Topic: Hard Drives for Backup (Read 6388 times)

hubell · « **on:** March 06, 2009, 01:03:56 pm »

I have been using pairs of Lacie 1TB FW800 drives for storing and accessing digital photo files; one serves as the primary unit and the other is maintained as a mirror copy for backup using a backup program weekly. A simple(and almost idiot proof) system but maybe not the most efficient as it's not automatic. I need a new external storage drive and was exploring more efficient options. I looked at the Drobo but it appears that the built-in backup feature reduces the speed of the hard drives compared to my current "system", and I am not sure how idiot proof the Drobo is. I would appreciate recommendations. Thanks.

jjj · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2009, 01:28:27 pm »

If you are using a Mac, use Chrono Sync and if using a PC use Clone 2.1
Both will automatically back up your data, according to what ever parameters you set.

Jack Flesher · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2009, 01:38:47 pm »

LaCie, WD MyBooks, and similar "box" externals: I don't like em, had too many fail and too many friends that have had them fail and lost their data. I think one makes a decent Time Machine drive if you're on a Mac, but that's about it.

DROBO: It is pretty much idiot proof, but is somewhat slow -- I have the FW800 version and get about 50MB/s max sustained transfer writing to it or reading from it with 3 or 4 drives (RAID-5) mounted, and that drops to 30MB/s with 2 drives installed (RAID-1) and have heard that if connected to the Gig-LAN adapter it runs at about 30MB/s max. Read more on my DROBO experience here, including my "idiot" torture test of yanking and reinserting drives: http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2560

Alternative: I like this screwless 2-drive box and would consider it as a simple solution over a dedicated RAID array or DROBO if money were a concern, however you still run into the issue of combining adequate redundant onsite storage combined with additionally redundant offsite storage: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/IcyDock/MB662UEAB2S/

My system: Working image files stored on a RAID-0 array on my Mac Pro for very fast reading and writing; then backed up to a DROBO (RAID-5) onsite which is scheduled and run by Carbon Copy Cloner -- and as back-up I don't care how fast or slow it is, just like the fact it is RAID-5 redundant; then the files are further backed up to individual bare drives stored offsite also using CCC which automatically runs when the offsite drive is connected. I use this device to write to my offsite drives: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Tec...ogy/FWU2ES2HDK/ and store those drives in these nifty boxes: http://www.wiebetech.com/products/cases.php

Hope that helps,

dalethorn · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2009, 01:52:01 pm »

I keep several Toshiba 500gb USB drives around the house, and rotate them between there and the bank security boxes. I use an intelligent semi-automatic backup process that lets me control the transfer both ways, with little effort except to pay attention. The Toshiba drives will be reliable enough for years of backup, and are as fast as USB 2 permits. One 500gb drive = $135 u.s.

Thomas Krüger · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2009, 01:37:12 am »

I'm using a device called QuickPort for external sata discs, connected with a "Sata To Esata Slot Plate" on the motherboard.
http://www.sharkoon.com/html/produkte/exte...o/index_en.html

Philmar · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2009, 12:33:29 pm »

Quote from: Jack Flesher

LaCie, WD MyBooks, and similar "box" externals: I don't like em, had too many fail and too many friends that have had them fail and lost their data.

I like them. I couldn't justify spending megabucks on Drobos. I use 2 cheapie WD Elements 1 TB external drives. They haven't crapped out on me. And even IF one did, I still have the data on my PC hard drive AND in the other external backup.
the only way I'd lose my data is if my hard drive and BOTH externals died simultaneously. I keep one at work in case my house burns down. I rotate the one at work and the one at home. If the house DOES burn down then I am really only losing whatever shots I took recently that weren’t burned in to the external at work. I figure that will be small potatoes compared to whatever grief a burned house will cause me.
That said - I only have about 400 GB of amassed RAW and jpegs. Maybe this system would be a PITA if I had greater storage demands. And I am not a professional. I guess losing the more recent shots would be a HUGE deal to a wedding/commercial/professional photographer.

Jack Flesher · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2009, 03:17:10 pm »

Quote from: Philmar

That said - I only have about 400 GB of amassed RAW and jpegs. Maybe this system would be a PITA if I had greater storage demands. And I am not a professional. I guess losing the more recent shots would be a HUGE deal to a wedding/commercial/professional photographer.

Makes sense for you... Be interesting to have you get back to us when your storage needs get up to a couple of TB's

Vautour · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:38:33 am »

Just as a side note: RAID is meant for availability NOT backup.
Of course one can configure one's backup solutions as a RAID against hdd failure but should not use one RAID solution alone i. e. using a drobo (or similar) as storage and backup which doesn't seem to be that uncommon.

Jack Flesher's approach looks quite sensible to me.

Problem is: If you want faster I/O speeds you would need more expensive gear which is usually rack mounted and connected via Fibre Channel or other high speed connections. But such solutions reach several 1000 dollars fast. In the prosumer sector getting 50MB/s is a good speed.

Philmar · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2009, 02:06:15 pm »

Quote from: Jack Flesher

Makes sense for you... Be interesting to have you get back to us when your storage needs get up to a couple of TB's

By then we'll be able to back everything up on to our watch, no?

a_krause · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:29:31 pm »

Quote from: Jack Flesher

Alternative: I like this screwless 2-drive box and would consider it as a simple solution over a dedicated RAID array or DROBO if money were a concern, however you still run into the issue of combining adequate redundant onsite storage combined with additionally redundant offsite storage: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/IcyDock/MB662UEAB2S/

Hope that helps,

that looks pretty neat, does it give you an update if a drive is acting funny similiar to how the DROBO does? I use the DROBO right now and have nothing bad to say about it.

ive recently just started to look at the SilverSATA II SR: http://www.wiebetech.com/products/silversata.php which can act as a RAID 1, the idea of this is to backup my DROBO to this, creating mirrored copies on 2 separate 1TB hard-drives, keeping one in my studio and another copy at a different location. What I like about the DROBO and the wiebetech drive is that it monitors itself and will tell you if drives are starting to fail, aka idiotproof and am willing to spend the extra money for that.

Jack Flesher · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2009, 07:29:11 pm »

Quote from: a_krause

that looks pretty neat, does it give you an update if a drive is acting funny similiar to how the DROBO does?

I use the DROBO right now and have nothing bad to say about it.

To my knowledge it is just a dumb box in that respect -- without any failure notification software -- so you know it failed when you cannot read from or write to it any more. But it's cheaper than a Drobo and easy to swap drives in and out of.

And I definitely agree on the Drobo -- pretty darn user friendly for those who do not want to spend a bunch of time or brain power managing a large RAID storage array...

,

marcmccalmont · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2009, 01:08:01 pm »

I'm on a PC using Rebit multi PC. and a 1.5 Tbyte WD mybook (dual drive)
Rebit keeps a running backup continuously going.
www.rebit.com
Marc

Author Topic: Hard Drives for Backup (Read 6388 times)

dalethorn