Looking to get a External 500mb HD...may be a network drive ?

[Mondo]

Need a backup drive for my stuff, it's getting to the point where its almost as cost effective to get a 500G HD than 200 DVD-Rs so have been looking at them and narrow it down to this but have a few questions.

I was dead set on getting This one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Essential-500GB-External/dp/B000WP0NM8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1199394714&sr=1-2) until i found out you can get a drive that you can plug into the router and then have access to it when away from home with the PC off. This has the obvious advantage but the WD cersion i've seen have got really bad reviews on amazon. Anyone recommed any other brands?

Also, with my router running at 10/100 is it worth getting it as it's quite a bit slower than USB2.0 and Firewire, also with it being £50 more would you say the performance worth it..in your opinion of course.

[Dr. Z]

It depends on what you want from it really. If you want it as a backup then dont bother with a networked one - it will only encourage you to leave it on and that negates the fact its a backup!

If however you plan to use it to store things like TV eps and films (not that 500Gb will get you that far!) get a networkable one so that no matter which machine you are on you can access your swag.

Hope this helps :)

[Daz]

If you want it as a backup then dont bother with a networked one - it will only encourage you to leave it on and that negates the fact its a backup!
My backup box is on 24/7 :/

[Dr. Z]

So what happens if you get a power spike and it totals your backup?! :p

[Daz]

Assuming my UPS doesn't save the server, nor surge strip save the workstation, then I'll just use the live copies on my laptop :p

As with any DR it comes down to how far you want to take it. I keep backup copies on two or three different disks/arrays in different places around the house depending on how important the data is, I think that's more than enough data security for any home user. The external drive on the server is on 24/7 for the convienience of automation - my backups happen every day without any prompt or setup from me. Tbh I consier my own laziness more of a threat than power surges :D

[Mark]

That's what I do too. Anything I buy/need to keep goes on the RAID in the server plus at least one other place. Anything I really need to keep goes on an external HDD eventually too.

None of this is automated so I risk losing about a month of stuff if it breaks. I will, eventually, maybe, automate it - except the external HDD bit because the drive gets unplugged.