I see it as just the opposite. Those who argue RAID is a backup medium don't really understand backup. Backup intrinsically involves making one or more complete separate copies and storing them in a safe location.
RAID 5 is used to reduce the probability of needing to restore your data from a backup. It does not remove the need of doing a backup and it is not the backup method itself.
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I see it as just the opposite. Those who argue RAID is a backup medium don't really understand backup. Backup intrinsically involves making one or more complete separate copies and storing them in a safe location.
RAID 5 is used to reduce the probability of needing to restore your data from a backup. It does not remove the need of doing a backup and it is not the backup method itself.
Real (i.e. good quality) tape systems are archival quality.
The normal personal computer backup systems are of decidedly inferior quality.
No.
They are a minimally acceptable backup media for short-term storage.
Consider the fact that with tapes, you really just have to worry about tape errors. If the tape drive fails, you can use another.
With hard drives, you have to worry not only about errors on the drive, but about hardware failures in the electronics as well.
In 10 years, that hard drive will probably be dead no matter what you do. But a properly stored tape backup would still be around.
The last thing you want is to need your backup media that is stored offsite and finding out that your friend spilled his Cheerios all over it.
A bank safe deposit box would be much better.