ASK NC

I have a DS220+ with a 6TB drive and would like to have a cold spare backup of the DSM system and apps and some data on the spare drive. I have 3 hyperBackups of my data, apps, and system config, but it isn't a plug-and-play restore.

I looked on Google and HDD cloning is advised, for instant cold spare. But I see no such thing in DSM.

In the event of drive issues, I don't want to reconfigure DSM copy all stuff for hours, and re-login to restore destinations and relink all and whatnot.

What should I do for DSM backup?
1. RAID - tho raid isn't a backup, I can't expand the storage on 2 bays

2. hyper the entire system - I have too much data for remote NAS
3. Active backup for NAS - can i backup system and apps only to remote NAS?

4. clone drive - can I clone system and apps, and only copy important data immediately, then restore other later, will it boot and work properly or go bananas with read-only volume?

Thanks for advice

I like your YT channel a lot.

To safeguard against potential downtime and configuration headaches in the event of drive failure, it's highly recommended to implement RAID protection on your Synology DS220+. This ensures that your data remains accessible and your system stays operational even if one drive fails. Additionally, for system and app backups, Hyper Backup remains an excellent choice. You can configure it to regularly back up your DS220+ to a USB drive that's always connected or to another NAS, even if it's a different brand or model, such as a new BeeStation or DS120j. This setup provides comprehensive protection for your data and system configuration, minimizing the risk of data loss and simplifying the recovery process in case of any unforeseen issues.