Best backup solution?

jiggamanjb

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 30, 2004
Messages
172
I'm rebuilding my server using my old NF7-S. It can do RAID1, and that is what I was going to do until I got to thinking.... Why RAID1? Is this the best way to secure my data? I this the best use of my drives space? Is there a better way? I could just do an automated backup of the data and not have to trust the RAID. I just don't know the best way to keep the data safe.

Quick run down of what I've got:
2 - 250gb brand new seagates
1 - 250gb aging hitachi - i was going to do external backups to this
1 - 250gb dying WD
1 - 60gb and 40gb IBM that i backup essentials to

The data is about half music and half pictures, about 200GB total right now. The picture amount is growing very fast due to our 1yr old twins , and I expect it to grow even faster once my wife gets her Rebel Xti.

So what's the best and easiest solution? Oh, and it can't cost any money or extra time
 
why even bother with raid? take the old WD/hitachi, clone your collection to it and stick it in protective coating in the closet just like you said. you're definitely going to need more space when she gets that camera.
 
Get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...sories+-+Hard+Drive-_-Kingwin+Inc.-_-17990001

and do backups to drives you swap out. Takes bare sata drives, so you can put whatever you happen to have laying around in. As long as your motherboard and OS support hotswap, you can put the drive in, backup to it, then take it out and put it on the shelf. Pretty hard to destroy data on a hard drive that's not plugged into anything. For extra protection, buy a second drive and rotate it weekly off-site (work, relative's house, etc).
 
That's what I was thinking. So ditch the RAID idea and keep the 2-250's in the server and backup to the older 250's and throw them in a closet or safe?

Get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nc.-_-17990001

and do backups to drives you swap out. Takes bare sata drives, so you can put whatever you happen to have laying around in. As long as your motherboard and OS support hotswap, you can put the drive in, backup to it, then take it out and put it on the shelf. Pretty hard to destroy data on a hard drive that's not plugged into anything. For extra protection, buy a second drive and rotate it weekly off-site (work, relative's house, etc).

I have a USB 'homemade' enclosure that I've been using to swap out drives. I think I got one of those you linked laying around somewhere....
 
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