Guidance on SSD and Backups

**Mr Wallace** · June 12th, 2011, 09:24 AM

Hi guys

I'm looking for some advice on backing up a new system I intend to build soon using a 120GB Vertex 3 SSD, an Asus P8P67-M and a Core i5 2500K. The PC will be used primarily with AutoCad drawings and Word documents. This 'projects' data amounts to around 10GB at the moment; however, I need to archive some of it which should reduce it down to about 5GB.

I will install Windows 7 and applications on the SSD, but I am unsure as to where to store this projects data. I want optimal performance and so would ideally keep the data on the SSD as well. I am considering scheduling regular backups, say every hour, to copy the data to an internal HDD. However, I want to minimise the possible disruption caused (loss of responsiveness) during a scheduled backup when working at the PC. Now, would I gain much by using a second SSD instead of an HDD, or is that a monumental waste of money?

I think I will use Windows to create a system image perhaps once a month or so. (Once set up, very few additional applications will be installed/modified)

I am also considering a RAID 1 array. Can SSDs be used in a RAID 1 array successfully? I realise this would not be a substitute for backups. I currently use a Buffalo 1TB gigabit NAS to do nightly backups, and I would continue to use this. I use Syncback SE for backups. I'm not very knowledgeable in RAID arrays. I use a RAID 1 mirror in a Windows 7 file server I have at the moment which works pretty well. However, I use the 'dynamic disk' capability of Windows rather than a hardware RAID implementation.

Any advice, suggestions or ideas is very welcome! Thanks

**GroundZero3** · June 12th, 2011, 09:33 AM

Ssd can be put into any kind of raid out there. If you want you can have a raid with ssd and then have a non ssd drive for a backup. It all depends on how much data you are backing up. Ssd prices are still high for the price per GB

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · June 12th, 2011, 11:51 AM

Hi, and WELCOME TO TECHIMO - from the Folding@Home Team [#111]..!!

Originally Posted by Mr Wallace

I am considering scheduling regular backups, say every hour, to copy the data to an internal HDD[*1]. However, I want to minimise the possible disruption caused (loss of responsiveness) during a scheduled backup when working at the PC. Now, would I gain much by using a second SSD instead of an HDD, or is that a monumental waste of money?[*2]

Can SSDs be used in a RAID 1 array successfully[*3]? I realise this would not be a substitute for backups. I currently use a Buffalo 1TB gigabit NAS to do nightly backups, and I would continue to use this. I use Syncback SE for backups. I'm not very knowledgeable in RAID arrays. I use a RAID 1 mirror in a Windows 7 file server I have at the moment which works pretty well. However, I use the 'dynamic disk' capability of Windows rather than a hardware RAID implementation.

Any advice, suggestions or ideas is very welcome! Thanks

[*1] Good plan, backups include all important data...which seems to be something that most [non-techies] normally forget about - until it is too late..!

[*2] Personally, I wouldn't waste the money on SSD for backups, mainly as running a backup isn't likely to have a heavy load ('load' meaning reads and/or writes) on the drives. It is this load that you would notice when loading up an application (game/CAD software/etc) but would have a negligable difference in the time taken to run your backup.

This is especially poignent if you consider the price point for SSDs; much more money, for a small improvement in your backup drive/s.... For the 'primary' drive/s it is understandable, as the computer would boot up quicker, and have less latency while loading and working with getting information off the drive.

[*3] I work for a high-end network storage vendor, and we have SSDs in RAID 5, 6, 50 and 60 (5+0 or 6+0 "nested" RAID) arrays and we know that it can also run in any other RAID combination of RAID you want.

(We just don't use RAID 0 or RAID 1 by itself, the closest we get to using RAID 1 would be where we mirror drives within volume groups to ensure upload/performance in the event of a hardware failure (like a tray going offline) for our customers..)