Removable internal HD safe for backup?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Do
  • Start date Start date
D

Do

Hi,

Because I have 90gb+ to backup on my file server,
I was wondering if backing up to removable hard drive (in
swap casing) is safe. Carrying around and storing a hard drive as opposed
to tapes?

We only have DDS-3, so that would mean 4+ tapes with compression; and
would take a long time.

Anybody have any other ideas?

Thanks,

Do
 
If you are comfortable opening the case that sounds more than adequate,
just don't drop it. Hard drives are starting to be as economical as
blank CD-R or DVD-R solutions, and alot faster. I have not priced tapes
recently, but I bet you are talking a fair sum to purchase them.

I actually never have the cover on my computer - thats real good for cooling
and I can plug in an extra hard drive in about 10 seconds. I often leave them
dangling out of the box supported only by their cables. They work fine that
way...
 
Hi:

If I'm carrying one offsite every day, is there a good chance that that HD
will get harmed due to it being so
mobile so often?

Thanks,

Do
 
This is a very common practice, and fast, cheap, and reliable. With the
front panel drawer and several hard drives in insertable cases you can
easily do frequent rotating backups. Never heard of any problems doing
this. One thing: you mustn't remove or insert such a hard drive while
the OS is running; W2k will throw up. And if you have a hard drive
inserted it must have power on (usually a key on the drawer); W2k will
react the same way if power is not on.

These W2k requirements make this approach a little tricky for a 24/7
server...
 
Dan said:
This is a very common practice, and fast, cheap, and reliable. With the
front panel drawer and several hard drives in insertable cases you can
easily do frequent rotating backups. Never heard of any problems doing
this. One thing: you mustn't remove or insert such a hard drive while
the OS is running; W2k will throw up. And if you have a hard drive
inserted it must have power on (usually a key on the drawer); W2k will
react the same way if power is not on.
Click to expand...
To be perfectly clear, I mean if power is not on to the insertable
drive; the key must be in the ON position if a drive is in the drawer. I
think the system doesn't like devices on the PCI bus that are detected
but not responsive.
 
Do said:
Hi,

Because I have 90gb+ to backup on my file server,
I was wondering if backing up to removable hard drive (in
swap casing) is safe. Carrying around and storing a hard drive as opposed
to tapes?

We only have DDS-3, so that would mean 4+ tapes with compression; and
would take a long time.

Anybody have any other ideas?

Thanks,

Do
Click to expand...

I've had excellent results for quite some time now using external USB 2.0 enclosures. No problems associated with "Hot Swapping" at
all. No problems associated with transporting the enclosures to/from offsite storage.
 
CT - (too rushed to look it up, sorry) - been wondering - is xfer speed
comparable to internal bus?
 
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