Data Buffer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Happy
  • Start date Start date
H

Happy

I'm getting an external H/D as a backup unit. Can someone tell me the
advantage of 2 mg buffer vs. 8 mg buffer? Any other hints or things to watch
out for, in the purchase?
 
Getting an external hard drive for backup is a good move. No real
difference between a drive with a 2MB cache and one with an 8MB cache,
performance-wise. If you regularly backup very large files, like videos,
the larger cache contributes to faster disk writing, but cache is only
one component in the overall performance of a drive.

If you're choosing a USB drive, make sure it uses USB 2.0, aka
'high-speed' USB (which is not the same as 'full speed' USB.) If you
already have a Firewire (1394b) card, and you regularly backup very
large files, and you've got some extra cash, get a Firewire (1394b)
drive. Or get a USB drive and send the extra cash to me.

Just kidding.

Don't make your decision based on the backup software included with the
drive, if any, unless it's the same program you were planning to buy
anyway. Otherwise, choose your own backup software, based on what's best
for you.

In my opinion, so-called one-touch backup is a toy not worth paying for.
Learn how to use your drive and backup software and you'll discover
there's no need for a backup button.
 
In a nutshell, after the "buffer" empties, transfer speed drops back to
the hardware data transfer rate. 2 meg is ok for small data files, but
if you are moving larger files the 8 meg one will have a higher ave data
rate.
 
Thanks for replies. I now have an external 250Gb Western Digital unit. I
guess the Windows XP Backup software would work fine, are there others
better you would suggest? Also,do you think this new H/D should be
partitioned?
 
Happy said:
Thanks for replies. I now have an external 250Gb Western Digital unit. I guess the Windows XP Backup software would work fine,
are there others better you would suggest?
Click to expand...

Anything but the mediocre XP backup utility. Vista will have
completely new range of backup tools.
( Microsoft plans to release a "reader" for backups made by the
win2k/XP utility so you will be able to restore them on Vista )

--PA
 
Any name suggestions? I know nothing about them, having heard a bit about
Ghost, Casper (sounds surprisingly similar), Dantz Retrospect, WD Backup. I
have repartitioned to NTSF, as their documentation suggests, and an ready to
go. I want to get off on the right foot!
 
Backing up is a complete strategy, for which a full explanation is
beyond the scope of a newsgroup post. Fortunately, the web is filled
with good information for you to read.

As with many things, you start off simply -- by copying files you want
to safeguard to some place other than your hard disk. Then you learn
about different types of backup (mirror, incremental, differential, disk
imaging etc.) and how to backup information that can't simply be copied,
like your e-mail setup or your various program settings.

Soon you'll be looking at different backup programs and their relative
advantages and disadvantages. Finally, you'll formulate and hone a
backup strategy that works for you -- which may include partitioning,
scheduling, second line of defense, alternate hardware devices, etc.

As with any strategy, there are lots of opinions. Soon enough you'll
find what's right for you. Since any backup is better than no backup,
get started now. As you learn, you'll sort things out. I started out by
dragging and dropping to floppies, which I don't recommend. But at least
I was backing up, and that's more than you can say about many people.
 
Thanks, I get the picture. Up until now I have been backing up (irregularly)
to DVD, but found it cumbersome and time-consuming. With this new HD, I
have new opportunities. I will start to educate myself now, starting with
some of the terms you used in your reply.
Thanks again. (no more lost data)
 
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