Re: Backup Software Question

Subject: Re: Backup Software Question
From: Chris Garrigues (cwg-dated-c1de45c3c33f2280@deepeddy.com)
Date: Tue Jul 31 2001 - 10:23:14 EDT

> From: Harald Wagener <hwagener@fcb-wilkens.com>
> Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 10:47:02 +0200
>
> Chris Garrigues wrote:
> >
> > > From: Christian Schmidt <ChriSchmiLi@gmx.de>
> > > Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 22:52:13 +0200
>
> [snip]
> > > Well, a backup stored on a HD isn't a real backup IMHO, is it?
> > > What if your backup-HD crashes?
> >
> > what if your tape becomes unreadable?
>
> well, too bad, I hope You check Your backups regularly for consitstence and
> functionality.

I do. This is easy to do on the RAID array where they live.

> > How is a backup on a hard disk not a backup?
>
> It's not a _real_ backup. It's a redundant storage with identical points of
> failure. Since hard discs are random access media, they can also be randomly
> deleted. This is harder with tapes that are handled properly, i.e. stored in a
> fire proof water sealed safe off site.

It's also harder to do when it's on an off-site RAID array to which the users
only have read access. I wouldn't consider it as having identical points of
failure since it's on a different hard drive using RAID technology instead of
single drive technology on a different computer system on a different (but
also secured) network in a different building on a different power grid.

> Secured tapes, even if they are stored in the same room as the machine being
> backed up, are also less affected by power surges or other electrical
> instabilities (as long as the sparks don't fly...).
>
> It is also easier to replace the read/write mechanism (i.e., the drive) when using
> a tape backup solution than it is with a hard disk.

Easier than replacing one hot-pluggable drive in a RAID array?

> So, if You take care of Your backups, there is a significant decrease in Your
> chances of losing data. Nothing of this is foolproof, nonetheless.

This is certainly true, but it doesn't have anything to do with whether the
media is tape or disk.

I just like not having to change tapes every day. I also like my users being
able to restore their files through a web interface that I wrote.

Chris 

-- 
Chris Garrigues                 http://www.DeepEddy.Com/~cwg/
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