I'm reviewing/planning for new offsite backup media and am wondering what people are using now. Previous discussions I found on lists.debian.org are a few years old. Remote offsite (e.g. on another computer at another site) is not an option for me.
I've been happy using 100 MB Zip disks; I can store everything except CD-iso images on one or two and put it in the bank's safety-deposit box. However, it has meant that I've had to burn to CD collections of documents that I would preferr to keep online. Then I end up with a separate directory which is NOT backed-up to keep them online for viewing. My drives are over 10 years old and the media is close to it. Time to migrate. I can use small CD-R but they only hold 175 MB. Full-size CDs don't fit in the bank's box. My new computer (Athlon-based) will have two 80 GB Seagate Barracuda SATA drives in a raid1 configuration to handle drive failure. I'm looking for removable media to handle both data-failure and platform failure (or local disaster). At this point, I'm specifying a backup-set size of 10 GB although if the media I choose is cheap enough, I would like to backup CD ISO images to protect that data from CD scratches or other failure. Physical size: A Zip jewel case is 4-1/8" and fits the bank, a CD jewel case is 4-3/4" and doesn't. Minimum number of backup sets, 3: one in the drive, one on the shelf, and one in the bank. I'm looking at media at this point, not procedure. I don't have a requirement to see what a file looked like months ago. Also, this is in addition to online backups (in /var/local/backup). I want physical robustness. CDs are prone to scratch and I understand that for all they're 'burned' with a laser there is some dye involved in the process and they can fade in bright light or heat. Able to withstand a 1 m drop would be good, e.g. after its removed from its case and before it gets into the drive. 10 year shelf life seems to be a common criteria for backup/archive media. I think that tape is overkill for only three sets of media; the drive and SCSI card are too expensive. There are Iomega removeables called Rev. I don't know what real-world reliability and longevety is like. Quantum has a removable thing called GoVault that is basically a ruggedized cartridge with a laptop-drive inside. I don't know what real-world reliability and logevety is like. There are generic ruggedized drive caddies but I understand they're not hot-swappable and I don't want to have to shutdown to change media. At the small-end there's USB sticks but I don't know what the shelf-life really is (other than Kingston's 5 year warranty). Size-wise, this would work as a floppy-replacement for the must-always-be-able-to-read stuff (i.e. immediatly readable from any computer, linux or not, msdos fs with plain-text, e.g. critical email). Interface options I have now are eSATA, USB, Firewire. Anything else needs a card too; add it to the cost of the drive. Given the choice, I would prefer external instead of internal. In case of a disaster-in-progress (e.g. house fire), can grab the drive and go; or if something catestrophic happens to the computer, the drive may survive. All else being equal, I would prefer cheaper to expensive on a per-set basis. E.g. tape is probably chepest on a per GB basis (or is that per TB) while USB stick is most expensive, but for 2 GB, USB is probably cheapest per set. What is you wisdom on this in-between area (more than a CD, less than LTO or DLT)? Thank, Doug Tutty. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
