Instant Backup

MBoprey · Joined: Dec 06, 2002 Posts: 36

I'm looking for an instant backup solution... I think. I'm going to have a server and I need a solution which will enable me to run XP Pro while also creating a mirror on a second hard drive simultaneously.

Also I need an external backup solution. I was looking around on the web and found the Maxtor OneTouch device, which seemed too simple to be true. I then found reviews saying that it wasn't truthfully a "one-touch" device and that it required more user-involvement than that.

Is there anybody out there that would support the usage of a OneTouch device for a server? If not, what should I use? Basically, I just want you to throw me any efficient solutions you know of. It would be greatly appreciated. B)

User: inactive Posts:

Maybe This is What You Need?

goretsky · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 3:43 am Post subject:

Hello,

As Sipowicz suggested, a RAID-1 (mirroring) solution will allow you to transparently copy one hard disk drive to another.

Bear in mind that just mirroring the server's hard disk drive is not going to provide very useful backups of your data. Damage caused by viruses, accidental file deletion and the like will be copied to both hard disk drives in the mirror set. RAID is a more useful tool for minimizing downtime that would otherwise be required if you had to rebuild a computer from scratch.

Have you just considered performing periodic (hourly, daily, weekly or whatever frequency you need) backups of your server's data to tape or optical discs of some sort?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Ricardo · Joined: Oct 23, 2003 Posts: 179

Here the quickest form of backup I know:-
Install a hot-swap RAID 1 mirror and buy at least one extra drive. Whenever you want to make a full backup pull out one of the drives and replace it with one of the spares. The mirror will be automatically rebuilt, usually in under half a hour. You should rotate the drives to even up the wear.
This method also gives another bonus - instant recovery in case of a hard disk or configuration disaster.
I wouldn't recommend it for more that one backup a week.
More info here:-
http://www.rhebus.com/refernce.htm#ref2
(scroll down to the heading "My Kind of Backup").