If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#41
|
|||
|
|||
|
#42
|
|||
|
|||
|
#43
|
|||
|
|||
"Mxsmanic" wrote in message ... Over the past few years the capacity of disk drives (and the amount of space typically used on them) has greatly increased, and now it is getting more and more difficult to figure out how to back up these drives. What type of hardware (and software) do you use on your systems for backup? Up to now, I've used HP DDS tape drives (DAT drives) for backup. But DDS2 is limited to 4 GB, and DDS3 is limited to 24 GB, and that's getting to be to small to hold even one backup on a single tape (or even on several tapes in some cases). So, what else is there? These DAT drives already cost me a fortune in the good old days, and today they cost nearly as much as the rest of the computer, when I can find them ... and even DDS4 is still limited to 40 GB. DLT drives are several times more expensive at the cheap end, although they do have capacity to hold an entire drive of data. Are there other practical alternatives? What about external USB drives, can that work? Old stuff like Zip drives and so on is history, as it has even less capacity than tape. Archiving to CD or DVD is also too low in capacity. It's getting to the point that the only affordable option seems to be some sort of disk-to-disk copy (or RAID for those who can afford it), but it would be nice to have removable media that could be put in a safe place. So what is everyone else building into their new machines for backup? And do you just use standard backup tools like ntbackup on Windows or dump on UNIX, or do you use special software purchased separately? I use hard disks as backups. I copy my data direct using Save 'n' sync to a 'backup' hard disk in another machine that runs 24/7. Inside this backup machine I also have two disks that again copy my data - so I end up with three copies of my 'data'. I figure it's easy enough to install the operating system onto a new disk and then just copy my data back. I don't like 'backup' software that creates a backup file(s). Much rather have the data in it's native format - that way I can copy it, share it, etc, without the need for backup software. Clive |
#44
|
|||
|
|||
Clive writes:
I use hard disks as backups. I copy my data direct using Save 'n' sync to a 'backup' hard disk in another machine that runs 24/7. Inside this backup machine I also have two disks that again copy my data - so I end up with three copies of my 'data'. What's Save 'n' sync? An imaging product like Acronis or something? I try to keep multiple copies, too. It can be difficult to manage, but it's cheap and simple if you have several PCs/disk drives. I figure it's easy enough to install the operating system onto a new disk and then just copy my data back. To an extent, yes, except for the registry issues I've mentioned. UNIX has no registry, but it can still have problems sometimes. FreeBSD seems to be very good at recognizing hardware as it boots, so I don't actually have to change much to get it to run on new hardware (but if I customize the kernel I have to make sure there's enough left in it to boot on new hardware, i.e., no missing drivers). It's easier to recover on UNIX than on Windows. I don't like 'backup' software that creates a backup file(s). Much rather have the data in it's native format - that way I can copy it, share it, etc, without the need for backup software. It's easier to get it disorganized that way, though. Acronis lets me "mount" a backup file as a virtual read-only drive and examine it exactly as if all the structure were restored to a disk drive. Then I can copy individual files, etc., as required. Works really well from what I've seen in my tests, so I have the best of both worlds (one giant backup file, but still the possibility of restoring individual files). |
#45
|
|||
|
|||
My main HD is an 80g. I also have a 120g, 160g and another 80g in a
removable tray and 3 other PC's on my LAN. About every 3 months, or less if I've not made a lot of changes, I clone my system drive to the 80 in the removable tray. I also back up my data directories to the 120 on even days, the 160 on odd days, and another weekly copy to the 160. Additionally, it is copied nightly to my wifes PC. Everthing except the cloninng (Norton Ghost) is handled automatically by Second Copy 200 (http://www.centered.com/). It has worked great for me. mb "Mxsmanic" wrote in message ... Clive writes: I use hard disks as backups. I copy my data direct using Save 'n' sync to a 'backup' hard disk in another machine that runs 24/7. Inside this backup machine I also have two disks that again copy my data - so I end up with three copies of my 'data'. What's Save 'n' sync? An imaging product like Acronis or something? I try to keep multiple copies, too. It can be difficult to manage, but it's cheap and simple if you have several PCs/disk drives. I figure it's easy enough to install the operating system onto a new disk and then just copy my data back. To an extent, yes, except for the registry issues I've mentioned. UNIX has no registry, but it can still have problems sometimes. FreeBSD seems to be very good at recognizing hardware as it boots, so I don't actually have to change much to get it to run on new hardware (but if I customize the kernel I have to make sure there's enough left in it to boot on new hardware, i.e., no missing drivers). It's easier to recover on UNIX than on Windows. I don't like 'backup' software that creates a backup file(s). Much rather have the data in it's native format - that way I can copy it, share it, etc, without the need for backup software. It's easier to get it disorganized that way, though. Acronis lets me "mount" a backup file as a virtual read-only drive and examine it exactly as if all the structure were restored to a disk drive. Then I can copy individual files, etc., as required. Works really well from what I've seen in my tests, so I have the best of both worlds (one giant backup file, but still the possibility of restoring individual files). |
#46
|
|||
|
|||
Maintane writes:
Everthing except the cloninng (Norton Ghost) is handled automatically by Second Copy 200 (http://www.centered.com/). It has worked great for me. Pretty cool! I shall make a note of it. |
#47
|
|||
|
|||
"Mxsmanic" wrote in message ... Clive writes: I use hard disks as backups. I copy my data direct using Save 'n' sync to a 'backup' hard disk in another machine that runs 24/7. Inside this backup machine I also have two disks that again copy my data - so I end up with three copies of my 'data'. What's Save 'n' sync? An imaging product like Acronis or something? A file copying backup/file synchronisation util. I have my set to copy/update all the files in My Documents to my 'server' http://www.peersoftware.com/solution...l=sns&pid=snss Clive See |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
NY times article today | someone2 | Storage (alternative) | 10 | July 15th 05 02:32 AM |
Inexpensive mixing board for sale - current bid $7.50; Auction ends today! | jp | General | 0 | March 6th 05 02:38 PM |
What's New on the Web : Today | etamp | Storage & Hardrives | 0 | December 5th 04 10:19 PM |
India called me today... | Amos | Dell Computers | 40 | December 15th 03 04:09 PM |
Fastest KT7 cpu today ? | Jibby | Overclocking AMD Processors | 4 | August 7th 03 05:10 PM |