Backing up data

[Vince K]

Can anyone please point me to the right thread that discusses proper back up procedures for HD footage...if there is one?:)
Is there a proper formula for this?
I'm always wondering if I have enough backup copies, or not enough, and was wondering if I should dedicate specific 1TB hd's for certain projects...kinda like separate 1 TB folders? or is it a better idea to have 4 different hd's with the same file copies on each?
Just trying to get more organized.:cool:

[Vince K]

I will rephrase.....

At the risk of sounding stupid - :embarassed:
is there a certain way I should be backing up my footage...or is it as simple as' do it as many times as you want as long as you have the space" ?

I have many projects on the go, and I need a more organized way of handling these files for editing. Right now I'm looking at 1TB worth of footage on 2 different projects, and it's a bit of a clusterf*@k to say the least.:headwall:
I have 2x 1TB lacie hd and 1 500gb hd. .

Any suggestions to steer me in the right direction would be GREATLY appreciated. :willy_nilly:

[SandeepDey]

Data backup policies/plans are usually carefully thought out, taking into consideration all factors involved. But finally it boils down to a matter of choice.

In your case, a simplistic and the easiest way to go would be to atleast begin with isolating the two projects in separate folders. Given your existing setup you could have one harddrive setup as a backup and do incremental backups as required. Getting a tape backup drive might be an option that might not be cost viable for you at this point. Also having either your production drive and/or back drive mirrored is always a good idea.

A typical back plan usually employs two backup media that are used alternately. This protects against any failure during backup. Considering only the production drive being mirrored, this would call for 4X the harddrive space relative to the data.

Also it is common practice to house the backup drive at a different location from the production system.

Hope this helps you thinking in some direction.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Back up to tape weekly.
Back up to external drive in an offsite location every other night.
Use RAID 10 on your file server
Use Shadow Copy hourly (Differential backup on top of the RAID 10) on your file server
and
Clone to a seperate filer server with raid 10 twice daily.

That's our system for our 2.5TB active data. Archived data goes onto tape and DVD.

I can't think of a time that a hard drive failure or any sort of technical failure has resulted in lost data...


If your studio burns down you have last night's backup.
If your file server dies you have a clone.
If you have a hard drive fail RAID10 will work around it.
If you accidentally delete a file ShadowCopy will retrieve it.
If you accidentally save over a file ShadowCopy will roll it back for you.

It would take our offsite and our studio burning down simultaneously to actually lose more than a day's data.

[Vince K]

I never thought about the 'different location' backup. I guess the idea is that footage=paycheck, so it makes sense that one would protect the @#$% out of it.
Thanx for the heads up on that one guys.
Sorry for the momentary lapse of reason.
I guess the next questions would be...any recommendations for a decent deck?
Is there an deck option that won't cost me an arm a leg?