Simpler Data Backup and Storage

There was a time not too long ago when floppy disks grew around the computing den like rabbits. Their growth was driven by the need to backup computer files, and to provide some security for the data that was also growing at a fast rate. Floppies however were limited in their storage capacity to around 1, 44 MB. The limited storage capacity was somewhat mitigated by the development of the CD technology in 1982, and the DVD in 1995. Which evolved into making those media, originally developed for audio and video applications, suitable for data storage purposes, particularly in home and small computing operations. The CD provided with 700 MB capacity for the CD, and the DVD  4.7 MB.

In the meantime, larger operations relied on magnetic tape devices as their default data backup and storage systems. The manufacturers of these systems argued that despite the high initial cost, tape systems have several good attributes, in that they are removable, transportable, and cost effectiveness by virtue of their large storage capacity.

I used tape systems in data backup and storage for many years. They were of different manufacture and price range. In reality, I found that tape data backup systems have serious reliability drawbacks which outweigh their argued good attributes: 1) the software is complex and ‘buggy', 2) the system is painfully slow in the ‘restore' mode, and 3) tapes and tape drives fail frequently. Over time I also learned that not many IT professionals would cling to magnetic tape systems if given a better alternative.

But there is a better alternative with equally good attributes for data backup and storage. Hard disc manufacturers, are now producing a line of EXTERNAL hard disks, referred to as eSATA, [acronym for external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment]. These devices have their own external small power source, which can be turned on at will, and much larger storage capacity than was previously available. They connect to the system through USB, FireWire, or a SATA controller. They are fast, compact, power ‘Green', and reasonably priced.

An array of external eSATA hard disk drives, in a possibly RAID configuration,  are  an excellent alternative for data backup and storage in small installations. RAID [acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Drives] is defined in Wikipedia as "a storage technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a one logical unit. Data is distributed across the drives in one of several ways called "RAID levels". In the simplest configuration, an array of two hard disks is configured in RAID level "0" to enhance system performance, or in level "1' for redundancy or data ‘mirroring'. In a data mirroring configuration, the same data is written to both disks simultaneously, so that if at any time one disk fails, and they do, the data is protected as it resides in the other disk of the array. Full normal operation is continued, and the RAID function of the array is restored by simply replacing the failed disk. This is of course a  simpler and more reliable  data backup and storage barring fires or physical destruction. It however has a price associated with it:, in that the effective storage space available is equal to the capacity of the smallest disk in the array.    

This is the arrangement I have been using at my location for some time. It consists of two hard disks with 1 TB capacity each. In RAID level "1" configuration, the effective storage capacity is only 1 TB. The arrangement has all the good attributes of magnetic tape systems but with greater reliability, better performance in a reasonably compact package and lower cost. More importantly, it is simpler, WORKS well and is FAST!