"Burton Peltier" wrote in message
.. .
: --
: "santa" wrote in message
: ...
:
: "Jim Turner" wrote in message
: s.com...
: : Look at something like a CDR. For good backups, you want multiple
: : copies going back a ways, incase your data gets corrupted and you back
: : up before you notice. Could be a virus, could be a disk error, could
: : be anything.
: :
: : Packet writing software like Direct CD and INcd are simple( use just
: : like a floppy) but have a bad rep on reliability. Nero has a command
: : line capability so you can build a cd from commands in a batch file to
: : do what you want to a real cdr. Might look at that. Back up software
: : from Novastor also will do scheduled backups to CDR and is reliable.
: :
: : USB Thumb drives are handy, and if you use more than one would also
: : probably be ok. Would probably do periodic CDR backups (like monthly)
: : just to keep the historical data available.
: :
: : On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 00:55:21 -0500, "Burton Peltier"
: : wrote:
: :
: : Just looking for some validation/opinions that this is an ok way of
: doing
: : this ....
: :
: : First, the amount of data is small - several years (3 or 4 I think)
are
: : currently on 60 floppies.
: :
: : Critical data is mostly MS Office type - Access DB, Excel, and Word .
: :
: : The main PC is fairly new Dell with XP (Home edition I think) and it
: has
: a
: : CD Writer.
: :
: : The main PC has a DSL connection to the Internet.
: :
: : Note: Only 1 other PC and there is no critical data on it and it is
NOT
: : networked/connected to the other PC.
: :
: : Office personnel wants data backed up automatically and is willing to
: ALWAYS
: : save to "My Documents" or 1 folder. And, they like the idea of being
: able
: to
: : access the backed up data on another (home) PC that is also fairly
new
: (not
: : sure the details right now).
: :
: : Backup Process/Proposal:
: :
: : 1) Since the data is small, thinking of just using a memory stick for
: : backup - or an external USB hard drive, but the drive seems like
: overkill
: .
: : 2) Set up a scheduled job to run a simple copy command and run it
: nightly.
: : 3) Manually run once a month a backup to CD writer (for offsite
storage
: just
: : in case).
: :
: : Questions:
: :
: : 1) Is there some utility that comes with XP to do backups and
schedule
: it
: ?
: : I don't see one so far.
: : 2) Someone suggested using an Internet backup company to back up to
the
: : Internet. Does anyone have experience with this?
: :
:
: As dirty Harry said you have to ask yourself "do I feel lucky?" Do you
: want
: to solve the problem or just raise everyone's comfort level with some
: cosmetics? Will the company go out of business if all the data goes
down
: the tank or will it just be a pain in the ass for a couple of weeks?
Are
: you paid as an expert on disaster contingency planning and recover or
are
: you just one of the troops keeping the lights on?
:
:
: Answers to your questions in the order you put them:
:
: No.
: Yes and No.
: No and Yes.
: No and No. This is a freebie
:
: Maybe you've already analysed all these questions and will be ****ed
that
: someone asks them but hey you asked.
:
: Yes and No
:
:
: claus
:
:
:
: OK, if I counted yeses and nos correctly its a pain in the ass problem
rather than a drop dead problem. In that case I would do a complete dump
every night to a memory stick. You should be able to script this I would
make sure that the stick is readable on a regular basis and make sure you
have a good system of labelling it as part of the scripting. You could
alternate 2 sticks that way if one of them burps your ass is covered. A
once a week dump to CD and offsite storage might also save a lot of grief..
The one of the problems with doing restores is the order of reload but if
you have a readable stick at the end of every day the worst that can happen
is you end up losing a day which you say won't be catastrophic; but remember
users fib. You got to pull the trigger though one day just to see if it
works otherwise sure as little apples are green when the big day comes and
you really have to do it, you'll fry in hell.

claus