How to Back Up Your QNAP NAS to an External USB Drive
Step 1: Attach the External USB Drive
1. Connect the external USB drive to any available USB port on your QNAP NAS.
2. Make sure the USB drive is properly recognized and detected by the NAS.
Step 2: Access the QNAP NAS Control Panel
1. Open a web browser on your computer and enter the IP address of your QNAP NAS.
2. Log in to the NAS Control Panel using your administrator credentials.
Step 3: Configure Backup Settings
1. In the Control Panel, navigate to the "Backup/Restore" section.
2. Click on "External Device Backup" to access the backup settings.
Step 4: Select the Folders to Back Up
1. Choose the folders or files you want to back up to the external USB drive. You can select specific folders or opt for the entire NAS volume.
2. If needed, specify any exclusion rules to exclude certain files or folders from the backup.
Step 5: Specify Backup Schedule and Type
1. Decide if you want to perform a one-time backup or schedule regular backups.
2. Choose the backup type - full, incremental, or differential - based on your requirements.
Step 6: Choose the External USB Drive as Backup Destination
1. Select the connected external USB drive as the destination for your QNAP NAS backup.
2. Make sure there is enough available space on the USB drive to accommodate the backup files.
Step 7: Start the Backup Process
1. Review the backup settings and click on the "Start" or "Backup Now" button.
2. Monitor the backup progress and wait for the process to complete.
Step 8: Verify the Backup
1. Once the backup is finished, navigate to the external USB drive to confirm that the backup files are present.
2. Open the files or folders and ensure they are intact and accessible.
Step 9: Perform Periodic Backups
1. If you have scheduled regular backups, ensure that the external USB drive remains connected to the QNAP NAS at the specified time intervals.
2. Verify that subsequent backups are successful and compare the backup files to ensure data integrity.
Note: It is recommended to periodically check the health of your external USB drive and replace it if necessary to avoid data loss.
