Backup Options

[dmw16]

I am looking for a reliable means to back up the data on my hackintosh. I will be using time machine no matter what method I choose.

The system will have a 74GB OS/Software disk and a 320GB Storage disk.

I figure I have a few options for storage:

#1 - Get one internal 500GB or 750GB internal hard drive. This is a simple option

#2 - Get two internal 500GB or 750GB internal hard drives and place them in a RAID 1 array. This is a little more expensive, but provides good data integrity.

#3 - Use my Maxtor 750GB OneTouch that I already own. This is the most cost effective method, but I am worried about long term reliability of the drives as I've had mixed luck w/ external drives.

#4 - Buy a 500GB or 1TB Time Capsule. This is a pricey option and may suffer from the same draw backs as #4, but the Apple site claims it uses a "server" drive, so maybe reliability is higher. It also 802.11n, which would be a nice treat.

#5 - Any other suggestions you storage gurus might have.

#6 - Online like Mozy or Carbonite. Not nearly as cool or nerdy as some other options.

As a side note, i posted this on Storage section and got no help. That is why I am reposting here.

 

[zacharace]

Well, if you need the data integrity, I'd go RAID 1. Personally, though, I'd just pick an external: easy, cheap (technically free in your case with the OneTouch), and simple. But that's just me .
If you had the cash, though, go Time Capsule.

 

[dmw16]

I also love the Drobo from a nerd standpoint, but the cost doesn't justify it.

I guess the OneTouch is probably fine since chances are I won't lose my data drive and my external at any one time (knock on wood).

 

[aphex]

I would stay away from a Time Capsule. Its not a user serviceable hard drive, so if it craps out you can't even pull the HD to throw it in an enclosure. Also, reports say its pretty darn slow.

As for Raid, i've yet to try it myself as its rare that I would need a backup to be 100% up to date. I have Time Machine set at a 6 hour interval and i've found it to be amazingly helpful and effective in file recovery.

Personally, I would just do as you said, single external drive w/ Time Machine. I do recommend that if you plan to use the external drive to store files as well, that you make a second partition on the drive as Time Machine will eat the entire drive over time. I took my 1tb Hitachi in a FW enclosure and made two partitions (630gb for files - 300gb for Time Machine)

 

[dmw16]

My OneTouch is 750GB and my drives in the Hackintosh total 394GB. So should I just use the entire OneTouch for Time Machine? Or will 500-600GB do the trick?

 

[Goosemaster]

1 - OS / important live data -

This should be on a raid1 array regardless of the backup process flanking it. You have stated a 74GB/320GB setup, but if possible I recommend against such a basic setup. The investment is worth your consideration if you create/modify a lot of data between backups and RAID can be achieved regardless of the drive type.*

*If we are talking a 74GB SCSI/SAS drive, a hardware RAID solution is too pricey an option but software RAID is still a great solution.


2 - backup -

Having already implemented device-redundancy, I would focus more on data redundancy and the characteristics of the backup medium such as proximity and susceptibility to catastrophic failure. While External drives are known for having controller issues, they provide decreased proximity and a greater failure tolerance with respect to the live system. Reliable external storage exists, and Network storage goes a step further as does a WAN service such as emc's mozy.



I recommend:

-74GB Raid 1 OR 320 GB Raid 1 depending on which drive has the live data
-external bakup drive (500GB is enough, but 750Gb will give you more snapshot space)
-NAS or WAN service such as mozy.


It's not that expensive, geographically redundant, and is easy to recover from.

 

[dmw16]

Time Machine backs up modified data on a regular (I will set it to at least once a day) basis. So is RAID 1 really all that necessary? I guess I can see the point tho if I am working on something critical on my working drive (Raptor) then having the ability to recover from drive failure would be nice.

I will take all this into consideration. Thanks.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Time Machine backs up modified data on a regular (I will set it to at least once a day) basis. So is RAID 1 really all that necessary? I guess I can see the point tho if I am working on something critical on my working drive (Raptor) then having the ability to recover from drive failure would be nice.

I will take all this into consideration. Thanks.

It's all about what happens between backups. Sometimes losing a little is as bad as losing it all. If that isn't the case and an hour's worth of work is okay to lose then you don't need RAID

 

[dmw16]

I got to thinking after you said that, that if I was plugging away on matlab or some such thing losing 1 minute of work could be just as bad as losing 12 hours. Need to protect those stroke-of-genius moments.

 

[sourceninja]

I have a seperate server that I use for archiving, it's raid 5 and I do (most of the time) monthly backups to a firewire drive. I really should beef that up to weekly.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I have a seperate server that I use for archiving, it's raid 5 and I do (most of the time) monthly backups to a firewire drive. I really should beef that up to weekly.

Do weekly's but have it overwrite the data.

 

[sourceninja]

I have time machine running as well to a usb drive (when my notebook is running at my desk). But all important stuff stay son the server, it houses my SVN repository, email, movies, music, etc.