|
Introduction
Purchasing a computer that will be maintenance free is
one attribute that is hard to identify. Reliability statistics for
PC manufacturers can help select which
computers might be trouble free. Even if you build your own PC
and carefully select hardware components of the highest quality, it is
likely that at some point in time you will experience a hardware
failure. It needn't be a hard disk failure that will cause data loss.
Buying sub-standard Power Supply
Units can be a false economy, as their failure can also lead to the
premature demise of
a hard disk. Even with extremely reliable hardware, users are still
prone to data loss from such events as software crashes,
filesystem / database corruption arising from a power outage, or a
natural disaster.
If you don't value your information, data loss may only be a
minor inconvenience. However, for the vast majority of users, permanent
data loss may result in financial loss, emotional
distress (such as the loss of photographs with sentimental value),
bidding farewell to irreplaceable documents, and the demise of your
video and audio collection.
There are many different ways to make backups. To a
large extent the backup solution used depends on what you are backing
up. In this article we explore the key methods which are ideally suited
for the home user.
Of course, adopting the forthcoming Google Chrome operating
system will
redefine our backup needs. Your Chrome computer will not need a hard
drive, as all your data will be stored on the cloud, and available to
access over the web.
Optical discs
(CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray)
 CDs, DVDs, and
Blu-ray discs are an economical and versatile method to back up,
transport and distribute files. Single layer discs
offer 700MB, 4.7GB, and 25GB capacity respectively. There are also
dual layer media available for DVDs and Blu-ray formats which double
capacity. Even with large capacities, write times are quick. For
example, the Pioneer
BDR-205 offers 12x Blu-ray write speeds, and whilst there isn't media
designed to write at that speed, it only takes approximately 10 minutes
to fill up a 25GB BD-R disc.
These days optical media is also keenly priced. CD media can
be
purchased for less than 10p each, whereas
single layer DVDs and Blu-rays can cost as low as 20p and £1.50
respectively when purchased in spindle packs. Two UK retailers which we
highly
recommend for blank media are SVP and 7dayshop.com, the latter offering
free postage which makes it ideal when you only need to purchase a few
discs. Further, as
their business is located in the Channel Islands there is no VAT (sales
tax) payable for items under £18.
Besides the price attractivenes of optical discs, an
additional attribute is that they are highly portable. One factor to
bear in mind in any backup strategy is to ensure that your data is held
at a different location, to prevent data loss in the event of say fire
or flooding.
BD-R is an example of optical media where data cannot be
erased, although you can write to the disk at
more than one session. This type of media is therefore more suitable
for archiving files, where it is unlikely that the data will
need to be modified at a later date. For example, a photography
collection is likely to fall into this category.
However, rewriteable CDs, DVDs and
Blu-ray media are also available, where data can be recorded and erased
multiple times.
Whilst they are more expensive than their write once counterparts, they
are more suitable for backups. However, given the relatively small
capacity, optical media is not recommended for backing up a
complete system. Nevertheless, rewriteable DVDs make an
inexpensive medium for multiple temporary recordings, and are popular
for their convenience and cheapness as a medium for time-shifting TV
programmes.
There is a good selection of software available for
Linux which enables a CD/DVD/Blu-ray burner to backup and
archive files. Two applications which particularly stand out are K3b
and Nero,
the former of which is released under a freely distributable license,
the latter is proprietary software priced at £17.99 (.99). Both
applications provide an attractive user interface for backing up files
to CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs, and are strongly recommended.
Jump ahead:
1. Introduction
- Optical Discs (current page)
2. External
Hard Disks (next page)
3. Network
Storage
4. Online
Backup Services
5. Tape
Drives
6. Solid
State Storage
Last Updated Sunday, December 13 2009 @ 10:23 AM EST
| 
