Bulletproof backup - how to test?

[deko]

How quick do you want the recovery process to work? A disk imaging program

would be much quicker and easier to restore.

Any bulletproof recovery system must include at least two methods of backup.
For businesses that cannot afford to loose data I set up an internal drive
like you have but with either a disk imaging program or ntbackup. These
programs can be easily automated so no user interaction is necessary. I also
install either a tape drive or a DVD writer, depending on their budget and
the amount of data. I prefer tape if at all possible but not Travan. This
can also be automated with the only user interaction being changing the
media on a daily basis. This system is used daily with a different media for
each day. There are at least two extra media. These are stored off site. One
day a week the oldest off site media is brought on site and the newest on
site media is taken off site. The on site media is stored in a locked area
not near the computer. The media is replaced with new media on a regular
schedule depending on what type of media. In extreme cases I set up a
computer with the exact same hardware and keep it off site. If the computer
is stolen the duplicate computer can be brought on site and the newest
available backup restored within a couple of hours. Customers that I have
set up have never lost more than a weeks worth of data and this was due to
them not following procedures. The most common causes of needing to restore
data is due to user error, a failed hard drive, followed by a stolen
computer. Corruption due to virrii and spyware is way down the list if
proper protection is installed and safe hex is practiced.

That is my experience. In your situation relying on an internal drive
wouldn't help with a stolen computer. Even using an external drive is no
good in that situation unless the external drive is kept elsewhere when not
being used. If your data is important rather than thinking backup think
disaster recovery. This includes other things than OS corruption. Some
things to think about are fire, flood, theft, hardware failure, the kids
playing indoor hockey, the cat chasing a bug and knocking over the computer,
etc.

Thanks for the reply. Good ideas, to be sure.

But the one thing I am trying to test is this:

Can a corrupted OS somehow make my secondary internal (non-system) disk
inaccessible - even after a reinstall of the OS on a new primary system
disk. As far as I can tell, the answer is no.

 

[R. McCarty]

Many folks (myself included) have tried patiently to point out the
"Flaws" in your schema. After 10+ postings, you keep going on
about the same premise. If you won't take advice and persist in
this 2nd disk scenario, test it yourself. Sooner or later you might
come to realize there are better/higher reliability ways to obtain a
secure backup. To quote your own smartass comment to me in
an earlier posting
.. "Is that the best you can come up with ?"

Figure out you own damn solution and shut up and go away.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thanks for the reply. Good ideas, to be sure.

But the one thing I am trying to test is this:

Can a corrupted OS somehow make my secondary internal (non-system) disk
inaccessible - even after a reinstall of the OS on a new primary system
disk. As far as I can tell, the answer is no.

If the corrupted OS was caused by bad ram or a bad hard drive controller
then the same thing could cause corrupted files on both drives. So no the OS
itself wouldn't corrupt the second drive but it is possible that the same
problem could happen on both drives.

Kerry

 

[Jayso]

Just don't raise them close to deserted areas, some people might steal them
to ride on

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[deko]

If the corrupted OS was caused by bad ram or a bad hard drive controller

then the same thing could cause corrupted files on both drives. So no the OS
itself wouldn't corrupt the second drive but it is possible that the same
problem could happen on both drives.

Yes, but that would be a "double failure" - something that's not very
likely. With a removable HDD tray for the second drive, I can swap multiple
drives in and out (and store off site if I want), which would make things
even more bulletproof.

In any case, I am still having fun corrupting my OS to see what happens...

 

[Jayso]

You are so lucky, i wish i had the need for bullet-proof backup systems. My
work has a backup system (like most should), but i probably won't be allowed
to destroy the Windows Server 2003 O/S.

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------------------------------------------------------------
Jayso

Please reply to this email so I know if i'm right

Good in Home Networking, XP Home based problems, and Pro based Problems
Add my email to MSN Messenger if u wish
(e-mail address removed) (remove spamfree)

 

[Kerry Brown]

Yes, but that would be a "double failure" - something that's not very
likely. With a removable HDD tray for the second drive, I can swap
multiple
drives in and out (and store off site if I want), which would make things
even more bulletproof.

In any case, I am still having fun corrupting my OS to see what happens...

If you still persist in thinking your backup method is bulletproof then you
are deluded. There has not been one post that agrees with you. A double
failure from bad ram, bad controller, or bad power supply is not unheard of.
It is good that you are doing backups. That puts you way ahead of most
people. Experts in the field do not consider any backup system bulletproof.
There are only varying degrees of risk. Murphy's law applies.

Kerry

 

[deko]

A double failure from bad ram, bad controller, or bad power supply

is not unheard of.

Okay, two more variables: bad controller and/or bad RAM

Even IF both of these variables were to strike, AND my hard drive
mechanically failed, I would just replace the motherboard (on which the SATA
controller and RAM resides), buy a new system disk (or a new backup disk,
depending on which one failed), reinstall the OS (if it was the system disk
failed), and restore all my data from the good drive. Only a mechanical
failure of both drives at the same time could cause data loss. Considering
the MTBF of the drives and the statistical probability of both of them
failing at the same time, I'd say that's bulletproof.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Okay, two more variables: bad controller and/or bad RAM

Even IF both of these variables were to strike, AND my hard drive
mechanically failed, I would just replace the motherboard (on which the
SATA
controller and RAM resides), buy a new system disk (or a new backup disk,
depending on which one failed), reinstall the OS (if it was the system
disk
failed), and restore all my data from the good drive. Only a mechanical
failure of both drives at the same time could cause data loss.
Considering
the MTBF of the drives and the statistical probability of both of them
failing at the same time, I'd say that's bulletproof.

You really don't comprehend do you? Bad ram, controller or power supply
could easily corrupt both hard drives before the corruption is noticed. A
corrupt OS is probably the least likely reason why a backup would also
become corrupted. Your method of backing up is good for quick backups. It is
probably the least bulletproof of any backup method. Most knowledgable users
use a similar method for quick backups and another method less often for
redundancy.

Kerry

 

[deko]

Bad ram, controller or power supply

could easily corrupt both hard drives before the corruption is noticed.

So data corruption (as opposed to OS corruption) can be caused by faulty
hardware and render useless ANY connected drive? That's a good reason to
maintain a copy of my data on disconnected media.

 

[Rock]

So data corruption (as opposed to OS corruption) can be caused by faulty
hardware and render useless ANY connected drive? That's a good reason to
maintain a copy of my data on disconnected media.

The light finally goes on.

 

[Mike Fields]

The light finally goes on.

I suspect it is a fairly dim bulb though ... sort of like
a Christmas tree light maybe ...