How to Automate Backups From RAID 0 SSDs to Removable HDDs on ZimaOS

Operating System ZimaOS
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1

Hello, I’m looking for help with the different backup solutions offered by ZimaOS.

I have a ZimaCube Pro with a 10 GbE connection. To fully take advantage of 10 GbE, I plan to create a RAID 0 using several DC600M 7.68 TB SSDs that I already own. I need this speed for my professional activity. However, the risk of disk failure or data corruption is still present. So I would like to use several 26 TB Western Digital Gold HDDs that I already own as a backup for the RAID 0.

My question is the following: once my RAID 0 is created with my SSDs in ZimaOS, how can I set up a daily synchronization or a sync after each change from the RAID to the HDD? Does ZimaOS include a built-in option for this, or is there a recommended app to install?

Additionally, I would like to be able to easily swap the HDDs. I have multiple 26 TB drives. I want to keep multiple copies, one in the ZimaCube and one off-site. I want to rotate them every 3 or 4 months.

Is there an app that supports this workflow and can automatically continue the synchronization from the RAID? Or would a RAID 1 on the HDDs be a better approach?

I’m looking forward to your suggestions.

2

I believe your design is solid and very professional: RAID 0 SSDs for maximum performance, backed up to rotated large HDDs for resilience and off-site protection. That’s exactly how this is handled in many production environments.

At the moment, I think it’s important to set expectations clearly: ZimaOS does not support real-time or “sync on every change” replication between storage pools. The built-in Backup app is scheduled only. Because of that, I suggest focusing on fast, scheduled synchronization, which already gives excellent protection when paired with RAID 0.

For your workflow, I believe rsync is the best tool. It’s reliable, fast, and handles disk rotation extremely well.

Recommended workflow (simple and robust)

I suggest:

  • RAID 0 SSD pool as your source
  • Each 26 TB HDD as a standalone backup target (no RAID)
  • Nightly rsync job
  • Rotate HDDs every few months
    When a disk is swapped, rsync simply reconciles differences and continues, no rebuilds, no complexity.

I do not recommend RAID 1 on the HDDs for this use case. RAID complicates rotation and removes the benefit of each disk being a complete, portable backup.

Simple rsync container layout for ZimaOS

This is intentionally minimal and safe.

1. Folder layout on ZimaOS

Create a small config directory:

/DATA/AppData/rsync-backup/
├── backup.sh
└── crontab

2. backup.sh (the actual sync logic)

Example script:

#!/bin/sh

SOURCE="/DATA/SSD_RAID"
TARGET="/DATA/Backup_HDD"

rsync -avh --delete --numeric-ids \
  --inplace \
  --stats \
  "$SOURCE/" "$TARGET/"

What this does:

  • Mirrors SSD RAID to HDD
  • Deletes removed files (true mirror)
  • Preserves permissions and ownership
  • Runs fast on large datasets

Make it executable:

chmod +x backup.sh

3. crontab (daily schedule)

Example: run every night at 2 AM

0 2 * * * /config/backup.sh >> /config/rsync.log 2>&1

4. Docker container setup

Use a lightweight base image (Alpine works well).

Container settings:

  • Image: alpine
  • Network: bridge
  • Restart policy: unless-stopped

Volumes:

  • /DATA/SSD_RAID > /DATA/SSD_RAID
  • /DATA/Backup_HDD > /DATA/Backup_HDD
  • /DATA/AppData/rsync-backup > /config

Command:

sh -c "crond -f"

Install rsync once inside the container:

apk add rsync

5. Rotating HDDs

When you swap disks:

  • Mount the new HDD to the same path (/DATA/Backup_HDD)
  • Start the container
  • rsync automatically continues and reconciles differences

Each HDD remains:

  • Fully readable on any Linux system
  • Independent
  • Safe to store off-site

Final thoughts

I believe this gives you:

  • Full 10 GbE SSD performance
  • Clean, predictable backups
  • Easy disk rotation
  • No vendor lock-in
  • No RAID rebuild risks

This setup is simple, proven, and very well suited to ZimaOS as it exists today.

3

Thanks a lot for the super detailed reply, it’s genuinely helpful and clears up a lot :+1:

I do have a few follow-up questions though:

1) Difference vs ZimaOS built-in Backup (Auto mode)
How does your approach (rsync + cron + container) differ from the Backup feature already built into ZimaOS, especially the Auto mode?
In the UI it says: “When the source is Zima Storage or a USB drive, backups run instantly whenever a file changes.”
So I’m wondering: doesn’t this already behave like “sync on every change” (or close to it)? If not, what’s missing / what makes rsync the better option for my use case?

2) Rsync with a GUI
Is there any rsync solution with a GUI that can be installed (ideally from the ZimaOS App Store)? I didn’t find anything there, and I’d prefer not to manage everything purely via command line if possible.

3) HDD rotation while using the same bay
Ideally I want to rotate my backup HDDs by swapping them in the same bay, so I never have an empty bay and I don’t have to keep reconfiguring paths each time.
Does ZimaOS (or rsync with your setup) automatically understand that the drive inserted in that bay is a different disk, and then restart an incremental backup correctly?

For example: I reinsert a drive that hasn’t been synced for 3-4 months, so its backup state is older and “out of date” compared to the SSD RAID0. I want this to be fully automatic: swap the drive, and it resumes by reconciling differences (not starting from scratch).

Thanks again!