RE: Failure rate of backup tapes?

["Smith, Martin" <martin -dot- smith -at- encorp -dot- com>]

Regarding backup tapes that don't back up, another option would be to check
all of your files into a revision control program. If you get into the habit
of checking in your files at the end of each day you can always retrieve a
previous revision. Some revision control programs also allow you to track
major and minor releases and the changes made between revisions.

You most likely don't need an enterprise-level solution. Some revision
control programs are easy to use and inexpensive. I personally use CSRCS Pro
for my technical writing and software development projects. A single user
license sells for $145.00. Many other revision control programs are
available as well, ranging from the simple to the complex, free to the
expensive. CSRCS Pro has saved by butt on a number of occasions when I
wanted to review an earlier version of a source file.

The backup tapes are your last line of defense in the event of a server
crash and are not reliable for use as a historical record. Depending on how
your company rotates its tapes, it may not be possible to recover the exact
version of a project that you are looking for.

Martin R. Smith
Manager, Technical Writing
Encorp Inc.

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