Re: [PLUG] CD-R(W) backup tools?

[Leonard Rosenthol <leonardr@lazerware.com>]

At 11:57 AM -0400 8/19/00, Nathan Thompson wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 18, 2000 at 02:09:53PM -0400, Leonard Rosenthol wrote:
>  >	Pick any/all of the following reasons that come to mind:
> >  1) Limited in size
> >  2) Not spannable
> >  3) Poor/short shelf-life
>
> Ok.  each disk is not huge, so they are somewhat limited in size.
> However, I don't understand what you mean by numbers 2 and 3....  Not
> spannable? Most of the programs I've come across will span across as
> many cds as required.  Maybe I don't know what you mean by spannable (I
> am a backup newbie :)  )..

	Spannable means, as others have explained, being able have a 
single backup "span" across multiple CD's (or any media).  You are 
doing a backup (esp. an incremental one) and you run out of space on 
the disk, you'd normally want to insert another and continue.  Most 
backup software will NOT do that with CD's - only standard media 
(tape, floppy, zip, etc.)


> As for shelf life, it is my understanding
> that a cdr is good for 70 years if stored properly.  Tape is no where
> even in the same league as that.  What am I missing?
	CD-R has a longer shelf live than CD-RW, though I'd be 
surprised if it were 70 years.  And, there is definitely the "stored 
properly" issue which isn't as much a problem with other media.

	Don't get me wrong - CD-R/W is GREAT for archiving (I use one 
myself for just this purpose), but it's not considered to be a viable 
backup media. (backup in this context meaning your entire disk set on 
a regular basis).


Leonard
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Leonard Rosenthol      			Internet:       leonardr@lazerware.com
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