Re: HA Server Backup Tool/Process recommendations needed (XP Pro only)

["Rob Iles" <rob.iles@xxxxxxxxx>]

IMHO, software raid is next to worthless - especially on
system/boot/os
disks.

I've had too many experiences of one disk failing, and the system can't
boo=
t
of it's mirror - - Even replacing the failed disk gets you nowhere, as the
OS can't boot to rebuild/re-sync! :(    (I'm talking about windows env's
here)

I have no experience of motherboard based hardware RAID - though I'd be
cautious / nervous that if the mobo fails, you'd need to get an identical
replacement in order to recover data.......(an often overlooked issue when
considering RAID is failure of the RAID controller - it doesn't matter if
it's a plugin / on-board - one generally needs to replace like for like - -
seeing how quickly motherboards change spec these days, it might be
difficult to find a replacement X years in the future when RAID chip (or
other on-board component) fails!).

I've got a couple of Mylex Dac-960's going spare if you want them - -
originally cost ~=A3350 each if memory serves - - - though I suspect driver
support may be a bit of an issue - - they're...."mature" ;)



for online backups (internet backups, not the traditional definition of
online backups) - I've found Carbonite to be rather handy. (
www.carbonite.com ) - - $50 USD/year for unlimited storage! runs as a
background process, and performs differential backups of selected
files/folders. Restore time is obviously an issue if you need to recover a
lot of data - - limited by your internet connection - - but it's handy to
have some easy off-site backup of important files! (I'm told they're
encrypted and mirrored to several data-centres). no affiliation - just a
happy customer.

Regards,

Rob

On 31/10/2007, David Gumbrell <david.gumbrell@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>   Thanks all for suggestions so far.
>
> I have never read an explanation of what actually happens with typical
> motherboard RAID when a mirrored drive fails - I guess I was hoping
the
> machine would still start and then perhaps a monitor program could
detect
> failure and notify.
>
> Unfortunately it turns out the mirroring with dynamic disks is not
> supported
> on XP Pro. You have to buy Windows Server or Vista Extra Special Bill
> Gates
> Extreme Signature Edition or something. Oops, Switcher-bias spilling
out
> again :-)
>
> Virtualisation is an interesting idea, I guess it means you can keep
> snapshots easily. At first guess I think this would fight with Cortex
> requirement for a "real" RS-32 port, but it could be an
interesting
> experiment.
>
> I've been using Genie Home for scheduled data backups, but I have just
> discovered it has some disaster recovery capabilities in the latest
> version
> so will investigate those. The difficulty with these things is testing
> them
> well enough to know that they will work in extremis.
>
> Cheers
>
> David
>
> On 10/30/07, Paul Gordon <paul@xxxxxxx<paul%40paulgordon.ho=
meip.net>>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi David.
> >
> > There's more than one question in there, and therefore, more than
one
> > answer!
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>=20=20
>


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