Definition: "A Backup Plan"

sphardy wrote:
RAID is a *technology* not an action, just as USB is a technology therefore 'RAID is not a backup' in the same way that 'USB is not a backup'

BINGO!

Here is my main issue with the many people who say "RAID is not a backup". If you present a solution to virtually anybody ("the masses", not necessarily the educated) where:
1) Your data is on your PC's hard drive
2) You copy (or is auto-copied) your critical data to a separate physical drive such as an external USB drive

... then "everybody" would agree that you "made a backup copy of your data". However -- this really only protects your data from a single drive failure. If the 2nd drive is on your PC, it is also subjected to whatever virus you may get that destroy's your first drive. If your house is destroyed by a meteor, tornado, fire or flood -- or a burglary removes all your high-tech stuff... then YOU STILL LOSE YOUR DATA.

So, though everybody considers a 2nd copy (same physical location) as "a backup" -- the ReadyNAS is *better* since it self-monitors and warns of anticipated failures. Why is the first "a backup" and not the ReadyNAS?

True, every bit is not specifically backed up -- but, the ESSENCE of every bit is. Every bit that is lost from a drive failure can be ACCURATELY recreated. This is what backup really means - the ability to recover the missing data when the original is lost.

Thus, my argument is: The only thing REALLY safer than ReadyNAS-stored data... is OFFSITE-stored data.

Personally, I trust the data on my ReadyNAS more than data I have on my PC and a copy on a USB drive plugged into it (especially considering user-account security!).

Given this, I wish people would alter their stance:

A ReadyNAS, like a 2nd hard drive, is not a secure backup solution.



(edit: Mea culpa; I did not intend this thread for "expansion" - I failed to pay attention last night; if a mod could move it to a more appropriate DISCUSSION thread, I would appreciate it!)