🚀 go-pugleaf

In article: <709668410wnr@xabcs.demon.co.uk>  J A F Bradbury <Julian@xabcs.demon.co.uk> writes:
> I wouldn't use it as principal backup medium. Use something like DAT 
> as the primary, then CD-R for archivable & distributable material.
> 
> - DAT can run happily unattended & fast; HP-C1533A is a fast ~45MB.
> 
> CD-R Probs?
> o You need 650MB /contiguous/ disk space free :)
This is not true, if you are generating HD backups, from a fast(ish) HD.

> 
> o CD-Rs have a nasty habit of poor SCSI disconnect/connect, which when
>   doing concurrent TRs can make a very fast h/d, not quite so fast.
>   ( Try SCSI Bench, h/d alone, then with a CD/PD or CD-R ):
>   Putting a CD-R on it's own i/f solves this.
> 
> o CD-Rs aren't as robust/long-lived as their pressed variety.
> 
> o Writing them is tedious, a verify pass is a must. 
>   Mistakes are tedious & the cost does mount.
> 
> o Economically CD-R is a write-once miserly 650MB, with multi-session
>   carrying a ~50MB overhead. One 90m DAT tape: 4000MB rewritable @7ukp.
> 
> For security, look at PD drives, or the "new" IBM 650MB M.O. drive,
> or the new large and "interestingly priced" M.O. drives.
> 
> The decision does come down to what data is going on the CD-R, how
> often it is accessed or distributed. CD-R *IS* online, DAT isn't :(
> The decision is likely to be greyish :)
Basically this says it all.
There are a couple of other thoughts though. I use CD-R, and DAT.
The CD-R is ideal, for providing 'low-cost', backup for access as an
'archive' media, on a network. It is very cheap, to have a CD-stacker
type drive, with a few CD's carrying data for reasonably rapid retrieval,
without user intervention. It is also ideal, for storing development
'snap-shots', where the entire development enviroment, can be
archived at a particular time, and returned to latter. It is not a substitute
for a tape-backup system, I use the DAT for this, and also a Panasonic
drive, writing WORM disks, for critical archive data. For a 'rapid recovery'
disk, the PD drives are superb. I can have a complete copy of enough
of my system, to re-boot & access the tape system, updated as necessary,
and accessable from a floppy boot.
The day, that the 10gB CD-R, that is writeable in 30minutes, and has a
1E6Hr MTBF on the drive, is launched, is the day that this takes off as
a backup technology. However, used with care, it can be a useful
'extra' to other types of backuip.

Best Wishes

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