[NLRS] WA2VOI DISASTER

[Jason Godfrey]

OK, I used a bad choice of words. I don't consider RAID a "problem".
(In fact, I've been trying to convince a relative to get some business
critical stuff on to RAID.) But I've encountered people that assume
that because they have RAID they are safe, which isn't true. I've seen
as many computer have to be installed from scratch due to software
issues as from lost drives. RAID won't help you with that, backups
will.

RAID is very useful tool. It is not the end all solution to that which
threatens your data (in which I include applications.)

The above is saying, I basically agree with you...

- Jason

On 7/9/07, Ford Peterson <ford at highmarks.com> wrote:
> > The only bad thing about a RAID array is simply this, its in the
> computer...
> > Can't count how many times someone thought they were safe with RAID and
> the
> > computer took a lightning hit destroying the drives they were depending on
> > saving them.
>
> OK, I'm a bit late getting to this discussion, but there is a second
> problem with RAID. If you make a mistake, or get a virus, or do
> anything that instructs the RAID to delete files, it will gladly
> delete those files.
>
> In real life and in computers, a mirror reflects what is there, not
> what you want to see :-)
>
> An (old in computer terms) saying: There are two kings of people.
> Those who back up there data, and those who will.
>
> - Jason
> (Who sadly admits he is bad about doing backups)
>
> [FP>]
> [FP>]
>
> Jason, and others,
>
> As an accountant, I discuss these topics with clients on a daily basis.
> When you talk about 'problems' with RAID drives, you confuse the matter by
> choosing to illustrate issues that are irrelevant to the discussion.
>
> RAID, which for any modern desktop computer costs about $125, is not
> designed to replace backups.  And that errant lightning bolt from heaven is
> the least of your worries.  Having witnessed dozens of catastrophic computer
> failures, it is operating system corruption and sudden hard drive failures
> that should keep you awake at night.
>
> RAID is also not designed to reduce your risk of virus infections.  It does
> not eliminate the need for appropriate backup procedures with off-site
> storage.  RAID should not be viewed as an insurance policy against laziness.
> But what RAID does do is provide a work-around for about 85% - 95% of the
> problems that can shut you down unexpectedly.
>
> Do the math...  What's the cost of a hard drive failure?  That depends on
> what failed and when.  Is it the data that needs protecting?  Calculate the
> cost of replacing the data.  Or is it downtime?  For most business
> applications, the hardware is a seemingly miniscule cost.  Even the data
> becomes a simple issue of nuisance.  Restoring data only to last Monday can
> take a few hours to re-enter a week's worth of paper documents.  But when it
> takes 2 weeks to recover from a loss of productivity, the $125 insurance
> policy seems inconsequential.
>
> What is interesting about this discussion relates to the recovery path.
> What is the path to recover from a failure?  The data is more-often-than-not
> the least of your worries.  It's making all those 2 or 5 year old
> applications (or even older) operate on a new machine (VISTA?) that will
> take all the time.  I assure you it may not be humanly possible to make old
> apps work on new machines.  For numerous reasons, no backup procedures will
> replace what a RAID can do flawlessly and instantly in the vast majority of
> restorations I witness.
>
> So whatever "problems" you see with having a RAID, I can assure you there
> are a thousand more pressing issues lurking without a RAID.
>
> With all that being said, calculate the 'cost' of losing functionality of
> your shack computer in the middle of a contest?  What happens to the log?
> If protecting that log is your only concern, then RAID is likely going to do
> little for you in the grand scheme of things.  Your only hope is to grab
> another computer and keep working.  The only insurance policy I can identify
> is either audio recording your Qs or working with a software application
> like Writelog or N1MM where the log can be mirrored in real-time on another
> machine.  In a pinch, that second machine can become the basis for
> continuing the contest, and maintaining integrity of the logged Qs.  Then
> again, the real "Cost" of losing your log is likely to be $Zero$, in which
> case all the heroic measures are questionable anyway.
>
> Ford-N0FP
>
>
>


-- 
If we confuse dissent with disloyalty— if we deny the right of the
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