RAID with external hard drive or nightly backups?

[brikis98]

I own two Seagate 7200.10 320gb SATA hard drives. One is internal, and partitioned into drive C and D. D contains all the data non-replaceable data (~200gb) and C contains the OS and program files (120gb) which I can easily replace. The second HD I now have in an enclosure hooked up via eSata. I want to use the external hard drive to backup my data in case the internal one fails.

Which of these is the better option:

1. Use some backup software to periodically copy my D drive contents to the external hard drive. With this scheme, the external hard drive is probably big enough to do some kind of version control, since the data partition is only 200gb and currently only 60gb are in use.

2. Setup the drives in RAID 1 (mirrored). Just to check: are there any issues setting up RAID with SATA and eSata (MSI K8N Neo4-f motherboard)? The advantage is that I don't have to run any extra software as the hard drives are just copies of each other. If one dies, I can easily just switch to the other. I may also receive some tiny boost in read performance. However, no version control is possible as and I'm wasting space on backing up the C partition, which I really don't care about.


Additional question: would I need to format/repartition my internal drive to get RAID to work?


Update: I ended up going with option 1. I used the software that came with a previous hard drive. Although the UI looks like crap, it does a surprisingly good job: scheduled backups, versioning, incremental backups, and easy to use. thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[corkyg]

I support Option 1.. RAID 1, is not truly a backup. Anything that goes on one drive goes on the other - including malware and corruption.

I have a RAID 1 array for data - but I back that array up weekly to a single external.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I support Option 1.. RAID 1, is not truly a backup. Anything that goes on one drive goes on the other - including malware and corruption.

I have a RAID 1 array for data - but I back that array up weekly to a single external.

well, it's backup from physical drive failure. obviously, it does nothing against virus & the like. but then again, scheme #1 is just as vulnerable to viruses on the D: drive...

 

[brikis98]

bump

 

[spikespiegal]

I vote option 1.

While I'm a strong advocate of RAID 1, it only protects you against hardware failure.

A nightly back-up guards you against hardware failure and data corruption/loss.

 

[brikis98]

thanks for the opinions so far. just added a poll.

 

[brikis98]

bump

 

[brikis98]

one last try to get some opinions before i put this together tonight

 

[Roguestar]

Voted 1.

Also, you'd need to format, yeah. You can't add another drive and just set it to RAID-1 if you're already using the first (to the best of my knowledge).

 

[Old Hippie]

AFAIAC (As Far As I Am Concerned), RAID is not a backup strategy.

If it's a little to much bother to clean, run a virus and antispyware program, and defrag a volume before backing up to an external drive, your data isn't worth much to you.

Option #1 is the only backup strategy you have listed.


PS. If you're going to let that external enclosure be "active" for extended periods, watch the temps. If it doesn't have active cooling, you may be able to use it to warm your coffee.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
AFAIAC (As Far As I Am Concerned), RAID is not a backup strategy.

how come?

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
If it's a little to much bother to clean, run a virus and antispyware program, and defrag a volume before backing up to an external drive, your data isn't worth much to you.

my data is worth a lot to me. but the whole point of software is to make my life easier. i'll take whatever efforts are necessary, but my goal is to find the easiest and most effortless solution.

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
PS. If you're going to let that external enclosure be "active" for extended periods, watch the temps. If it doesn't have active cooling, you may be able to use it to warm your coffee.

I have the Antec MX-1 which is actively cooled, so hopefully it'll be ok.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: Roguestar

Also, you'd need to format, yeah. You can't add another drive and just set it to RAID-1 if you're already using the first (to the best of my knowledge).

thanks for the info. can anyone else confirm that?

 

[RebateMonger]

Set up an ongoing (preferably automated) backup system first. THEN, if you have more money, add drive redundancy (RAID 1, 5, 6, 10, etc.).

Windows Home Server is a really good, fully automated, backup system for up to ten PCs. It's only weakness is that the backups remain connected to the network and onsite, potentially leaving it vulnerable to worms, fire, flood, and theft.

 

[spikespiegal]

All the recent RAID controllers I've worked with allow you to build the array from an existing drive without losing any data. The OS just sees it as one drive.

However, you might not be able to do this if you want to convert a single OS bootable drive or partition *to* a RAID 1 without cloning first.

 

[0roo0roo]

raid 1 is simpler.
hardware failure is more common that corruption from what i've experienced. drives tend to just die, unless you are doing heinous overclocking the data doesn't usually corrupt.
later on get a nightly external backup

 

[Old Hippie]

my data is worth a lot to me. but the whole point of software is to make my life easier. i'll take whatever efforts are necessary, but my goal is to find the easiest and most effortless solution.

Then throw some money at it, and get a NAS with WHS.


Easiest, safest, most reliable "recover from disaster" scenario for the home user, is Acronis with an external backup drive. You want no problem set it and forget it....get WHS.

I have the Antec MX-1 which is actively cooled, so hopefully it'll be ok.

Great Case!

Good Luck!