question from a newbie about hard drives and making backups

[newsgroupkirky]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it
came to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have
been backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers
dispersed throughout the department. Being one of the few people who
who knows a bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all these
computers, fast. The files in question are large enough that it would
take many CDs or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also, backing
up to server and then to tape is not feasable because the information
needs to stay in our control. So, my question is, should I just take a
really big hard drive around and drag from every computer into a folder,
or just get a shitload of DVDs, or is there some other option? Also,
what is a good brand and make of hard drive to do this if that is the
best option? I know zero about such things. I hope this is enough
information for someone to give some advice. Thanks in advance.

-A Newbie

 

[CBFalconer]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it
came to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have
been backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers
dispersed throughout the department. Being one of the few people who
who knows a bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all these
computers, fast. The files in question are large enough that it would
take many CDs or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also, backing
up to server and then to tape is not feasable because the information
needs to stay in our control. So, my question is, should I just take a
really big hard drive around and drag from every computer into a folder,
or just get a shitload of DVDs, or is there some other option? Also,
what is a good brand and make of hard drive to do this if that is the
best option? I know zero about such things. I hope this is enough
information for someone to give some advice. Thanks in advance.

I smell disaster, and you take the blame. You don't have enough
information, nor do we. You need some sort of local consultant.
If things are already networked you have a chance.

First, identify the files, their types and sizes that need
backing. Binaries are handled differently than text. If you can't
trust backing up to your server then things are pretty poor in your
organization.

 

[philo]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it
came to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have
been backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers
dispersed throughout the department. Being one of the few people who
who knows a bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all these
computers, fast. The files in question are large enough that it would
take many CDs or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also, backing
up to server and then to tape is not feasable because the information
needs to stay in our control. So, my question is, should I just take a
really big hard drive around and drag from every computer into a folder,
or just get a shitload of DVDs, or is there some other option?

<snip>

you need to do *both*

back up to another harddrive *and* burn the data to DVD's
as a matter of fact make several DVD's and store them in different
locations outside of the company

 

[Livewire]

I smell disaster, and you take the blame.

Take heed of this comment!!


Remember, companies with specialised IT depts sometimes hit trouble over
backing-up. It's very easy to do it wrong. And it's not a one-off --
what you need is not to back-up NOW, but a system in place to keep
backing up.

Do as suggested. Find someone with the technical expertise to know
absolutely what they are doing. And who can take the blame.

 

[Donald McTrevor]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it
came to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have
been backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers
dispersed throughout the department. Being one of the few people who
who knows a bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all these
computers, fast. The files in question are large enough that it would
take many CDs or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also, backing
up to server and then to tape is not feasable because the information
needs to stay in our control. So, my question is, should I just take a
really big hard drive around and drag from every computer into a folder,
or just get a shitload of DVDs, or is there some other option? Also,
what is a good brand and make of hard drive to do this if that is the
best option? I know zero about such things. I hope this is enough
information for someone to give some advice. Thanks in advance.

-A Newbie

I think they are being over cautious, modern computers are very reliable,
just tell them you have backed them up to put their minds at rest.
The chances of anything going wrong are a million to one, its not worth
the time and effort.

 

[Bob]

I think they are being over cautious, modern computers are very reliable,
just tell them you have backed them up to put their minds at rest.
The chances of anything going wrong are a million to one, its not worth
the time and effort.

I would not recommend lying to the person you report to - it could
strain future credibility. And it is not necessary to lie - just get a
Kingwin KF-23 removable bay and some extra trays made for that unit.
Then you can back up over the network.

 

[Pen]

I think they are being over cautious, modern computers are
very reliable,
just tell them you have backed them up to put their minds
at rest.
The chances of anything going wrong are a million to one,
its not worth
the time and effort.

This is some really, really bad advice from someone whose
actual knowledge
is far short of what he thinks he knows.

 

[Donald McTrevor]

This is some really, really bad advice from someone whose
actual knowledge
is far short of what he thinks he knows.
;O)

 

[Donald McTrevor]

;O)

However if you weigh up the cost of the time and effort of all those
back-ups against the remote chance of a failure its probably not
cost effctiive.
How often are you going to be doing those backs-ups?
Ever day? Every week?

Even if you do get a failure the data will almost certaintly be recoverable,
even if the hard drive 'fails'.

What if the building burns down? You will have to stre the stuff off site.

Also after a while the person doing the back-ups will probably start
skipping them
as it will seem such a waste of time.

And of course you also introduce the posibility that he makes a mistake
and copies the old data over the good data.
(I am sure that has happened before)

SO you have to weigh up the costs and benefits and risks.

 

[Bob]

However if you weigh up the cost of the time and effort of all those
back-ups against the remote chance of a failure its probably not
cost effctiive.

The same could be said about wearing seat belts.

 

[Bill Bradshaw]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it
came to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have
been backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers
dispersed throughout the department. Being one of the few people who
who knows a bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all
these computers, fast. The files in question are large enough that
it would take many CDs or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also,
backing up to server and then to tape is not feasable because
the information needs to stay in our control. So, my question is,
should I just take a really big hard drive around and drag from every
computer into a folder, or just get a shitload of DVDs, or is there
some other option? Also, what is a good brand and make of hard drive
to do this if that is the best option? I know zero about such
things. I hope this is enough information for someone to give some
advice. Thanks in advance.

