I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a constant backup of. The
machine has two identical drives. One is currently being used. The other is
planned for a backup. Is there an equivalent to "mirroring" for XP?
If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA

In news:284C23F5-B84F-4E69-B6D5-(E-Mail Removed),
Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:

> I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a constant
> backup of.
> The machine has two identical drives. One is currently being
> used.
> The other is planned for a backup. Is there an equivalent to
> "mirroring" for XP?
> If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA


Mirroring is a technique used for situations in which downtime
can't be tolerated--if one drive fails, the other takes over
seamlessly. It is not the same as backup, and shouldn't be
thought of as backup.

The problem with using a mirror drive as backup is that, because
it permanently resides in the same box as the original, and is a
mirror of everything that happens to it, it is highly likely that
anything other than a simple head crash that clobbers the main
drive will also get the mirror. That includes things like virus
attacks, user errors, severe power glitches such as nearby
lightning strikes, theft of the computer, etc.

If this is truly a critical machine, you should consider having a
backup that is made regularly and stored externally to the
computer itself. If it's *really* critical (for example ,if the
life of your business depends on it), consider having multiple
generations of backup and storing at least one generation
off-site.

You can also mirror if you need to, but don't let it be a
substitute for backup.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Ken Blake wrote:
> In news:284C23F5-B84F-4E69-B6D5-(E-Mail Removed),
> Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
>
>> I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a constant
>> backup of.
>> The machine has two identical drives. One is currently being
>> used.
>> The other is planned for a backup. Is there an equivalent to
>> "mirroring" for XP?
>> If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA
>
>
> Mirroring is a technique used for situations in which downtime
> can't be tolerated--if one drive fails, the other takes over
> seamlessly. It is not the same as backup, and shouldn't be
> thought of as backup.
>
> The problem with using a mirror drive as backup is that, because
> it permanently resides in the same box as the original, and is a
> mirror of everything that happens to it, it is highly likely that
> anything other than a simple head crash that clobbers the main
> drive will also get the mirror. That includes things like virus
> attacks, user errors, severe power glitches such as nearby
> lightning strikes, theft of the computer, etc.
>
> If this is truly a critical machine, you should consider having a
> backup that is made regularly and stored externally to the
> computer itself. If it's *really* critical (for example ,if the
> life of your business depends on it), consider having multiple
> generations of backup and storing at least one generation
> off-site.
>
> You can also mirror if you need to, but don't let it be a
> substitute for backup.

Ken,
Very well explained, and to Bryan, you would need special hardware i.e. raid
or software to create the mirror drives.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(E-Mail Removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outloo...snewreader.htm

"Michael Stevens" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ken Blake wrote:
> > In news:284C23F5-B84F-4E69-B6D5-(E-Mail Removed),
> > Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
> >
> >> I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a constant
> >> backup of.
> >> The machine has two identical drives. One is currently being
> >> used.
> >> The other is planned for a backup. Is there an equivalent to
> >> "mirroring" for XP?
> >> If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA
> >
> >
> > Mirroring is a technique used for situations in which downtime
> > can't be tolerated--if one drive fails, the other takes over
> > seamlessly. It is not the same as backup, and shouldn't be
> > thought of as backup.
> >
> > The problem with using a mirror drive as backup is that, because
> > it permanently resides in the same box as the original, and is a
> > mirror of everything that happens to it, it is highly likely that
> > anything other than a simple head crash that clobbers the main
> > drive will also get the mirror. That includes things like virus
> > attacks, user errors, severe power glitches such as nearby
> > lightning strikes, theft of the computer, etc.
> >
> > If this is truly a critical machine, you should consider having a
> > backup that is made regularly and stored externally to the
> > computer itself. If it's *really* critical (for example ,if the
> > life of your business depends on it), consider having multiple
> > generations of backup and storing at least one generation
> > off-site.
> >
> > You can also mirror if you need to, but don't let it be a
> > substitute for backup.
>
> Ken,
> Very well explained, and to Bryan, you would need special hardware i.e.
raid
> or software to create the mirror drives.
> --
> Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
> (E-Mail Removed)
> http://michaelstevenstech.com
> For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/outloo...snewreader.htm
>
>
>

You can find a hardware RAID 1 and 0 card for under $400 Canadian. I've
even found one for under $300 that is not only good I was surprised to find
it was cutting edge. Check out sonnam.com they have some 3ware RAID
controllers that you might use but they also have the 3ware RAID card I just
mentioned. I think it's the 7000-2.

Joe

To all, thanks for the info.

"Joe" wrote:

