[Leaplist] Re: Refurbished Hard Drive

Kevin Korb kmk at sanitarium.net
Wed Feb 3 13:57:32 EST 2010 

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A second location would certainly be nice but I just don't have that
available.

My solution for taking backups offline is the simplest possible.  I shut
the backup computer off when I am not using it.

On 02/03/10 13:49, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
> The one-way access is a good move, although I sill have off-line
> media for recovery -- 2x 2.5" internal disk trayless removable.
> 
> Since I have multiple locations, I have servers cross-backup each other.
> My new servers are now Xen in both FL and MD, and they backup to
> dedicated guests.  In a nutshell, they are designed to I can stand up a
> VM with each other's content at either location (over VPN between the
> two locations).
> 
> Again, I still use 2x 2.5" internal disk trayless removable in each server.
> Just in case one (or both) are compromised, as I don't have a dedicated
> backup server anymore, just dedicated VMs.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Kevin Korb <kmk at sanitarium.net>
> 
> I would agree with this too.  I have never liked the idea of shuffling
> around an external hard drive for backups.  I prefer to have a
> designated backup computer(s) with internal hard drive(s) that store my
> backups.  Not only does this provide better reliability but IMO it
> provides better security too.
> 
> The way I think that it provides better security is that the backup
> server has access to pull backups from other systems but those systems
> have no access to the backups at all.  This completely eliminates the
> possibility of someone hacking into your web server then wiping the
> server and all backups of it even if they happen to get in while a
> backup is running.
> 
> There have been at least 2 high profile cases of just that happening.
> 
> On 02/03/10 12:49, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
>> Consider not putting your eggs in one basket, and maintaining
>> a dedicated "full copy" on another drive.
>>
>> As you may have read in my other posts, I only use 2.5" portables
>> for portable storage, not permanent or backup.
>>
>> --- MORE DETAILS ---
>>
>> For permanent and backup, I only use internal drives.  This
>> includes for off-line backup, in trayless 2.5" bays, which can be
>> moved off-site (put into rubber covers and stored for a few weeks).
>>
>> Most specifically, for my dSLR photos ...
>> - Internal server storage (4x-12x 2.5" tray)
>> - Internal backup disks (2x 2.5" trayless, only one copy for photos)
>> - Portable disk (2.5") for sharing only (not backup)
>>
>> I have only one backup disk dedicated to a second copy of photos.
>> I don't keep a running set of backup disks simply because I've already
>> taken 1TB of photos (aggregately 50,000 accuations of RAW+JPEG)
>> with my 6-14.6MP dSLR cameras over the last 3+ years.
>>
>> The most important photos are already edited and published in
>> other directories that are regularly backed up with my 1-2-3 cycle
>> to 2.5" drives.  Those likely only take up 25GB or so, so I can afford
>> to do so.
>>
>>
>>  -- 
>> Bryan J  Smith           Professional, Technical Annoyance 
>> Linked Profile:         http://www.linkedin.com/in/bjsmith 
>> ---------------------------------------------------------- 
>> Red Hat:  That 'other' American software company built on
>> open customer selection of options and value, instead of
>> controlled distribution channels of forced bundle and lock
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Ram K. Singh <rksingh54 at yahoo.com>
>> To: This is the Leap Main List <leaplist at leap-cf.org>
>> Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 12:36:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Leaplist] Refurbished Hard Drive
>>
>>
>> Thanks Gentlemen,
>>
>> I appreciate your input. I would stick with new 2.5" portable drives since the files on the drive would be very valuable family photo and documents.
>>
>> Ram
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Kevin Inscoe <kevin at inscoe.org>
>> To: This is the Leap Main List <leaplist at leap-cf.org>
>> Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 6:36:01 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Leaplist] Refurbished Hard Drive
>>
>> To add to the cacophony here I agree largely with Bryan. Refurb means
>> one thing: it failed for somebody (or several people) at some point in
>> it's life cycle (most likely early on) and that by definition make
>> something like a hard drive suspect. However it's all about the data.
>> How important is this data? Is just backups? Maybe this would be just
>> fine. Are you going to use it in a RAID or mirror to another cheap
>> refurb drive? There again since the likely hood of two points of
>> failure is not likely it would be fine. Have to weight out the cost vs
>> risk. Do you get a warranty of any kind? The seller doesn't want this
>> returned (yet again) so it's not super likely to fail at least not in
>> the warranty cycle anyway. If this were your primary and only data
>> drive I would not trust it.
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 10:35 PM, Bryan J. Smith <b.j.smith at ieee.org> wrote:
>>> First off, I would never, ever recommend the purchase of a
>>> refurbished hard drive.  Mechanics are things I never like to
>>> get refurbished.
>>>
>>> Secondly, as you may have noticed, I'm partial to 2.5" drives.
>>> Now I'm partial to 2.5" drives for everything, internal and
>>> external.  But while some could argue 3.5" internal drives
>>> (especially since 3.5" prices have dropped while 2.5" have not
>>> nearly as much), I wouldn't disagree, I absolutely believe 3.5"
>>> external drives should _never_ be purchased.
>>>
>>> So for an external drive, I would recommend this 1TB drive
>>> (WDBABM0010BBK):
>>> http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=722
>>>
>>> It is a 2.5"x12mm high drive with 3 platters at 333MB/platter.
>>> I've seen them for $160 on-sale.
>>>
>>> Yes, it's more than a 3.5" drive.
>>>
>>> But as someone who has flown at least twice per week, pockets his
>>> drive in his bag and pulls it out at least twice per day, etc... for years,
>>> I can honestly say I abuse the heck out of the half-dozen 2.5" external
>>> drives I have.
>>>
>>> None have died yet.
>>>
>>> Cannot say the same about the 3.5" FreeAgent Pro drives that sat
>>> on my desk in New York for 6 months.  I know others have had issues
>>> with their MyBook as well.
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Ram K. Singh <rksingh54 at yahoo.com>
>>>
>>> I am looking for a USB Hard Drive of one TB Capacity.
>>> I am finding many Refurbished drives for a reasonable price.
>>> Do the professionals have opinion on Refurbished drives?
>>>
>>> --
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>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
> 
> - -- 
> ~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~
>     Kevin Korb            Phone:    (407) 252-6853
>     Systems Administrator        Internet:
>     FutureQuest, Inc.        Kevin at FutureQuest.net  (work)
>     Orlando, Florida        kmk at sanitarium.net (personal)
>     Web page:            http://www.sanitarium.net/
>     PGP public key available on web site.
> ~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~
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- -- 
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	Kevin Korb			Phone:    (407) 252-6853
	Systems Administrator		Internet:
	FutureQuest, Inc.		Kevin at FutureQuest.net  (work)
	Orlando, Florida		kmk at sanitarium.net (personal)
	Web page:			http://www.sanitarium.net/
	PGP public key available on web site.
~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~
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