How can I backup dual boot desktop PC to NAS?

[aj34]

Ubuntu Version: 24.04.3 LTS
Dual boot (Ubuntu/Windows 10) desktop PC
Ubuntu knowledge level: Almost none!

Unsure how much of this info is relevant:

Dual boot PC consists of two physical HDD’s - Ubuntu OS on one, Windows 10 OS on other. All the personal folders and files I wish to backup are stored on Windows HDD. I want to back up my folders/files to a NAS (QNAP TS-212P), ideally from Ubuntu OS. I occasionally boot to Windows but my default is to boot to Ubuntu and I wish to use Deja Dup to backup.

I’ve struggled to understand the NAS software (OS?) since I purchased it although I have done the odd successful backup from Windows years ago but can’t remember how I did it and I’d rather use Ubuntu anyway. Rather than try and explain my pathetic attempts at backing up and all the associated error messages, I’d prefer to wipe the slate clean and start from the very beginning so I wish to set everything up (again) from scratch. Your advice would be gratefully received.

I’ve bodged my backup solution for the last few years (very fragmented, i.e. USB sticks and DVD’s) but feel it’s about time to do things properly.

Please be aware that I’m a complete Linux amateur - any tech. jargon will mean nothing to me, thanks. And it might be best to give me a general overview of what I need to do first, rather than anything too specific at this stage (such as entering code into the Terminal).

Thanks for your attention.

[MesterPerfect]

If you’d like a clear step-by-step guide, this article explains how to back up Ubuntu to a NAS using Deja Dup in a beginner-friendly way:

https://dev.to/preciouschicken/configuring-deja-dup-ubuntu-backup-on-a-wd-my-cloud-nas-4md2

It walks through connecting Ubuntu to a NAS, mounting the share, and then using Deja Dup to handle the backups.

[aj34]

Thanks very much. I’ll check this out soon as I can.

[Actionparsnip]

From AI

Option 1: Mounting via NFS (Recommended)

This method involves enabling NFS on the QNAP and using command-line tools in Ubuntu to mount the share.

On the QNAP NAS

1. Log in to the QNAP QTS Control Panel.
2. Navigate to Privilege > Shared Folders.
3. Select the desired shared folder and click Edit Shared Folder Permission.
4. Change the Permission type to NFS and configure the access rights (Read-only or Read/Write) for the IP address of your Ubuntu machine.
5. Click Apply.

On the Ubuntu System

1. Install necessary tools (if not already installed):

bash

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nfs-common

2. Verify the QNAP exports: Use the showmount command with your QNAP’s IP address to see the available NFS shares:

bash

showmount -e [QNAP_NAS_IP_address]

3. Create a local mount point:

bash

sudo mkdir /media/qnap_share

4. Manually mount the share to test it:

bash

sudo mount -t nfs [QNAP_NAS_IP_address]:/[Shared_Folder_Name] /media/qnap_share

You should now be able to access the files in the /media/qnap_share directory.
5. Mount automatically on boot (fstab): To make the mount persistent across reboots, edit the /etc/fstab file:

bash

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add the following line to the end of the file, replacing placeholders with your actual IP and folder name:

bash

[QNAP_NAS_IP_address]:/[Shared_Folder_Name] /media/qnap_share nfs defaults,bg 0 0

The bg option ensures that the boot process continues in the background even if the NAS is temporarily unavailable.
6. Apply the fstab entry without rebooting:

bash

sudo mount -a

[Actionparsnip]

Once you mount the file system, you can simply copy to the mount point directory and it will be on the NAS

[aj34]

Thanks for the info. I’ll tackle this soon as possible but it may now be after Christmas.