>
> "Michael Stevens" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Ken Blake wrote:
> > > In news:284C23F5-B84F-4E69-B6D5-(E-Mail Removed),
> > > Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
> > >
> > >> I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a constant
> > >> backup of.
> > >> The machine has two identical drives. One is currently being
> > >> used.
> > >> The other is planned for a backup. Is there an equivalent to
> > >> "mirroring" for XP?
> > >> If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA
> > >
> > >
> > > Mirroring is a technique used for situations in which downtime
> > > can't be tolerated--if one drive fails, the other takes over
> > > seamlessly. It is not the same as backup, and shouldn't be
> > > thought of as backup.
> > >
> > > The problem with using a mirror drive as backup is that, because
> > > it permanently resides in the same box as the original, and is a
> > > mirror of everything that happens to it, it is highly likely that
> > > anything other than a simple head crash that clobbers the main
> > > drive will also get the mirror. That includes things like virus
> > > attacks, user errors, severe power glitches such as nearby
> > > lightning strikes, theft of the computer, etc.
> > >
> > > If this is truly a critical machine, you should consider having a
> > > backup that is made regularly and stored externally to the
> > > computer itself. If it's *really* critical (for example ,if the
> > > life of your business depends on it), consider having multiple
> > > generations of backup and storing at least one generation
> > > off-site.
> > >
> > > You can also mirror if you need to, but don't let it be a
> > > substitute for backup.
> >
> > Ken,
> > Very well explained, and to Bryan, you would need special hardware i.e.
> raid
> > or software to create the mirror drives.
> > --
> > Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
> > (E-Mail Removed)
> > http://michaelstevenstech.com
> > For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
> > http://michaelstevenstech.com/outloo...snewreader.htm
> >
> >
> >
>
> You can find a hardware RAID 1 and 0 card for under $400 Canadian. I've
> even found one for under $300 that is not only good I was surprised to find
> it was cutting edge. Check out sonnam.com they have some 3ware RAID
> controllers that you might use but they also have the 3ware RAID card I just
> mentioned. I think it's the 7000-2.
>
> Joe
>
>
>

In news:%(E-Mail Removed),
Michael Stevens <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:

> Ken Blake wrote:
>> In news:284C23F5-B84F-4E69-B6D5-(E-Mail Removed),
>> Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
>>
>>> I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a constant
>>> backup of.
>>> The machine has two identical drives. One is currently being
>>> used.
>>> The other is planned for a backup. Is there an equivalent to
>>> "mirroring" for XP?
>>> If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA
>>
>>
>> Mirroring is a technique used for situations in which downtime
>> can't be tolerated--if one drive fails, the other takes over
>> seamlessly. It is not the same as backup, and shouldn't be
>> thought of as backup.
>>
>> The problem with using a mirror drive as backup is that,
>> because
>> it permanently resides in the same box as the original, and is
>> a
>> mirror of everything that happens to it, it is highly likely
>> that
>> anything other than a simple head crash that clobbers the main
>> drive will also get the mirror. That includes things like
>> virus
>> attacks, user errors, severe power glitches such as nearby
>> lightning strikes, theft of the computer, etc.
>>
>> If this is truly a critical machine, you should consider
>> having a
>> backup that is made regularly and stored externally to the
>> computer itself. If it's *really* critical (for example ,if
>> the
>> life of your business depends on it), consider having multiple
>> generations of backup and storing at least one generation
>> off-site.
>>
>> You can also mirror if you need to, but don't let it be a
>> substitute for backup.
>
> Ken,
> Very well explained, and to Bryan, you would need special
> hardware
> i.e. raid or software to create the mirror drives.



Thanks very much for the kind words, Michael.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

In news:59913C77-FCF3-4A4E-885E-(E-Mail Removed),
Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:

> To all, thanks for the info.


You're welcome, Bryan. Glad to help.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


>> "Michael Stevens" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Ken Blake wrote:
>> > > In
>> > > news:284C23F5-B84F-4E69-B6D5-(E-Mail Removed),
>> > > Bryan <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
>> > >
>> > >> I have a critical XP machine I need to maintain a
>> > >> constant
>> > >> backup of.
>> > >> The machine has two identical drives. One is currently
>> > >> being
>> > >> used.
>> > >> The other is planned for a backup. Is there an
>> > >> equivalent to
>> > >> "mirroring" for XP?
>> > >> If not, I am open to suggestions. TIA
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Mirroring is a technique used for situations in which
>> > > downtime
>> > > can't be tolerated--if one drive fails, the other takes
>> > > over
>> > > seamlessly. It is not the same as backup, and shouldn't be
>> > > thought of as backup.
>> > >
>> > > The problem with using a mirror drive as backup is that,
>> > > because
>> > > it permanently resides in the same box as the original,
>> > > and is a
>> > > mirror of everything that happens to it, it is highly
>> > > likely that
>> > > anything other than a simple head crash that clobbers the
>> > > main
>> > > drive will also get the mirror. That includes things like
>> > > virus
>> > > attacks, user errors, severe power glitches such as nearby
>> > > lightning strikes, theft of the computer, etc.
>> > >
>> > > If this is truly a critical machine, you should consider
>> > > having a
>> > > backup that is made regularly and stored externally to the
>> > > computer itself. If it's *really* critical (for example
>> > > ,if the
>> > > life of your business depends on it), consider having
>> > > multiple
>> > > generations of backup and storing at least one generation
>> > > off-site.
>> > >
>> > > You can also mirror if you need to, but don't let it be a
>> > > substitute for backup.
>> >
>> > Ken,
>> > Very well explained, and to Bryan, you would need special
>> > hardware
>> > i.e. raid or software to create the mirror drives.
>> > --
>> > Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
>> > (E-Mail Removed)
>> > http://michaelstevenstech.com
>> > For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
>> > http://michaelstevenstech.com/outloo...snewreader.htm
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>> You can find a hardware RAID 1 and 0 card for under $400
>> Canadian.
>> I've even found one for under $300 that is not only good I was
>> surprised to find it was cutting edge. Check out sonnam.com
>> they
>> have some 3ware RAID controllers that you might use but they
>> also
>> have the 3ware RAID card I just mentioned. I think it's the
>> 7000-2.
>>
>> Joe