1.5TB - all eggs in one basket

Re: original poster

Yep we're most deffinately getting into sizes where no one can really afford to loose that much data. Even if you could download it all again, it would take most people ages to do so.

Personally I've only got a 1Mbit internet connection (can't get any faster) and I also have a 45GB peak cap and 300GB off-peak cap. This would make it incredibly inconvenient to replace that much data, so based on jonstatt's 3 categories, I treat "important" stuff as vital when it comes to backups. Good thing too because my RAID controller threw a fit the other day and has been RMA'd.

When I get my replacement RAID controller, I'll have the following setup:

Main PC
  • 2 x Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 74GB SAS drives in RAID 0 for windows, apps and games. There's nothing on this array I can't afford to loose and/or can't replace quickly.
  • 3 x Hitachi 750GB in RAID 5 containing all my data
Backup PC
  • 1 x Seagate 320GB drive for windows/apps
  • 2 x Samsung F1 1TB drives in RAID 0 to hold a full synchronised copy of data from the RAID 5 array in my main PC and also historical backups of my vital data.
I'm currently not protected against fire though. I'm open to suggestions but bare in mind my slow internet connection!
 
Oh forgot to mention, I used to use DVD-R for backups (I have over 150 at the moment in use) but found the whole process tedious.

The DVD-R's would degrade after a few years anyway so stopped using them for backups.
 
As it's been said, RAID is a terrible solution for backup, it's funny the number of people online that are convinced it's the best solution.

I use a couple of old HD's to backup onto, I simply plug them into a drive bay that accepts bare drives, sync, and remove.
 
bigredshark said:
Online backup is my answer, $4.95 for unlimited storage, the first backup would have taken an age over DSL (I dumped it in a datacenter on a gigabit connection overnight instead) but after that incremental backups will be manageable. Having it backed up on a drive sitting next to it on your desk isn't something that should ever be called a backup strategy.
Click to expand...

Assuming your isp doesn't shut off your connection for using too much bandwidth, it would take 25 weeks to upload that much data on a 768Kb/s connection.

The fastest way to backup is to use an external sata connection to a normal sata hard drive.
 
Last edited:
Personally i think raid is an excellent backup method.
By this I do not mean having all your data on one raid array and having that array as your backup.

I have all my data on my pc and have a nas box in raid 5 as a backup box. The likelihood of the both my pc and my nas box dying at the same time is exceedingly rare and my data is also covered against hard drive failure (raid 5).

The only thing this does not really protect against is fire.
 
Whats the problem with dual layer dvd's?

Photos, Documents, etc can easily be put onto them, even your music. a couple of copies and your done.

Fair enough tv and films cannot be put on them in any large number, but you can buy dvd's for £5-6 anyway.
 
aproctor said:
Whats the problem with dual layer dvd's?

Photos, Documents, etc can easily be put onto them, even your music. a couple of copies and your done.
Click to expand...

Too small, if your doing video or music or cad work there can be huge files, dvds also take ages to burn compared to transferring data to hard drives. Then of course they are easily damaged and can suffer from dvd rot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom