-=> What the hell did Rt Pollock mean by that crack? <=-
Hey, sorry for jumping in here, but this a subject near and dear to my
heart...
 RP> Yes...backing-up data can be time-consuming, but it's still cheaper
 RP> than losing important data ...forever ! And it certainly beats having
 RP> to pay a fast typist to replace such records.
I run a computer services firm, in Kingston, ON one of my clients had
her office broken in to, all the computer equipment was taken along with
her fax machine and various other little things. Insurance covered the cost
of replacing the equipment, but not the data....Three weeks later and a bill
for 2000 dollars she had most of her data back. She lost some clients over
it as their records were the ones she couldn't get back.
 RP> You wanna gripe about the time it takes to perform backups, you go
 RP> right ahead and gripe. Maybe by the time you've finished all the
 RP> precious data on your machine will have been vanquished...and you soon
 RP> learn about the EXPENSE that professional data restorations can bring
 RP> down on you. I can assure you that it would be far in excess of the
 RP> 100-bucks or so that a UPS might've cost you in the first place...!
 RP> Instead of griping, you'll be in a position to groan really loudly...
Exactly, see my above example..
 RP> Are you aware of a technique known as "unattended backup" ? The
 RP> technique is used commonplace at many offices todays...and the
 RP> investment involved is actually quite cost-effective for many. Bundled
 RP> backup software that comes with many tape backup drives allow for timed
 RP> backups under the particular schema that you might actually require. No
 RP> longer do you need to be concerned about the costs of assigning an
 RP> employee to take dedicated data backups: it can all be setup through a
 RP> one-time effort and last until the day the machine croaks on it's last
 RP> byte. As some old-timers might say. "...it's automatic...".
The problem with the type of system you are referring to, is the fact that
the tape while backing up unattended is also unattended until the morning.
Not all data is lost due to computer problems....what about floods, fires.
crooks....just to mention a few more. Do you think if a crook was breaking
into the office and stealing things, he/she would take the time to remove
your backup tapes before taking off with your tape machine....
One of my biggest selling services to SOHO firms is Remote Backups, I install
software on the client machine, we pick the critical files together, then in
the evening when the office is closed, the software (which runs as a TSR)
wakes up the computer, gathers the days work, verifies it, encrypts it (only
the client knows the password) and transmits it via modem to my storage 
machine off-site. The next morning I transfer the previous nights backups
to tape and zip drive and store them in a disaster proof safe. Most people
aren't aware that most safes they buy in stores actually release moisture
in the event of a fire, not too good for your computer media if it's inside.
 RP> When coupled with current UPS technology, unattended backups can serve
 RP> to provide upwards of 90% of system (data) protection, the other 10%
 RP> being attributed to "human error" and peripherial
 RP> electrical/physical/mechanical breakdowns.
Change the above statment to remote backups and then you truly have a 
safe computer system....I can also restore on-line....I know remote backup
providers are popping up everywhere, you would have to check your area, but I
know that I only charge, (depending on the amount of data transmitted of 
course), in the range of 50 bucks per month, for daily, instantly off-site
backups....
Surge protecters, UPS, remote backups, baby you're protected come what may...
Take care all, and be careful out there...
Jody
... Backup not found: (A)bort (R)etry (S)lap nearest innocent bystander.
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30
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