Re: Do we need more emphasis on backup?

Jim Seymour wrote:
> Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us> wrote:
> >
> [snip]
> >
> > We do need to point out that you're only as reliable as your last
> > backup.  I'm not sure exactly where to say this.
> [snip]
> >
>
> Hmph.  Backups are for mitigation against a catastrophic failure
> destroying or corrupting main storage.  And even then: Subtle errors
> can induce data corruption that may go un-noticed until it's too late.
> (I.e.:  The last correct backups have been over-written, retired, so
> old they've become unreadable, so old the data's no longer useful,
> etc.)
>
> My position is that your data is only as reliable as your hardware,
> period.  Use cheap (usually PC, sorry) hardware and, well...  I wonder
> how many people are aware of the fact that the cheaper PCs don't even
> have parity memory anymore?  Then there are the issues with IDE
> drives.  (Don't recall those, exactly - don't use 'em.)

There is a basic misconception that all PC hardware is created equal ---
that hard drives, mother boards, and RAM are all the same because they
are all PC-compatible.  Compatible != Similar Quality.

Not sure where we would document this.  :-(

Running BSD, I have always had to buy server-class hardware for my home
machines, and I never regretted it nor had a problem.

--
  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive,     |  13 Roberts Road
  +  Christ can be your backup.        |  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073