How we work (in theory though not always in practice):
1: master image for machine - initial machine setup is backed up to
allow system restore. This image is stored in our remote management
system to allow the machine to be reimaged (or for new identical
machines to be imaged exactly the same way.) this is kept until the
machine (or all similar machines) are disposed of at the end of
their life, new, additional, images are built for major system
updates.
For home users this not so critical a restore from CD/DVD is
acceptable but most machines here are default setup rather than
highly customised like our users, what I would do instead as a home
mac user though is after the machine is setup and configured, all
applications are installed (or migrated from old computer) and user
data is migrated from old computer I'd take a external drive,
install a bootable OS of a version identical to the new machine and
then use the setup migrate to make this system a full
recovery/restore volume so that in the event of internal hard disk
failure you can recover your OS, applications and data up to this
point, then take this disk and store it off line (and preferably off
site). Probably each year you should buy a new hard disk and repeat
this process.
2: grandfather user data backup - User profile (all user data) is
then backed up, the disk is removed from the system and stored off
site for 1 year before being bought back and recycled (theoretically
this should be on a different type of media [tape instead of disk] or
at least a different brand of media [ie WD instead of seagate])
3: Son user data backups - each week the user data is backed up to an
online system (ie disk is left switched on and connected)
4: Father backups - each month the most recent user backup (ie the
latest "son backup") is taken off line and stored off line (unplugged
from machine, powered down usually stored onsite, usually a different
room, but from the computer) until it is due to be recycled one week
later.
I've not installed Leopard (10.5) yet so I've not had time to look at
how time machine can be configured but at a guess I'd use it to use
three external drives as backup disks, keep one for a year off site
before recycling (or just buying a new disk for a new annual backup),
keep another one off line for a month before recycling, and keep one
permanently attached for rolling backups.
For those in the IT business, the concept of the Grandfather, Father
Son backup is the most TRUSTED form of traditional backup. A single
backup copy is really no backup at all for the reasons described
below - it is also insecure as when you do your next backup, you
write over your only existing backup and if anything fails in the
process, you risk losing it all.
Therefore you always need at least twice the backup space
(grandfather and father copies) for the device you want to backup
(the son). You only ever backup to the grandfather device, which you
then rename the father, with the current father device being renamed
as the grandfather. (...and keep them in separate physical places)
I recently purchased 2 x 500GB WD mechanisms from Austin Computers
for $139 each, so you can't really complain about the price!
BTW - best to have two similar cases, preferably screwless, but easy
entry with internal power supply (Sarotech brand have been good for
me) and just exchange the mechanisms as needed. (Most of the time my
backup cases never have the tops on as I am changing the mechanisms
regularly...) Better to spend a bit more on a couple of good quality
cases and then you're only up for the mechanisms which are dirt
cheap.
Regards, BRett
On 12/12/2007, at 8:44 PM, Wez wrote:
I have three WD drives internally apart from the Apple one in my
machine and resently purchased a MyBook 1.5TB
The MyBook has been working perfectly for about 2 weeks and has now
lost the firewire controller.
Took it back to PLE who confirmed the Firewire controller seems
dead. The drives themselves still have data on them fine which was
a relief but I only have USB1 on my work machine.
So this has been my first hiccup with the WB brand and the drives
themselves are still fine. I have no idea what happened to the
controlled.
The warranty will only cover the drive as a unit not the case which
means how I have to find room to return the data to my machine and
before I erase the drive and get it swapped for a new one.
This does make me wonder how useful this is going to be as a backup
drive as a full 1.5 TB with any dead controller is going to be
absoultely useless as I won't have the room to return the data
WEZ!
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