Files¶

Where my files live, how they get onto devices, how other machines use them, and how they're kept safe.

flowchart LR
    subgraph sources["Everything that gets backed up"]
        laptops["Laptops"]
        servers["Servers<br/>(Docker host, workstation)"]
        nasdata["NAS data<br/>(photos, files, library)"]
        vms["Proxmox VMs & LXCs"]
    end
    subgraph siteA["Site A"]
        nasA["Backup NAS A<br/>restic repos"]
        pbsA["PBS A"]
    end
    subgraph siteB["Site B"]
        nasB["Backup NAS B<br/>restic repos"]
        pbsB["PBS B"]
    end
    laptops & servers & nasdata -- restic --> nasA
    laptops & servers & nasdata -- restic --> nasB
    vms -- vzdump --> pbsA
    pbsA -. "PBS sync job" .-> pbsB

The NAS holds the primary copy of everything. Syncthing puts its folders onto devices, and Samba shares them with apps on other machines. Neither of those is a backup.

Page	Job
File sync	Syncthing keeps the same folders on every device that needs them, with the NAS as the always-on hub.
Samba	SMB shares let other machines and apps use the NAS's files without their own copy.
Backups	restic for files and Proxmox Backup Server for VMs and LXCs, to two NAS boxes at two physical sites.

Each layer does one job. Sync and shares make files available. Only the backups make them safe.