-
Storage and Backup suggestions???
I’m experiencing kernel panic issues right now…which naturally leads me to question my backup options and storage. At any given time, I might have almost 1TB of media and related files. So I want to find a good way to protect myself in the event of drive crashes, corruption and other issues.
What is everyone else doing to backup their media and project files? Is running something like Retrospect and backing up the media to an additional drive a good idea? Something better?
I’d appreciate to hear what everyone else is doing?
Thanks,
Braden -
8 Replies
-
I don’t backup media, but do backup the project files on a CD or flash drive… Media can be recaptured from those project files if need be.
There are redundant RAID solutions for media drives that would keep them up and running… like a Huge systems array in a RAID 3 configuration. What happens is if a drive fails, you can rebuild the array by replacing it and won’t lose any data.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
-
Jerry,
Thanks for the quick reply.
So you suggest that backing up media really isn’t necessary. And, simply manually copying the project files is sufficient.
I’m asking because I’ve just had kernel panic problems, and I’m concerned about the prospect of having to reformat a drive. In this situation, would you suggest getting an additional drive to copy the media to before reformatting, instead of doing frequent backups?
Just trying to figure out the safest way to do this…
Thanks,
Braden -
Tell me more about your setup. You have more than one drive involved? you want to rebuild your startup disk or media disk? Post what your system software is too.. Maybe another way to clean up your drive would involve an archive and install of system software which would leave your data alone…
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
-
Sure.
This is my client’s setup:
Dual 2.7 G5
2GB RAM
(2) internal 400GB harddrives
(1) 1TB LaCie Bigger Disk (FW800)
(1) 250GB LaCie (FW800)
FCP StudioThere are multiple projects on the drives. Some projects, like the one I’m having issues with, can span four months, or more. One project is 100GB, another is 280GB…hours and hours of DV25 video, in FCP and DVDSP.
If I end up in a situation where I have to reformat a drive for whatever reason, what’s the best course of action? Should I just get additional drive space to use during the reformat? Or should I have been backing up all along?
As it is, it looks like the kernel panic is being caused by a corrupt FCP project file. So, your suggestion of just copying the project files is the right way to go. I just want to provide the best solution for my client.
Maybe the best question is, what is the best way to prepare for file corruption?
Thanks,
Braden -
If you wanna keep everything and you have to format you drives there’s always the option of cloning you drive on another one, format the drive and put back everything on it. If your kernel panic is caused by a corrupt file cloning is worthless because the corrupt file will still be there, its the only option I can think of so you don’t loose anything including your media. I would clone a media drive only if you don’t have access to the original tapes because the best way to go is like Jerry said, save the project and graphic files, format drive, put back project files and recapture.
-
Backup is the only way to prepare for a file corruption. If the Kernal Panic doesn’t happen except when this particular project file is opened, then I’d suggest that it’s trash…
That said, there is an automatic backup happening if your client’s not turned it off. There should be a backup in his Autosave folder found by seeing where it’s set to be in his scratch disk settings. Might try one of the backups. If this doesn’t fix him up, post back.
Media files are really huge and most of us just don’t back them up…. project files, or other media that doesn’t have timecode attached to it should be backed up like PSD files, or other computer generated files… just remember to keep those tapes in case…
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
-
Jerry,
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ll be changing the way I do a few things as a result of this. Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Braden -
[Braden Curtis] “I’ll be changing the way I do a few things as a result of this.”
Hi,
Good! Not having any backups is very risky. I back up my home directory with Retrospect almost every night (because the backups are incremental [changed or new files are added] this only takes a few minutes. This takes care of project files etc.
Then about once a month or before and after any major changes I backup my entire boot partition (so if a drive goes south or new software causes a problem) I can get back to where I was in a couple of hours.
Best Wishes,
Mitch
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up