Back-up Options - Which is the best?

"Dave" wrote...

How about an internal RAID 1 setup? Then continue to back up data to DVD
monthly, and store the DVD in a fire-proof safe. That should cover just about
anything.

RAID 1 does not protect you from accidental erasure because both copies will be
erased. Consider RAID 1 more of a data integrity measure than a backup measure.

"Dave (from the UK)" wrote...

A good thing about DDS is that newer systems can read/write older tapes. So a
DDS5 tape drive can read/write DDS2, DDS2, DDS4 and of course DDS5. (There is
a DDS1, but the more modern units can write to that and probably can't read it
either).

HP, Seagate and Sony all produce DDS tape drives. Since the format is a
standard, any DDS drive will read any tapes written by any other drive. You
can get them internal or external.

Beware of cheap, consumer-grade tape drives (and backup software), though. I've
had good luck with professional-grade tape drives in servers in business
environments, but not very good luck with consumer-grade tape setups. They tend
to fail at inopportune times...

Also, for non-automated backups and restorations, tape drives are much slower
than HDDs.

Or what about magnetic media?

That's what HDDs are... What other types are you considering?


What about building an external RAID array?


Thanks, I like the idea of buying an enclosure and fitting my HDD of choice.

As I said when I first asked the question originally, I really want to back
up stuff which requires no refreshing, and just put it in a draw and then
forget about it until needed, while avoiding the problems with the
degeneration of optical media ink. So I was thinking DAT maybe or something
else.

Bit if I could stick it on a USB HDD, unplug it from the system and be
relatively confident that it would still work, after laying unused for a few
years, then that would suit me fine. I presume that the life of a HDD is
very much determined by its usage but I am not sure about the electronics,
which control it?

As regards USB, is it just a bit of wire to an interface on the MB, or does
the gizmo itself have electronic circuitry to complete the hand-shake (if I
can call it that).

Thanks already!

"Steve Wade" wrote...

Bit if I could stick it on a USB HDD, unplug it from the system and be
relatively confident that it would still work, after laying unused for a few
years, then that would suit me fine. I presume that the life of a HDD is
very much determined by its usage but I am not sure about the electronics,
which control it?

The HDD life is likely WAY longer than a CD, and much less susceptible to damage
than tape...


As regards USB, is it just a bit of wire to an interface on the MB, or does
the gizmo itself have electronic circuitry to complete the hand-shake (if I
can call it that).

One cable to the USB port; one power cable. The external enclosure comes with
the USB-IDE electronics.