Why using RAID doesn't guarantee your data is safe - GoFuckYourself.com

rowan · 02-15-2007, 10:42 AM

I had Mozilla open, another prog crashed, I closed Mozilla and eventually had to hard reset the computer. When it came back up again, my bookmarks and cookies had vanished. There was no file system damage, so it was probably more an oversight in the way the Mozilla updates its files (maybe rewriting them on exit even if nothing changes?)

This is why RAID shouldn't be considered a "backup" solution. It will keep your comp running if a HD fails, but if an application does something stupid like overwrite a file the command is faithfully obeyed by the RAID controller!

Fortunartely, I had a recent backup so I was able to restore cookies.txt and bookmarks.html.

Fetish Gimp · 02-15-2007, 10:46 AM

What version browser you using? Had that happen a while back, turned out after the crash I'd boot up in a newly created profile which obviously was blank, but my old profile was still there. With 2.0 haven't had the same problem, and the "restore session" feature is pretty kick ass.

rowan · 02-15-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetish Gimp

What version browser you using? Had that happen a while back, turned out after the crash I'd boot up in a newly created profile which obviously was blank, but my old profile was still there. With 2.0 haven't had the same problem, and the "restore session" feature is pretty kick ass.

I use Mozilla 1.7.12 which I guess is like FF 1.x

I'll have to upgrade to FF one of these days.

I looked in my Application Data dir to check that it hadn't created a new profile, but that wasn't the case - other personalised things such as sites which are allowed to set cookies, and web caching preferences, etc were still set.

After the initial face falling reaction it took about 30 seconds to restore the two relevant files from my backup.

rowan · 02-15-2007, 10:56 AM

Just noticed the "Recent Files" option is blanked out in Photoshop and some tabs have been reset. Bloody hell... what on earth happened to my PC?

bobosoft · 02-15-2007, 11:11 AM

Of course not, viruses, hackers, and user error destroy peoples data all the time. RAID can't protect against any of that.

borked · 02-15-2007, 11:21 AM

RAID is not meant as a backup solution.
Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks is just that - a redundant array of disks. If one fail, data isn't lost. Of course any write to one of the array disks will affect data in the other disks, if not it wouldn't be redundant.

But you knew that...

rowan · 02-15-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borked

RAID is not meant as a backup solution.
Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks is just that - a redundant array of disks. If one fail, data isn't lost. Of course any write to one of the array disks will affect data in the other disks, if not it wouldn't be redundant.

But you knew that...

Of course I know that, but many people seem to think that RAID will save them from everything. I'm explaining one instance where it won't.

Phil21 · 02-15-2007, 12:00 PM

RAID is not backup. Repeat that 50 times. This is one of the things I have to tell customers and potential customers dozens of times, and many still don't quite "get it". Oh well, at least you do

RAID = for *availability* purposes ONLY. Meaning, if a drive fails, your machine doesn't die. Just swap a drive out when it's convenient.

Backups = Business continuity. This actually protects your DATA in the event of a "anything" failure. Absolutely required no matter how small or large the business.

Remember, good backups are not "cheap". Meaning, either you're paying $$$ for them (PC, hosting, whatever), paying in time spent admin'ing them, or paying in the form of a bad solution that likely isn't protecting you very reliably.

Rant over!

02-15-2007, 10:42 AM	#1
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Why using RAID doesn't guarantee your data is safe I had Mozilla open, another prog crashed, I closed Mozilla and eventually had to hard reset the computer. When it came back up again, my bookmarks and cookies had vanished. There was no file system damage, so it was probably more an oversight in the way the Mozilla updates its files (maybe rewriting them on exit even if nothing changes?) This is why RAID shouldn't be considered a "backup" solution. It will keep your comp running if a HD fails, but if an application does something stupid like overwrite a file the command is faithfully obeyed by the RAID controller! Fortunartely, I had a recent backup so I was able to restore cookies.txt and bookmarks.html.

02-15-2007, 10:46 AM	#2
Fetish Gimp Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,699	What version browser you using? Had that happen a while back, turned out after the crash I'd boot up in a newly created profile which obviously was blank, but my old profile was still there. With 2.0 haven't had the same problem, and the "restore session" feature is pretty kick ass. __________________ Strapon Seduction - femdom blog \| Twitter

02-15-2007, 11:21 AM	#6
borked Totally Borked Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,284	RAID is not meant as a backup solution. Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks is just that - a redundant array of disks. If one fail, data isn't lost. Of course any write to one of the array disks will affect data in the other disks, if not it wouldn't be redundant. But you knew that... __________________ For coding work - hit me up on andy // borkedcoder // com (consider figuring out the email as test #1) All models are wrong, but some are useful. George E.P. Box. p202

02-15-2007, 12:00 PM	#8
Phil21 Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ICQ: 25285313 Posts: 993	RAID is not backup. Repeat that 50 times. This is one of the things I have to tell customers and potential customers dozens of times, and many still don't quite "get it". Oh well, at least you do RAID = for availability purposes ONLY. Meaning, if a drive fails, your machine doesn't die. Just swap a drive out when it's convenient. Backups = Business continuity. This actually protects your DATA in the event of a "anything" failure. Absolutely required no matter how small or large the business. Remember, good backups are not "cheap". Meaning, either you're paying $$$ for them (PC, hosting, whatever), paying in time spent admin'ing them, or paying in the form of a bad solution that likely isn't protecting you very reliably. Rant over! __________________ Quality affordable hosting.

02-15-2007, 10:56 AM	#4
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Just noticed the "Recent Files" option is blanked out in Photoshop and some tabs have been reset. Bloody hell... what on earth happened to my PC?

02-15-2007, 11:11 AM	#5
bobosoft Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 152	Of course not, viruses, hackers, and user error destroy peoples data all the time. RAID can't protect against any of that.