when an incident happens to occur.

Thanks in advance for any confirmation, ideas, or solutions.

 

[BlackLabTechs]

If you hook the DVR to the network, can you browse the files on it or just remote view the cams? If you can browse the files, I'd look into a backups system to pull from the DVR instead of the DVR initiating backups.

 

[Markverhyden]

Yes, an external HD with multiple interfaces can use all of them at the same time. At least the ones I have seen.

Spoke too quick. Cannot be done simultaneously.

 

[georgenoise]

I haven't got that far into it. They've had it for the past year, before I was on board as their consultant & support and they just had some issues with it this week. So when I looked at it today we started discussing the possibilities and they were interested in looking into it further. I pulled the manual for it and skimmed it, mostly the backup section, and it didn't indicate that being a possibility but being it will have an assigned IP once it is hooked up I would think it at least possible.

I have a meeting with the owner of the company that installed it and the owner of the company that uses it to get further clarification on what it can and can't do. I just like to be prepared when possible so if he says it isn't possible I can say I have a possible workaround. I've already found a few flaws in the way it was setup initially so we decided to sit with the owner, hopefully he'll bring the lead installer as well.

I've been wanting to break into the security system & camera market and this might be a good resource to assist me in getting there. I think it's more making the leap than being anything complicated. I mean, run a cable, hook up a camera to a box and there you go. That's most of the companies in my area.

 

[georgenoise]

Yes, an external HD with multiple interfaces can use all of them at the same time. At least the ones I have seen.

Thank you! That's exactly the answer I was looking for. Do you have a drive you recommend that does it? All I've found so far is a WD w/ wireless option, granted I haven't looked to hard.

 

[FremontPC]

Maybe check to see if software is offered for that model, sometimes the software allows for features that the device itself doesn't have.

 

[Markverhyden]

Thank you! That's exactly the answer I was looking for. Do you have a drive you recommend that does it? All I've found so far is a WD w/ wireless option, granted I haven't looked to hard.

Sorry I was wrong, you cannot use them simultaneously, my bad. You can have them plugged into multiple computers but only one computer can access the interface at a time. I would expect the same behavior in regards to the network access as well. It's a block level device so only one host can access at a time and the NAS part counts as a host.

 

[georgenoise]

Sorry I was wrong, you cannot use them simultaneously, my bad. You can have them plugged into multiple computers but only one computer can access the interface at a time. I would expect the same behavior in regards to the network access as well. It's a block level device so only one host can access at a time and the NAS part counts as a host.

Ok, thanks. Back to the drawring board.