Hello,

After working in a 365 x 24 operation for more than 5 years, and being
obligated to ensure as "safe and possible" environment for data. Then you
really have no choice by to copy each storage pool. Come up with a disaster
recovery plan, and put this into action!  I happen to believe it is worth
the cost, at least in my business which is Oil and gas exploration. Big,
expensive data sets that would cost 10's of millions to replace.  Also,
place a price on delayed delivery of data, what price do you (or the bean
counters place on that?) The cost of lost opportunity.

Here is my model  .. We go from Disk Pool to -  Tape Pool - then copy this
to Offsite pool, then get tapes off site as soon as practical. No big
deal.... Initially costs increase, but we have more than recovered the costs
of 3590's by having a DISASTER PLAN IN OPERATION.

If a tape gets wrecked in a tape drive (It does happen), or the media fails
(this happens as well), then at least you can recover the data you've just
lost. I know tape manufactures guarantee the tape. But only for the tape,
not the data thereon. It goes without saying your consumables are going to
increase, but that is a small price to pay for a pretty valuable asset,
namely your data. Your costs can be managed by setting expiration
etc........

I can honestly say, my butt has been saved many times by having using DRM.
Once set up properly, it runs, and runs. Setting up is no big deal. Thinking
about it is, but not acting is suicide.

What price do you place on data? How much to replace? How much is a lots
opportunity going to cost??? I guess it depends on how much went into
collecting it and much the company sees lost opportunities.. Put a price on
that, and there is its true worth.

Ponder for a while... Cheers


:)

Regards


Stephen.


Stephen Pole
Geophysicist - Data Management Specialist
61 Delonix Circle
Woodvale WA 6026 Austalia

Office Phone       +61 8 9409 3014
Home Phone       +61 8 9409 3012
Mobile Phone      +61 4 2121 0157


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