W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

[Hansoon]

W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring a good idea, or is it better to use a NAS with RAID?

I have on this computer a 500gig SSD for the operating system and two identical 2TB Hard drives for all data and applications. Should I better have the two hard drives in a separate NAS enclosure? There's only one user for the system, so no reason for more sophisticated network stuff.

Hans

[Hart]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

You can't put all applications on the SSD ?
RAID is not backup, it's only for resiliency and availability in a server.
IMO keep one HDD in the build and move the other HDD in an external enclosure (and disconnect it after each backup) or in a NAS and backup your files from one HDD to the other.

[slimslob]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

You can't put all applications on the SSD ?
RAID is not backup, it's only for resiliency and availability in a server.
IMO keep one HDD in the build and move the other HDD in an external enclosure (and disconnect it after each backup) or in a NAS and backup your files from one HDD to the other.

The actually backup can be done using the xcopy command in a .cmd script. xcopy {source path} {destination path} /d/e/c/y

/d copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.
/e copies all sub-directories even if empty
/c continues copying even if an error occurs
/y suppresses prompting to replace existing files

You might also want to pipe, |, the output to a text file so you have a record of what was copied and any errors that occurred. Most errors are usually because a source file was not copied because it was still "in use"

[Hart]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

The actually backup can be done using the xcopy command in a .cmd script. xcopy {source path} {destination path} /d/e/c/y

/d copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.
/e copies all sub-directories even if empty
/c continues copying even if an error occurs
/y suppresses prompting to replace existing files

You might also want to pipe, |, the output to a text file so you have a record of what was copied and any errors that occurred. Most errors are usually because a source file was not copied because it was still "in use"

This is not a proper backup, I have something similar for my USB stick with a batch running robocopy instead of xcopy, but it's because I can check the whole content of my stick before copying everything to my laptop then to my server.
If you've remove or change (or if a virus lock) the wrong file and you smash the good file on the backup HDD, you're fucked.
For backup you need a proper software or system, I was using FreeFileSync a long time ago to do this, with 30 days history.

[slimslob]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

This is not a proper backup, I have something similar for my USB stick with a batch running robocopy instead of xcopy, but it's because I can check the whole content of my stick before copying everything to my laptop then to my server.
If you've remove or change (or if a virus lock) the wrong file and you smash the good file on the backup HDD, you're fucked.
For backup you need a proper software or system, I was using FreeFileSync a long time ago to do this, with 30 days history.

Apparently you do not have decent protection software.

[Hart]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

Apparently you do not have decent protection software.

You mean antivirus ? How do you know that your computer is clean and not infected by a dormant trojan waiting and still not caught by antivirus vendor ?
I'm not an expert but backup is the best solution. You have a virus ? Nuke the computer, reinstall your OS, grab your last clean backup and move on.

[slimslob]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

You mean antivirus ? How do you know that your computer is clean and not infected by a dormant trojan waiting and still not caught by antivirus vendor ?
I'm not an expert but backup is the best solution. You have a virus ? Nuke the computer, reinstall your OS, grab your last clean backup and move on.

You have a lot to learn little one.

[slimslob]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

You mean antivirus ? How do you know that your computer is clean and not infected by a dormant trojan waiting and still not caught by antivirus vendor ?
I'm not an expert but backup is the best solution. You have a virus ? Nuke the computer, reinstall your OS, grab your last clean backup and move on.

Either you are a hacker or your profile is corrupt. Trying to check you profile give a system message "This user has not registered and therefore does not have a profile to view." It has been reported to the administrator.

[Hart]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

You have a lot to learn little one.

All Right Then, Keep Your Secrets !
But real backups are still important.

Either you are a hacker or your profile is corrupt. Trying to check you profile give a system message "This user has not registered and therefore does not have a profile to view." It has been reported to the administrator.

Why would a hacker reply on the forum ?

[tsbservice]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

All Right Then, Keep Your Secrets !
But real backups are still important.



Why would a hacker reply on the forum ?

Hi Hart,
Apparently your profile isn't finished. Probably forum problem and admin should fix it.
Meanwhile would you tell us something more about your background and experience.
You can start a new thread to introduce yourself here:
https://www.copytechnet.com/forums/newbie-check-in-/

[rthonpm]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

You mean antivirus ? How do you know that your computer is clean and not infected by a dormant trojan waiting and still not caught by antivirus vendor ?
I'm not an expert but backup is the best solution. You have a virus ? Nuke the computer, reinstall your OS, grab your last clean backup and move on.

When your argument relies on proving a negative, you're not making a very good one.

[Hart]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

When your argument relies on proving a negative, you're not making a very good one.

But it's not an argument ?
What was I suppose to reply to "Apparently you do not have decent protection software." and "You have a lot to learn little one." when the original topic was what to do with two HDD and someone suggests using xcopy (a tool to copy) instead of a real backup solution ?
Do what you want with your data but don't suggest a half-baked solution.

In my case I have this in a .bat file to copy my USB stick to my laptop :
ROBOCOPY "E:" "C:\Users\Hart\RandomFolderThatIsBackedupLater " /MIR

[Hansoon]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

This is going into directions not intended by me. Thank you all for your input, guys.

I decided to have those two 2TB disk mirroring and as an offsite backup I will use the, since years proven, solid solution "FreeFileSync" for a daily backup on a separate USB-Hard drive. The Customer does not want a NAS.

Backing up in the Cloud would be much more elegant, but the problem is, that FreeFileSync can not save to a WebDAV Cloud and the other option, Acronis, I don't like since Acronis wants to sell its own Cloud application.

My solution is a little clunky, but given the circumstances relatively solid.

Hans

[slimslob]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

All Right Then, Keep Your Secrets !
But real backups are still important.

Because as a former Physical Security NCO with Military Police Physical Security Company if I were to tell you what I know and you lacked either the proper clearance or need to know, I would have to kill you as a spy and then arrest myself for divulging Homeland Security secrets.

Why would a hacker reply on the forum ?

We get them all the time. Usually they are posting SPAM or as is the most recent cases links to sex sites.

[allan]

Re: W11, using the build in Disk Mirroring

Best is to just actively do something to keep your data existing. Like mentioned cloud solutions works great. Nothing beats a hard copy in the end. When you just need to fix that copier when the world goes to shit. I prefer to wire my own ferrite cores in my free time.