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On 14/03/2015 21:04, bad apple wrote: > On 14/03/15 20:38, Eion MacDonald wrote: >> Dear Folk, 20150312. > > Well, that's one of the weirdest generic greetings I've seen in an email > for a while, timestamped no less. I kind of like it. > >> For about 2 years I have used inside my house for the 3 work computers >> (Windows 7 plus some dual boot/Virtual Machine Linux OS) a WD >> 'MyBookLive' as a machine to machine back up for documents etc. > > WD MyBooks are one of the worst things ever invented by humans - I have > seen so many failed units that it's possible to anecdotally state that > they are the single worst choice for external disk enclosures I have yet > encountered. Clients who bring them to me now get to see the case ripped > off and the cheap SATA disk inside dropped into a £10 Chinese USB > enclosure instead. > >> This external hard disc failed by falling over (literally) during >> cleaning. I keep images on separate external hard discs; as well as >> routine monthly back ups of documents etc. > > How much do you need to backup? Give us numbers. > >> I wondered as in this I am unskilled/unknowledgeable if I may ask. >> With what should I replace my broken hard disc? >> Objectives: >> a) to store a working copy of current documents on three machines for >> access from any of three machines. >> b) Perhaps to store also an image of each machine as an image backup >> (The old unit would not do this a sit only copies the existing documents) >> Note: no use is made of storing or distributing video or music. >> Seeking information appears to offer no answer to both 'a' and 'b' > > A network based backup system, probably a virtualized Linux box writing > to local storage and/or a rotating set of external USB drives sounds > like what you want, as long as it's not too complex or expensive. Again, > without numbers it's difficult to evaluate how much you value your data > and how much you want/need to spend. > >> Ideas , links to information, etc would be appreciated > > A little more data would help chief. Were you able to retrieve the info > from the failed WD by the way, or is it totalled? > > Cheers Dear folk, 20150314 2115 Some answers: Back up of documents: say two machines documents about 120Gb each plus one machine by 50Gb total, with a small subset of documents that must be held long term**. Electronically all must be kept for 7 years and some for 15 years due financial transactions (bank guarantees, contract documents, letters of credit etc.) .. I hold printed copies at firm I work at, and they hold electronic backups in USA/UK/Cz, but these are only 'final copies'. ** The 40 year legal requirement documents I hold as hard copies, but that is only a few documents, say a couple of dozen pages A4 or letter. Arbitration and legal shoots outs need logic and working copies stage by stage, these are on my machines and on my external hard discs and previously on the WD machine as working copy. My copies are in case of a legal shoot out with the company I contract to. I do not want to lose a (say 5 million GBP) Professional Indemnity suit. My insurance costs would go up! Example: I refused to sanction or accept a contract wording. However by underhand methods the sales guy [desperate for reward or?] engaged the company to a Russian Client with real bad terms. My back ups showed I had not sanctioned the wording or bank guarantee wordings, my work machine showed same but a legal department had hard 'signed' copy showing contract sanctioned and accepted. (Umm! don't ask!) Losses now in multi millions to date. Russian work is not easy. So I exercise a degree of caution. Of the work machines at home, all have both MS Windows 7 and 'MS Outlook' and Linux installed one as dual boot and two as virtual machines. My client company is 'tied' to MS outlook as main communications tool (upgrading slowly from XP to windows 7 over 4500 seats!) thus my use as MS Outlook 'winmail.dat' forwarding does not render well in Thunderbird. I can segregate out but easier to use MS Outlook to save the forwarded attachments to my computer documents, while replying from Thunderbird. In reality, I have separate 'images' of machines monthly in case of hard disc failure inside machines. This also saves fixed date documents etc. However I found the WD type disc useful as a second line back up while working on documents. Remote access was available but never used. I would not set up remote access over internet up again. As my 'paid work' is inside MS OSs that is where for accessibility I would want main document working back ups to link to. I connected the WD to a spare ethernet connection on my BTHomeHub 3 and it was usable. Linux machines are on OpenSUSE 13.2 as OS. Knoppix as live USB and DVD PS my introduction to Linux was use of Knoppix from floppy discs on Soviet computers to get a workable system I could use when in Soviet establishments, so I have a 'soft spot' for Knoppix. WD state. " Were you able to retrieve the info > from the failed WD by the way, or is it totalled?" No data recovered via Knoppix. No 'handshake' with GParted in or out of case when stripped. Disc rotated. I have other backups (and the source machines still) so can be reproduced. Sorry, long and rambling but gives you background. -- regards Eion MacDonald -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq