I have spent a few hours over the last couple weeks trying to rebuild my list of bookmarks and blogs after having suffered the consequences of a computer virus. My bookmarks are much like an old car that you have had for many years: it fits you like a glove and you know every creek and rattle, but there is a bit of dirt and dust in all the corners. My vintage BMW 2002 is much that way.
Thankfully, losing my primary computer was not all that painful, because I set up my systems with this in mind. What pain I have suffered has caused me to change a few things, but they are very minor.
Here’s the nuts and bolts of my current system:
My network consists of a RAID server running MS Small Business Server which includes MS Exchange, a desktop computer, and a laptop. All client data is stored primarily on the server, with nightly backups done on a USB external drive attached to the desktop. The server and desktop are both on good sized UPS systems that should keep them running for up to 2 hours.
The RAID box is an older, dual P3 system with 1GB RAM and redundant power supplies running RAID 5 across 6 disks. I picked it up on eBay last summer and have been very happy with it.
All client data are synchronized to the laptop. Every time I connect the laptop to the network, all client data are copied between the two computers. If either system quits, there is a complete dataset on the other. If both systems fail, the dataset is stored on the USB backup drive.
Similarly, I generally use my laptop to scoop up all the email from various accounts, but again that is synchronized with the Exchange server when connected.
When the laptop fails, all data and email are available through the desktop computer. Additionally, I can access and modify client data through the desktop and it resynchronizes with the laptop automatically.
The only problems I ran into after losing my laptop were data that was stored directly on my laptop and not stored elsewhere. This included my constantly updated bookmarks and my Feed Demon list of blogs. These inconveniences are minor compared to the absolute unmitigated disaster that could befall losing any client data or email. I will be making some changes to my backup procedures for this lesson.
I am looking at two additional procedures: one is to buy a second USB drive, where one is the daily backup and one is in a safe deposit box at the bank. The two drives would be swapped each week or so. The second procedure is backing up over the internet to a remote server.
