RAID 1 different manufactured HDDs?

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threedb

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Can I use different HDD manufacturers ( same size -- 2TBx2 ) in a RAID 1? I've read that same manufacturer is the way to do it. But I have also read that it is better to mix them up in case there is a bad batch, etc. If it is okay to mix them, what are the requirements between drives to ensure that they will work in a RAID correctly?

Also, is it possible to mirror to more than 1 drive in a RAID 1?

What is the best way to backup storage offsite?
 
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kanewolf

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You can mirror more than one drive. It is called RAID10 because it is RAID1 (mirrored) and RAID0 (striped). RAID1 does NOT remove the need for backups. It will protect against a drive failure, but won't protect against user error, software error, virus wipeout, etc. DON'T treat RAID1 as all that is required to keep your data safe.
 
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threedb

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Thank you Kanewolf. Okay, if RAID is not a true be all, end all backup solution, then what is? Something something cloud?

Also, what about different manufacture drives in a RAID, can you do that?

 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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You can RAID different vendors drives. It is probably less optimum, IMO, than using one model of disk drive.

My backups are done to network storage (NAS). I then do selective copies to Amazon Glacier. The most important thing is to make sure you have a backup system that happens AUTOMATICALLY and keeps a few versions of your most critical files (mail, quicken, etc). The automatic part is most important so that you don't just skip backups because they are inconvenient. My PC does an automatic backup of critical files every night at 1:30AM while I am fast asleep. You can do it with a USB drive, network storage, a second internal disk. You just need to be systematic about doing the backups.
 
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threedb

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I appreciate the response kanewolf. That makese sense about vendors. I will look into Amazon Glacier as well. I did not know that it was possible to schedule auto backups to a USB drive. That is interesting. I would assume that that also means that you could back up to an external hard drive as well. Can you do that too?

 
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threedb

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Kanewolf, I apologize for my ignorance and I promise I will get on the Google for this, so you can set up some kind of auto-backup via X external drive ( USB )? That's cool and I didn't know you could do that. Are we doing this through Windows or it a proprietary software of some kind?
 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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What my PC does is use windows task scheduler to wake up the computer at 0130 -- Just run a batch file that does nothing but check the time. Acronis then has its own scheduled job which runs to do the backup. I have an older version of Acronis which wouldn't wake up the PC. So I added a windows task scheduler job to do it for me.

I do recommend getting an aftermarket backup software, like Acronis. It can do file-by-file backups, partition backups and full disk images. I have it do file-by-file backups for my important directories. I backup up about 3GB per night.
 
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threedb

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Hm.. "Just run a batch file.. " That sounds a little new to me. I will consult the Google. Acronis... Totally new to me and again I will consult the Google. I was unaware of the ability to do any of this but it is super helpful information. I will check it out and see if I can get it to work. Thank you for posting here and helping me out.

BTW, why use two different services? Amazon Glacier and Acronis? They seem to offer similar services but there must be something that Acronis does specifically that Glacier doesn't.
 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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I use glacier only to create off-site backups of things like my digital photos. Even encrypting the files before uploading, I am still not thrilled with Glacier having my Quicken data.... I am not as concerned about my digital pictures being used for evil purposes.

Acronis is just a backup software package.
 
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