Re: RAID for backup. RAID 5 or RAID 1?

You are correct in that RAID is somewhat a protection against hardware
failures. Or maybe I should re-phrase my question. What about I have an
external backup solution which relies on harddisks? And what about if that
solution is implemented in RAID 1?

I understand the point about disaster recovery (being apart of my previous
companies disaster/contingent strategic planning.) But for christ sake, I
am doing this for a home system! One thing to disaster planning is to
factor in a certain degree of potential loss which should be considered
acceptable in certain situations. For me, a backup on a RAID 1 system which
guards against accidential removal or data loss dual to COMPLETE FAILURE OF
MY PRIMARY RAID 1 data array is sufficient for me. I am prepared (and
accept) loss of critical data on the RAID arrays in the worst case scenario
and to guard against that, I have those critical data synchronised on my
laptop.......

Come on guys. Cut me some slack. This is for a HOME NETWORK with 2 USERS
and you want me to prepare for a nuke attack in Hong Kong........ I already
have double power redundancies, and dual inline UPS, 2 internet connections
for failsafe. And I consider myself much more protected then the average
home windows user already....... :) Although it is so much fun.

"SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" <not@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ezz27H1PFHA.2520@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> in which case, should the array be corrupted you lose all three
> generations.
>
> RAID is about continued operation in a hardware failure scenario.
> Backup is about system, and DATA, recovery in a worst case scenario.
>
> I recently attended a meeting of SME 'implementers'. A crowd of 50 or so
> 'consultants'. I was asked a question which _literally_ confused the
> bejeesus out of me. 'How do I move my existing installation to new
> hardware' (a topic frequently treated lightly in this group).
>
> Why did this question confuse me? Why do I mention it now? Why do I
> consider most of the people in that room to be deficient in their support
> of the systems they implement?
>
> Because one day they will need to restore a system with NOTHING but a
> successful backup as their starting point. A FULL disaster recovery.
>
> Why do I mention it now?
> Will the RAID array you intend to create and store your backup on be
> available in a full disaster recovery situation?
> Why did the question confuse me?
> I expected everyone in the room to be able to recover a system from a full
> disaster to a box which may not be exactly the same.
> Why do I consider them deficient in their responsibility?
> 'SORRY, the system's lost. I can't recreate the original box but I can get
> most of the data back. Unfortunately the domain SID will change so we've
> gotta 'work around' profile issues and maybe swing all the wokstations
> through a workgroup and back to the domain. I'm gonna be here charging you
> for three days for something I should be able to achieve in a couple of
> hours. BUT IT'S NOT MY FAULT'
>
> I'm willing to concede that backup to USB 2 (do yourself a favour and
> don't consider it for earlier USB) or FireWire can become available early
> in a disaster recovery situation.
>
> "Marshall Lai" <marshall_lai@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:%23CpLmE0PFHA.3560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>I will be having 3 different generations of backups on 1 RAID1 config.....
>
>> "Andrew H" <ajhpms@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:%236WKk0zPFHA.3156@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> In terms of redundancy, I'd rather have 3 different generations of
>>> backup on 3 different disks, than 1 backup on a RAID volume consisting
>>> of 3 disks.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Marshall Lai" <marshall_lai@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>> news:%23NZYjxyPFHA.4024@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> Thanks for the suggestion. Thought of that before but performance
>>>> probably is a bit slower then internal harddisks.
>>>> Except if you are talking about 3.5" external enclosures of course.
>>>> But then those things are very bulky. Not to mention there is no
>>>> redundancy......
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Godfrey Nicholson" <godfrey at ofektech dot com> wrote in message
>>>> news:363C3A60-3C15-449F-AB64-9D1F210282F2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> Marshall:
>>>>>
>>>>> Another possibility you might want to consider is to back up onto an
>>>>> external USB drive. It is a cheap, very fast option. I use it
>>>>>
>>>>> Godfrey
>>>>>
>>>>> "Marshall Lai" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I am contemplating adding some hard disks for backing up my SBS2003
>>>>>> server.
>>>>>> Should I go for RAID 5 or RAID 1?
>>>>>> Any consensus here? The array will be used ONLY for backup and
>>>>>> restore
>>>>>> purposes and nothing else.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any insight will be much appreciated.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Marshall
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>


.

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