ZP you keep comparing apples oranges....
It would not be my first choice. It is very slow. If you tried a complete backup of 4.5GB +/- you would have to span several discs. It would take hours and you would have to attend the backup
Jaz Disk is very fast compared to Tape, CDR, MO, Zip, or anything else except another hard disk. I don't use Jaz for Backup but for disaster recovery. regardless of swapping media doing a KOT mirror or disaster recovery image is NOT an automated backup. PM or DriveImage don't run in batch mode so both your procedure and mine require user intervention. mine may require a media swap as well.
CDR musical CD's work on most computers and home stereos but are hit and miss on car stereos
True, depending on media type.
What does this have to do with backup/KOT?
It is also not well suited to the most important type of backup IMO..selected file backup. These are your financial records etc. On a daily basis or whenever they change important files that are kept in a specific directory or group of directories should be backed up. The easiest way to do this is in Explorer or other file management utility (I still like Xtree Gold 3.0 for DOS, I use it in DOS, Win95 and NT <g>). CD RW is not suited to this type of simple backup. You need specialized software to drive the CD R and CD RW devices. Sean has had good success with CDR and Adaptec CDR software but many others are not so lucky.
Completely inaccurate info here. Many CDR's CDRW's come with seagate backup exec CDR for 95/NT which is a very robust package that can do full, differential, incremental backups completely automated via their scheduler to CDR or CDRW. I know two people who employ this as they primary backup strategy. Needless to say. CDR/CDRW is not applicable as a KOT device.
The easiest way to do this is in Explorer or other file management utility (I still like Xtree Gold 3.0 for DOS, I use it in DOS, Win95 and NT <g>). CD RW is not suited to this type of simple backup
can you say manual process?? My daily backups happen 7 days a week without user intervention period.
Sean has had good success with CDR and Adaptec CDR software but many others are not so lucky.
I'm confused, what does this have to do with backup/KOT?
I'll skip the rest of the post. Its clear there is some confusion as to what I do for backups and why I do it. You keep confusing the backup and KOT terms. I think your misleading the readers into a false sense of security with KOT. As you have said. KOT is not a backup. Its disaster recovery. 1 lightning strike, fire, etc and KOT is dust. A Backup solution is essential to backup data. If a backup solution doesn't incoporate, removable media, automation, no swapping, cataloging, and a rotation schedule its all but useless IMO. There are numerous medias and drives avaialble for this task. My current favorities are TR-4 Tape, Syquest SparQ. Both work well and have a low cost per Gigabyte. CDRW may be a viable solution.
BTW: ZP, should have tested Drive Image. you were foolsih to rely on it with it trying fisrt. I have tested it extensively on two machines and 3 os's before relying on it. no problems so far. You could easily adapt your KOT drive as a test vehicle. Sorry about your difficulties. Pays to be prepared.
Sean |
