Blu-Ray disks - what to do, what to do?

[zalephoto]

Below is a question I never got an answer on and now I need to make a purchase and continue to face the same dilemma without having any guidance. I was hoping you could help me out  with this as I am torn between buying a 1T drive and letting it sit versus buying a ton of disks. I am planning on backing up jobs as I am working on them to Re-writable blue ray and when completed storing them on regular blu-rays. I would truly appreciate your input.

Thanks,

Richard
http://www.zalephoto.com

 "I've been using an LG burner, and Memorex media, bought from Amazone  store called antonline ($3/each currently)" Peter Krogh

I had almost by serendipity purchased a BluRay setup much as previously discussed and at the same time as the aforementioned discussion. I initially got Memorex 4x disks (15 pak) with the burner.

Now it is time to really start looking at disks to purchase and in some quantity. I don't recall any depth as to what brands to look for or to avoid. Or, all they all equal except by price? Which I doubt.

I have checked ANTOnline as mentioned above and also MegaMedia and they all have different variations on the theme.and offer brands I am just not familiar with. So I would appreciate your input in what to look for as to the best value and reliability.

Richard
http://zalephoto.com

[peterkrogh]

Richard,
I suggest using hard drive to backup works in progress, rather than optical media.

I am still happy with the Memorex media, and validation tests indicate that no bits have gone bad.

I would suggest that you consider using something like ImageVerifier. That's a lot of data to put in ne place, and it would be good to have periodic validation of the data integrity.
Peter

[zalephoto]

Right now I am using a "Burly Enclosure". I mirror my drives (1T Ea.) and have drives for working and completed (prior to back-up). 4 total drives. All the same age. I am starting to get paranoid about disk failure as they are about 2 years old ea. All bought at the same time.  I am changing over from DVD optical to Blu-Ray for my backups. I wanted to use the re-writables for storage (off-site) of current jobs working. Then do two sets for final archiving. One on site and one off.
I cannot find the Memorex disks for $3.00 you said or for any qty. more than 15 spindle packs. It seems you can only find a price that is $3.00 if you buy in qy. And then it is an unknown name. Thus my original question. So many names - so little time - so little information.

Thanks for your help I just need a bit more.

Richard

[peterkrogh]

Richard,
• 4 drives are pretty unlikely to all die at precisely the same time (as long at they are in separate enclosures), but it sounds like you only have  2 copies of any one file. I strongly suggest 3. - primary, online backup version, and off-line/off-site backup version. Outlined in the book. (Have you read it?)

• You say 2 sets for archiving.  I strongly suggest that the primary archived version is on hard disk, and that the first backup also be hard disk (and taken off-site). The Optical disk backup is the disaster recovery version.

• Yes, the 15 packs seem to the largest packages I see at any reasonable price.  Give them a try. I also noticed that SuperMediaStore has the same deal.

• Memorex has been around for decades.  Not the highest reputation, but not terrible either. They don't make disks themselves, at least that's what the wikipedia entry indicates. In any case, the proof is in the pudding, and, as I say, all my memorex disks are validating with 100% accuracy. If I find any problems I'll post here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorex

Peter

[zalephoto]

Peter,
All 5 drives are in one housing.Part of my fear.
I do only have 2 copies of any file which is why I am desirous of of using re-writable BD for temporary off site storage and BD for archiving. I have not read the book in its entirety but am sneaking up on its full import. I buy books and they seem to keep my bookshelves busy and then refer to them on an as needed basis. Like now.
I am purchasing another TB drive and will on a weekly basis make this an off site backup.
I have been searching and cannot seem to break the $3 barrier it seems like the disks price varies daily.
I was always under the impression to not use Memorex, Verbatim et all when buying DVD and always option for the likes of Taiyo Yuden etc. I downloaded ImageVerifier and will begin to implement. Thanks.

[peterkrogh]

If the "backup" drive is in the same enclosure, I would not think of it as backup, but rather as "fault tolerant" storage. 
Peter

[zalephoto]

Now I know the correct term to use. So, I will be right in getting the new drive foe off site use. Thanks for your help.

Richard