Help with setting up RAID

WindowsStar said:

pparks1 said:

I wholeheartedly agree that for saving data, a RAID 1 mirror for home use is not the way to go.

#1). If you get a virus or accidentally delete a file, you lose it on both drives instantly.

#2). If your house burns down or your computer is stolen, both copies of your data are gone at the same time.

I would use a pair of external drives instead and a utility to like sync toy or robocopy to make a mirror copy on the external drives. Then, take one of the drives offsite regularly....so in the event of theft or a fire, you don't lose your backups and your originals.

Great advice!

Here is what I am doing that works perfectly (well untested). I bought a fire safe that has an extremely high fire rating, with a guarantee it can be opened. I then bought a high quality 1TB hard drive the connects via USB. Next I drilled a small hole in the back of the safe just enough of a size to get the power cord and then the UBS cable into the safe. I then lock the drive inside the safe and make backups. I did some research about the small hole damaging the backup portable hard drive and smoke damage will not hurt it and the inside of the safe will not get hot enough to hurt the drive. This gives me two types of peace of mind. 1) Since the safe is bolted to the floor in the closet it cannot be stolen. (well not easily) 2) I am protected against fire. Note: I have not tested this and I don't think burning down the house would be a practical test.

Sounds fool proof to me. I was going to say; why don't you back up and then put it in the safe but that would be too much "in and out".

I have raid 1 on my home rig but as soon as they are filled up it is going back to non-raid. I do have an ext drive and I won't depend on raid 1 for a backup. (no way).