I buy drives for my server in pairs. One goes in the server, one is a dedicated external backup.
Just plugged in one of the external backups, hadn't updated it in a while, and it has something like a power cut mid-backup, causing file system damage. Then it keeps cutting in and out constantly. Connection to the trayless rack is good, works for other drives.
So the dedicated external backup with mere hours of run time, stored in an anti-static container in a cool dry drawer is dying. Its twin in the server that runs 24/7 is fine 
That's why I always back up to floppy disks 
RossD
PowerDork
10/4/13 10:56 a.m.
We have this magnetic tape stuff. It quite hip. 
Punch cards. It's the only way to be sure.
I hear one place uses their CNC machine to back up to stone tablets.
Best to back up all your data to the cloud, where big brother can keep it safe and confidential.
JoeyM
Mod Squad
10/4/13 2:42 p.m.
conesare2seconds wrote:
Dr. Hess wrote:
Punch cards. It's the only way to be sure.
HA HA! 
vulnerable to fire. Go with stone tablets
I built a new array last month, one of the drives failed Monday.
JoeyM
Mod Squad
10/4/13 11:51 p.m.
SVreX
MegaDork
10/9/13 8:53 a.m.
I'm gonna show my age...
The first computer I used (in High School) with a backup used this:
Paper tape FTW!
SVreX wrote:
Paper tape FTW!
Yeah, but try to find a tape reader today. I still have a few rolls of that stuff in a box someplace, it's probably next to my eight track tapes.
RossD
PowerDork
10/9/13 9:47 a.m.
SVreX wrote:
I'm gonna show my age...
The first computer I used (in High School) with a backup used this:
Paper tape FTW!
Yeah but that's still digital!
Back in the day, before 'puters and stuff, high speed Morse Code ops used that baudot tape to send Morse Code at >50 WPM. You typed on a teletype machine punching the tape which then ran directly to a baudot tape reader that translated it into Morse Code and keyed your transmitter.
JoeyM
Mod Squad
10/9/13 10:02 a.m.
How'd the receiver function? record it and play back slow for transcription?
SSBUFTMFW
(solid state back up for the mother...well, you get the rest)
No, Joey, you just listen to it. High speed Morse Code. Back in the day, I could receive 40+ on paper and about 55 in my head without typing it out. I can still do >40 in my head, but I'm really out of practice.
This is why you NEVER buy hard drives in groups. If you want a good RAID array or backup drive, make sure everything has a different lot number.
If your backup fails, you might need a new transmission. crickets
I just remember everything. Meat computer rocks.
Great just lost another one. A different disk, not the twin of the one that failed, it's on 24/7 but it's less than 2 years old (was replaced because a disk in this role failed before). I logged into the server remotely and my disk checking script was blaring alarms. SMART check response fails sanity test. IO error if I try to read the disk. I shut it down and try to wake it from my router, but it doesn't come up, looks like it either stuck in late shutdown (can't ping) or early boot-up. Can't do anything about it until I get back home to physically press the switch on it...and I was bringing the replacement for that disk and its twin 
this also interferes with my trickle-down upgrade system, that's 2 more disks I have to replace now that I wasn't planning to just 10 days ago.
Thought I'd update again, I'm pretty sure the first hard drive that seemingly failed is actually still good, seems that the SATA connector for a trayless rack came unseated. I've got my eye on the second one but like the first one it passed an SMART long test...I'm using it in an active role right now, backed up of course. Didn't lose any data.
I'm pretty sick of this E36 M3 too. I love the convenience of having my photos and music all digital. Love not having to tote 20 scratched CD's everywhere I go. BUT, I'm so sick of E36 M3 failing and having to redo it. Latest is the "Time Capsule". Yeah, it's several years old, but I just upgraded the HD, and now it's broke, won't even do wireless router duties. Feel like I need backup for the music and pictures, but damn.
Here's what's crazy though- they claim MTBF's of hundreds of thousands of hours. Then why have 4 of the 5 aftermarket HD's I've purchased failed in a couple hundred hours? Flash memory has to be the solution. Just tell me when I can get 1Tb for $100.
