[rescue] Backups

[Mike Hebel]

Someone generated the quantum flux that came across as... Jeffrey Nonken
> Speaking of backups. Do any of you know if backups to DVD+R/RW are
> feasable, and reliable? I've made one failed attempt, but it was on a
> cheap DVD writer using some fairly old software.


I've tried it once and I've had friends try it at other times.  Neither
one of us could get it to work more than once or twice.  The biggest issue
was obviously buffer underruns.  Tried it with Nero and Roxio both.  I
don't think the technology is there yet.

I suspect it won't get there until DVD+R/RW drives go above 10gig.  Maybe
with Blue-Ray or something...

> Note that this is for a home backup system. Corporate priorities do not
> apply.


Just my $.02 worth - your data should hold the same importance or more
than corporate data to you.  I always ask myself "How much is my time
worth if I have to re-create all this?"  That's why I bought a DLT 4000
and an external box to put it onto my main file server.  If I could afford
it I would buy a library.

 I can't count the amount of data at home I've lost in 15+ years just
 because "Eh...it's on my home system so I don't really need to back that
 up until $TIME." *crash* "Damn.  Why didn't I back that up when I had the
 chance!"

SCSI cards and SCSI DLT drives are too cheap now to not be considered for
a home backup solution.  Anything that does a "full" backup in one or two
tapes is desirable.  The more you have to swap media the less you'll do
the backups - trust me on this one.  Who wants to change tapes/DVDs when
Battlestar Galactica is on?  ;-)

Mike Hebel
----
"Without balance and consistent growth the only option is to degrade. 
There is no other solution." - Anonymous