Time Machine: Spit!!!
in [UK Mac]
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From: Tim Streater on 24 Nov 2009 06:01 On 24/11/2009 09:27, T i m wrote: > On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:11:02 +0000, thewildrover(a)me.com (Andy Hewitt) > wrote: > >> One thing to consider as a possibility is the chance of copying a >> corrupt file into a backup. With the types that overwrite existing >> files, this is a very high possibility, and means you could easily copy >> a corrupt file at the time of an imminent system failure. > > Of course (so you will have lost nothing in that instance) but none of > that is what this ClickFree solution is all about (and this isn't > particularly to you). ;-) > > 1) It provides a hands off provision of 'a backup' [1] where one might > not otherwise be done at all. If you wanted a history of backups then > there is nothing stopping you copying the backup folder onto another > drive / computer or simply renaming the folder, forcing a fresh backup > next time. All too complicated for a std user though. Also, how big > might a backup drive need to be to *guarantee* you weren't carrying a > corrupt backup file with a first in first out overwrite system (like > TM)? [2] Well, nothing's perfect. But if I have (as I have) 57 backups in TM going back to last mid-May, then that's the time period (at present) during which any corruption can be fixed. Still, you're quite right that it's *much* better than nothing at all. > 2) The backup media is (typically) disconnected once the backup is > complete so no chance of a power surge destroying computer AND backup > hardware / data. [2] > > 3) Because of its portability (and the fact that it's *normally > disconnected*) it is easier to take> leave off site. [2] True, but then those folks have to understand the importance of off-site backups. Like today we see in the paper the woman running the bridal shop in Cumbria somewhere. 30 dresses, all paid and all ruined. She's lost her paperwork and can't find the computer. Backups? Moi? -- Tim "That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" Bill of Rights 1689
From: T i m on 24 Nov 2009 06:42 On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:11 +0000, Tim Streater <timstreater(a)waitrose.com> wrote: > >Well, nothing's perfect. But if I have (as I have) 57 backups in TM >going back to last mid-May, then that's the time period (at present) >during which any corruption can be fixed. So potentially not finite. It's like hybrid cars, after the small battery has gone flat they are IC driven cars again (I know that's no how they work yada). What I'm saying is that unless you do a test restore it's quite possible (all be it fairly unlikely) that all 57 of your backups contain the same corrupted file. > >Still, you're quite right that it's *much* better than nothing at all. And that really is the bottom line and the sole purpose of this ClickFree solution [1], to allow people who wouldn't normally bother to have *something*. > >> 2) The backup media is (typically) disconnected once the backup is >> complete so no chance of a power surge destroying computer AND backup >> hardware / data. [2] >> >> 3) Because of its portability (and the fact that it's *normally >> disconnected*) it is easier to take> leave off site. [2] > >True, but then those folks have to understand the importance of off-site >backups. And understand that leaving your backup 'on-line' also has risks.If you were to leave your TM drive (and I assume that would have to be external to be of any real value), connected to the computer and mains power in between cycles then you could lose your computer and all 57 backups in one foul swoop? ;-( > >Like today we see in the paper the woman running the bridal shop in >Cumbria somewhere. 30 dresses, all paid and all ruined. She's lost her >paperwork and can't find the computer. Backups? Moi? My exact point. You can bet it was a Windows PC based system (statistically) and you can bet that the file format for whatever database type she was using would have been collected by the ClickFree system (if it wasn't by default it can easily be added). And the ClickFree drive could have been at her home, or upstairs or in her pocket, not destroyed in 3' of sewage along with her computer. Cheers, T i m [1] Other imbedded software solutions may exist.
From: Jim on 24 Nov 2009 06:50 On 2009-11-24, T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: > > And understand that leaving your backup 'on-line' also has risks.If > you were to leave your TM drive (and I assume that would have to be > external to be of any real value), connected to the computer and mains > power in between cycles then you could lose your computer and all 57 > backups in one foul swoop? ;-( Time Machine[0] only mounts the drive during backup and restore operations. During the rest of the time the drive/share is unmounted, so at much less risk of corruption during power cycles. Jim [0] when used with external drives, at least. Never tried using it on an internal drive. I personally use a Time Capsule as I was able to replace three devices with just one - external drive, wireless router and gigabit switch. -- http://www.ursaMinorBeta.co.uk http://twitter.com/GreyAreaUK My Oasis of Calm has dried up. However, my Garden of Angry is flourishing quite nicely.
From: T i m on 24 Nov 2009 07:01 On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:50:32 +0000, Jim <jim(a)magrathea.plus.com> wrote: >On 2009-11-24, T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: >> >> And understand that leaving your backup 'on-line' also has risks.If >> you were to leave your TM drive (and I assume that would have to be >> external to be of any real value), connected to the computer and mains >> power in between cycles then you could lose your computer and all 57 >> backups in one foul swoop? ;-( > >Time Machine[0] only mounts the drive during backup and restore operations. >During the rest of the time the drive/share is unmounted, so at much less >risk of corruption during power cycles. Ok and in a 'files' sense then. It is still vulnerable from a mains spike taking out the hardware at any time and (to a much lesser degree) the files during what may even be an unneeded backup cycle (ie, there may not be anything of importance to back up). > >Jim >[0] when used with external drives, at least. Never tried using it on an >internal drive. Ok. > I personally use a Time Capsule as I was able to replace >three devices with just one - external drive, wireless router and gigabit >switch. Ok (so 3 eggs in one basket). ;-) I personally Ghost an image off every so often [%], burn the important data to DVD and / or duplicate to shares across the LAN plus now, the ClickFree to a USB drive after every paper scan batch and pre checking > shredding. Cheers, T i m [%] Or I did before this Mini / Bootcamp. ;-(
From: Jim on 24 Nov 2009 07:03
On 2009-11-24, T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: > On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:50:32 +0000, Jim <jim(a)magrathea.plus.com> > wrote: > >>On 2009-11-24, T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: >>> >>> And understand that leaving your backup 'on-line' also has risks.If >>> you were to leave your TM drive (and I assume that would have to be >>> external to be of any real value), connected to the computer and mains >>> power in between cycles then you could lose your computer and all 57 >>> backups in one foul swoop? ;-( >> >>Time Machine[0] only mounts the drive during backup and restore operations. >>During the rest of the time the drive/share is unmounted, so at much less >>risk of corruption during power cycles. > > Ok and in a 'files' sense then. It is still vulnerable from a mains > spike taking out the hardware at any time and (to a much lesser > degree) the files during what may even be an unneeded backup cycle > (ie, there may not be anything of importance to back up). Yep, good point. >>[0] when used with external drives, at least. Never tried using it on an >>internal drive. > > Ok. > >> I personally use a Time Capsule as I was able to replace >>three devices with just one - external drive, wireless router and gigabit >>switch. > > Ok (so 3 eggs in one basket). ;-) [laugh] yep, another good point. Jim -- http://www.ursaMinorBeta.co.uk http://twitter.com/GreyAreaUK My Oasis of Calm has dried up. However, my Garden of Angry is flourishing quite nicely. |