[Discussion] Disk Backup to CD (Carl Gehr)

[Joseph Hansen]

May 10, 2007

There are various services that provide for online backups, which  
take more time since all the data must be pushed out over the web,  
but avoid danger from theft, fire, etc.  Typical costs are $3 to $5  
per month for the first 2gb; then a dollar or two per per month per  
additional gb.  This could be expensive for large backups, but it's  
reasonable for the most critical files.

The problem for OS/2 and ecomstation users is that most of these  
require Windows, although some support Macs.

Has anyone found a good online backup system for OS/2 or ecomstation?

Joe



On May 10, 2007, at 5:48 PM, Carl Gehr wrote:

> Specifically regarding STORING of whatever media you use:
> 	I have a Safe Deposit Box at a nearby bank!
> The fireproof safe/box that I keep in house is only temporary
> before the media is moved to the bank.
>
> Carl
>
> On Thu, 10 May 2007 13:00:12 -0700, Bill Nicholls wrote:
>
>> Keep in mind that CDs are *not* a robust mechanism for storage. Both
>> heat and light will accelerate the aging of the CD.
>>
>> As my friend Van found out, never leave you CD on a windowsill. He
>> picked it up after the afternoon sun had hit it for about two  
>> hours and
>> it was totally erased.
>>
>> Unless you have a fireproof safe that limits the inside temp to  
>> boiling
>> water, the heat from a fire will also destroy non-stamped CDs. All in
>> all, they really are only a temporary storage medium.
>>
>> Alternatives:
>> 1. DVDs - these are harder to erase, but not proof against a lot of
>> light or heat.
>> 2. Tape - the traditional backup still has a lot of value. Van  
>> tells me
>> that good tape drives, often with useable tapes, are available on  
>> ebay
>> for 5% of original cost, sometimes less. A good tape in a (non-cheap
>> 2000 degree F, 2 hours)) fireproof safe will survive even a very  
>> hot fire.
>> 3. Raid Drives - This is my current mecanism for backup, though I  
>> am in
>> the process of setting up a cheap DDS4 tape backup system, using  
>> Bacula
>> (recommended open source). A pair of RAID1 200GB drives is about  
>> $125,
>> and even a fire is unlikely to destroy the data unless the drives get
>> hot enough to warp.
>>
>> Recommendation:
>> This is what I am doing. I already have multiple RAID1 drives in
>> different systems. I backup core files to two sets of raid drives if
>> they are important. For my video files I have a 1T RAID5 that can be
>> expanded to 2.5T with three more 500GB drives. I can recommend  
>> Hitachi
>> for this, though Segate's best are also fine, about the same price.
>> Currently high quality 500GB drives go for about $130-140.
>>
>> In the next month I will be setting up the tapes and buying a $3-400
>> fireproof safe.
>>
>> I know it's not cheap, but have you considered how much it costs to
>> recover data from one drive? $300 down, no upper limit and no  
>> guarantee.
>> Ouch!  Remember, digital photos and other personal stuff cannot be
>> replaced and insurance is not much compensation.
>>
>> BillN
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discussion mailing list
>> Discussion at lists.possi.org
>> http://lists.possi.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discussion mailing list
> Discussion at lists.possi.org
> http://lists.possi.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion
>

Joseph J Hansen
Lexington Strategic Associates
221 Follen Road, Lexington, MA 02421-5802

tel (781) 863-5003
jhansen at LexSA.com,  www.LexSA.com