I do a variety of pictures and videography, and people recordsdata can take up loads of storage. I used to only retailer the footage and pictures on my laptop computer’s inside storage, shifting it to the NAS solely when wanted. Now, I simply again up the footage to my NAS first and work from there, and that workflow is so a lot better. Right here’s how I mechanically again up my SD card to my NAS, and how one can too.

My NAS has a built-in auto copy function for one-click importing

Devoted {hardware} makes backing up my SD card easy.

A screenshot of ZettOS on the Zettlab D4 NAS showing the automatic backup software for backing up a SD card with the press of a button.

I not too long ago deployed a brand new NAS in my homelab—the Zettlab D4. This AI-focused NAS has a variety of distinctive options (and a few quirks), however one of many nicest capabilities is the built-in SD and microSD card slots on the entrance.

On my Zettlab D4, there’s a built-in app known as Cocard that I’ve arrange for the automation. I’ve received it programmed in order that at any time when I insert a SD or microSD card, I can simply click on the copy button on the entrance of my NAS and it’ll search for new recordsdata then copy these recordsdata to a selected folder on the NAS.

The sort of setup makes it very simple to again up my SD playing cards. I don’t need to try to create new folders, drag and drop something, or use any sort of UI. It’s fast and painless, after which the copy is completed, it ejects the SD card so I can unplug it safely.

With the ability to simply copy my pictures or movies to the NAS is definitely very nice because it will increase my productiveness fairly a bit. I’ve my NAS mounted to my MacBook Professional over 2.5Gb/s Ethernet and entry my pictures library from the NAS, so this helps to additional automate my workflow.

Nevertheless, if you happen to don’t have the Zettlab D4 NAS like I do, because it’s pretty new, you possibly can nonetheless simply set your SD card as much as mechanically again as much as your NAS.

Different NAS programs supply comparable performance with a bit extra setup required

Whereas the method may be totally different, the end result is similar.

The Synology DS425+ NAS next to a laptop.-2 Credit score: Jordan Gloor / How-To Geek

My Zettlab D4 with a built-in SD card slot is considerably of an outlier within the NAS realm, however different manufacturers function comparable capabilities if you happen to’re keen to place in a bit extra effort.

For instance, Synology NAS servers may not have a built-in SD slot, however you possibly can obtain the identical performance by plugging in a USB to SD card reader into any of the USB ports. After getting the SD adapter plugged up, set up USB Copy from the Synology app retailer. This app permits you to configure the storage server to mechanically again up your SD playing cards as soon as they’re inserted—no button press required.

QNAP community hooked up storage servers have the same perform to Synology, with the built-in Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS 3) software. Simply ensure you have the USB to SD card reader plugged right into a USB port and configure the backup job to maneuver the recordsdata wherever you need.

Different NAS programs probably have comparable plugins, so if you happen to make sure to verify your storage server’s capabilities to see if performance like that is both baked-in or out there to put in.

Synology DS425+ on a white background.

7/10

Model

Synology

CPU

Intel Celeron J4125

This four-bay NAS works nice for dwelling and small workplace use, and it comes with a three-year guarantee from Synology.


You possibly can arrange nearly any NAS to do the identical

Simply because it’s not built-in doesn’t make it troublesome.

Not each NAS has built-in capabilities to mechanically again up SD playing cards although, and yours would possibly fall into that checklist. That’s completely high-quality, as there’s a completely totally different strategy you possibly can take, and it begins at your laptop.

These on Macs can take a look at Hazel, a chunk of software program from Noodlesoft. The best way Hazel works is by monitoring the folders that you simply inform it. In case your SD playing cards have a set naming schema, then that makes this methodology work tremendous nicely.

Primarily, you inform Hazel to observe /Volumes for a folder named no matter your SD card (or playing cards) are known as. Every time Hazel sees that folder in /Volumes, you possibly can set it as much as mechanically copy the recordsdata to a mounted community drive.

Four hard drivers sticking out of a rack-mount server that's being used as a NAS.


This Open-Source App Is My Favorite Way to Back Up My Windows 11 PC

Do not lose your important information.

These on Home windows (or macOS, truly) can use FreeFileSync with the RealTimeSync plugin. This setup works equally to Hazel however with just a few extra steps. To begin with, use FreeFileSync to create a batch job that backs up your SD card’s root folder to your mounted community drive. Then, open up RealTimeSync and drag your SD card’s root folder into the monitored folders checklist. After that, set the command to run to the batch file that you simply construct with FreeFileSync.

Now, at any time when RealTimeSync sees the SD card mounted, it should mechanically again up the contents to your NAS with out you must click on a single button.


Backing up an SD card to a NAS is an especially helpful factor to do, and if you happen to aren’t doing it, you must begin. The RAID array on any NAS provides redundancy backups to assist from shedding recordsdata, and it’s additionally attainable to have a NAS backed as much as the cloud.

For me, storing my SD card’s recordsdata on the NAS permits me to work on video or photograph tasks from wherever in my home, not simply at my desk. It’s extraordinarily good to have the ability to be in my workshop with an extended laser challenge working and simply seize the footage from a video shoot from the NAS and begin enhancing.

When you’re not mechanically backing up your SD playing cards to your NAS, you must begin, it’s not that troublesome to arrange.


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