Backup to CDs and Tape

A Backup Article Contributed by Anand R

Backup to CDs and DVD

Implementing backup to CDs has become increasingly common due to mature technology and cheap CD burners. DVD media will soon become what CD media is now.

If the backup does not fit onto one or a few CDs, it is easy to use many discs with sequential labels. If you plan to use CDs or DVD as backup media, please consider following recommendations.

Backup CDs

Do not use the same CDs or DVD to store consecutive backup versions. It's better to use different CD or DVD media for each backup version (change the CD or DVD media at each backup run). Use a set of CDs or DVD media and rotate them periodically (e.g.: take 7 CD media, one for each week day; start with the first CD again every 7 days). The reason for this is that in case the burn process fails, you still have the previous backup version on a different disc.

Rewritable CDs and DVD media can be burned only a limited number of times. When strange errors happen first consider whether if the CDs or DVD might be overburned (worn out). Always test the backed up data after burning. Backup4all has a special option to automate the test after backup.

Tape Backup

In computers, tape backup is the ability to periodically copy the contents of all or a designated amount of data from its usual storage device to a tape cartridge device so that, in the event of a hard disk crash or comparable failure, the data will not be lost. Tape backup can be done manually or, with appropriate software, be programmed to happen automatically.

Tape backup systems exist for needs ranging from backing up the hard disk on a personal computer to backing up large amounts of storage for archiving and disaster recovery purposes in a large enterprise as part of a storage area network (SAN), usually combining a hardware and software package. For personal computer tape backup, the Onstream USB tape drive is popular. For enterprise tape backup, Linear Tape-Open (LTO) is an industry open standard from Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Seagate.

Floppy Disks Rather Than Backup CDs

Floppy disks are not really a suitable media for making backups. The media is unreliable, especially over long periods of time. Backing up and restoring is very slow. They have a very limited capacity (the days of backing up an entire hard disk onto a dozen or so floppies has long since passed). However, if you have no other method of backing up your data then floppy disks are better than no backup at all. If you do have to use floppy disks then ensure that you use good quality ones.

Floppies that have been lying around the office for a couple of years are a bad choice. Ideally use new ones from a reputable manufacturer.

If you don't have a tape drive connected to your system, floppy disks can be used (although they are slower and somewhat less reliable). You may also use floppies to hold individual file-systems -- in this way, you can mount the floppy to access the data on it.