Data replication/mirror between two SSDs

User Support
1

Hello everyone,
I am building a new laptop and I plan to have two SSDs:

  • 1st SSD NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 (Samsung 990 Pro - 4TB)
  • 2nd SSD NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 (Samsung 990 Pro - 4TB)

I would like to have Qubes installed on the 1st SSD and have all the data backupped on the 2nd SSD. Is it something possible? Can be automated or do I need to perform the backup manually each time?
Does it make sense?

My goal is to avoid data loss/corruption.

Thanks in advance,
Q

2

You can try to create RAID 1:
Installing Using Anaconda :: Fedora Docs

3

This won’t be a backup. RAID 1 would help availability in case of a failing SSD, but it would still not be a backup as a mistake or a corruption would lose everything.

you could install Qubes OS and use the first SSD, and mount the second ssd in dom0 and automate the backups every n days.

However, Qubes OS backup process is super slow and will use 1 or 2 CPU during the process (for compression + encryption).

1 Like
4

You’re right, I meant to say RAID 1 and it’s still not a proper backup.

5

CPU is Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Processor 155H, not sure it’s going to be a problem…

Will have 16 Cores, 22 Threads, 4.8GHz, 24MB cache. Plus 96GB DDR5 * 5600 MHz Ram

6

I am open for discussion. I have only 2x NVMe slots, so I am trying to find the best way to set up everything.

7

You can consider using some incremental backup tool and run it periodically, e.g.:
GitHub - tasket/wyng-backup: Fast backups for logical volumes & disk images

Also note about 3-2-1 backup rule:
https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/data_backup_options.pdf

1 Like
8

I have purely automated backups of qubes to a secondary SSD which is NOT mounted to dom0. Instead, a dedicated disposable VM starts up and mounts the SSD. Qubes backups is then called in the mode where it sends the backups to that system. dom0 is one of the VMs that is backed up.

The one disadvantage is that the password for the backups is stored in the clear in order to automate the process. Otherwise it would have to be attended.

I don’t have the details right in front of me, but if something like this would meet your needs, let me know and I can supply them. Again, this backs up AppVMs (presumably those on which data is stored), not the data by itself.