How are you all backing up your data at home? Back in the day you used to be able to use slow tape drives to back up your data. As far as I know tape drives are no longer viable for home use because of capacity issues. I guess I could set up a raid 5 array, but that is kind of costly, especially considering the need for a controller and the like.

So how are most people backing up their home data? I write some key data to cd/dvd, but with several hundred gigs of information and data that is only practical for a small fraction of it. What should I be looking at in terms of doing a full back-up of all my data? Will it require me having additional hard disk storage equal to what I have and just do a straight copy? Or, is there a more efficient means for me to back up my home data?

I dont have a lot of data. Mine total is less than 10 GB and only 10% out of it is really important. I backup my data on the several SD Cards & memory sticks I have.

I backup my files to a hosting account, it is slow and somewhat expensive, but I only have a little data that is critical. Also, using a webserver or hosting is good because you cant loose it and it cant be stoolen, unless someone figures out your passwords.

-C

I myself have 1.3 terrabytes spread among 4 networked systems. I don't use tape backup any longer because they are impractical and time consuming. I backup critical data (i.e. video files, digital photos, and other important documents) to other systems so I have copies in triplicate. All my systems on on UPS. My video files comprise about 200 gigs of raw tapes dumps for my video camera, my digital photos take up about 6 gig and growing fast since I'm scanning in as many (pre-digital) photos as well. So right there that makes up over 600 gigs of data when with copies on several systesm. I also have my entire music collection ripped (320kbs) which uses about 80 gigs so add another 240 gigs when backed up in triplicate. In total media file space alone accounts for about 850 gigs of disk space no. Backing up in triplicate may be a little overkill but disks are soooo cheap noadays, why not? You can get 250 SATA for under $120 today and getting cheaper. It alot faster, cheaper, and convienant than tapes.

I use DVD-r:s . When it's something important I create duplicates.

/Irkasmork

for my work i use a 128 disgo usb pen drive for my school work and thing like that

40gb hard disk will do the job

I dont really backup my data. I only got stuff that is not that important. And i need to back-up, then i will most probably use my flash drive.

well, backing up files through flash drive is more convenient i guess...but i just use cd-r...my files aren't that many...

I have a spare hard drive in my PC that I back up all my important data on. If it's really top secret I burn it to a CD or DVD and slap it in the safe.