I read all of the messages. How many gigabytes are you talking? How many
computers? Could you do this with an external USB harddrive? Is this going
to be once a week or everyday?

 

[DaveW]

You are in over your head if this project at work is to save mission
critical business data from being lost due to hardware or software failure.
Time to hire a 'real' IT person for your place of business, even if only as
a temporary contractor to set it up and sow you how to run it.

 

[Donald McTrevor]

The same could be said about wearing seat belts.

And motor cycle crash helmets.

I think there is some evidence that the extra level of driver security
may lead to more accidicents, albeit perhaps less fatal ones (for
the driver).

Making good backsup of regularly changing data is a huge task.
I have few backups of my files, doubt I could find em anyway.

Its just not worth the effort.

Weigh up the effort of taking backups over 5 years against
starting from scratch..
Startying from scratch would be less man hours (for me).
Infact a computer crash would help me get rid of loads of
crap that I have accumulated, probably a blessing in disguise!!

 

[qwerty]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it came
to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have been
backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers dispersed
throughout the department. Being one of the few people who who knows a
bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all these computers,
fast. The files in question are large enough that it would take many CDs
or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also, backing up to server
and then to tape is not feasable because the information needs to stay in
our control. So, my question is, should I just take a really big hard
drive around and drag from every computer into a folder, or just get a
shitload of DVDs, or is there some other option? Also, what is a good
brand and make of hard drive to do this if that is the best option? I
know zero about such things. I hope this is enough information for
someone to give some advice. Thanks in advance.

-A Newbie

There's are reasons people use tape drives... reliability, and back dating.
Alot of the suggestions here are good, some, obviously are not. Hard drives
are not indestructible. Neither is tape... another good reason for multiple
backups.

Making a couple of copies and stored in seperate locations a good idea. No
good having one backing kept at work then the building burns down and so
does the backup. Whiachever backup option you choose, have multiple
copies!!!have multiple copies!!!have multiple copies!!!have multiple
copies!!! If you have the need to backup, you should definitely do it
properly.

 

[old jon]

There's are reasons people use tape drives... reliability, and back
dating. Alot of the suggestions here are good, some, obviously are not.
Hard drives are not indestructible. Neither is tape... another good reason
for multiple backups.

Making a couple of copies and stored in seperate locations a good idea. No
good having one backing kept at work then the building burns down and so
does the backup. Whiachever backup option you choose, have multiple
copies!!!have multiple copies!!!have multiple copies!!!have multiple
copies!!! If you have the need to backup, you should definitely do it
properly.

I use a 200GB external hard drive. Composed of and ICYBOX enclosure. Does
both USB and Firewire. Has its own power supply. I wanted a Seagate drive,
sadly couldn`t
get one, so I`ve gone for a Maxtor. The whole kit was less than £100. I`m
sure your Boss could afford some. <g>.
best wishes..OJ

 

[jameshanley39]

Hello, I am in unfamiliar territory at work. At my place of work, it
came to the attention of my boss that none of our sensitive files have
been backed up. These files exist on a large number of computers
dispersed throughout the department. Being one of the few people who
who knows a bit about computers, it has fallen on me to backup all these
computers, fast. The files in question are large enough that it would
take many CDs or even a few DVDs to back up one computer. Also, backing
up to server and then to tape is not feasable because the information
needs to stay in our control. So, my question is, should I just take a
really big hard drive around and drag from every computer into a folder,
or just get a shitload of DVDs, or is there some other option? Also,
what is a good brand and make of hard drive to do this if that is the
best option? I know zero about such things. I hope this is enough
information for someone to give some advice. Thanks in advance.

-A Newbie

if you're willing to assume responsibility.

By the way. I'm less than a newbie. I am clueless about backing up. But
you have got absolutely no technical advice from anybody else so i'll
chip in.
They do have a poitn though. You should learn how to backup from the
person that did the backing up before. or for another firm.

taking a hard drive to every computer. hehe That would work though.
You wouldn't be plugging the HDD inside every computer would you?
that'd take ages. Use An USB external HDD. Or internal HDD with
USB-IDE adaptor.

If you think a backup onto one HDD is not reliable enough. Then backup
that HDD onto another HDD.

I don't bother with DVDs.

The advantage of a network is that you have all your data centralised.
So the data is on 1 computer, 'the server'. Other computers then
access a folder on the server.
So the data is all held on one computer and then backed up from that
one computer.

Backing up to tape is good. But as you say - tape is OFFLINE storage.
So it's not easily accessible.

So what you should do. Is backup to server(which should be atuomatic
if people are using storage on the server), then back up the files from
to a HDD and then to Tape.

The advantage of the tape over the hdd. Is the tapes should go back
weeks, even a year.

 

[jameshanley39]

err, just to add. you have had some good responses from people. I just
read through so much garbage that I tired and didn't see it.

sorry good ppl, i didn't mean you!