SSDs as backup devices

[whbr]

I need to replace the external HDD I use to backup my /home and DATA and was investigating SSD drives. Having been burned a few times by HDDs going bad the idea of a solid state device is intriguing. My newest laptop has one and SSDs seem to be the future. That said I've encountered a few reviews from the professional punditry (some as recent as 2018) claiming SSDs are not good backup devices. They give several reasons. One is that data can just disappear (the drive can be reformatted and used again but the data is gone), the other that SSDs can only be written to a finite number of times (and they don't give that number so there is no way to tell if this is significant or not.) I don't know what actual technology SSDs use but intuitively I would think it would be like other solid state memory devices and I have no experience with those memory devices failing. Anyway, I always found you all experienced and knowledgeable about things so thought I would ask if anyone has any insights into this. I don't need the device to be portable, it will live on my desk so that isn't an issue. Speed isn't a huge issue for me as any device is faster than I am. I'm not a bargain hunter and can afford to buy whatever I decide I want. But reliability is important and the lower power consumption of SSDs is a plus. Thanks, Mark

[chrispop99]

SSD reliability is generally considered better than spinning drives these days. However, the big advantage of SSD's are their speed, and you say you don't need that, so why bother? SSD's also tend to fail catastrophically, without warning, and with no way of recovering data.

For the cost of a high-capacity SSD, you could buy two spinners, and alternate their use, such that you would only lose a small part of your data if your main drive and one of the backups failed.

Chris

[entropyfoe]

I prefer SSDs for live data storage and rotating drives for powered off storage (back-ups).

This policy splits data to devices where data security plays to the drives strong points.

SSDs do have a powered off retention spec, and it is not infinite. [It depends on the use of the drive and temperature, a heavily used drive run hot has shorter data retention) The topic is some-what controversial...and a powered off drive will NOT store data indefinitely.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/9248/th ... -retention
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/29079 ... ta-powered
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2921590 ... ility.html

A rotating hard drive, degrades and risks your data when powered on and spinning.
When the power is off, and not spinning, the data life is virtually unlimited. I have internal rotating drives with a key switch to keep them powered off when not in use for backing up the SSD. That way they are protected against wear, power surges, accidental deletion, malware. (RAWPOD = Redundant Array of Powered Off Disks - a play on RAID)

So, I use SSD for my working drives, and rotating drives, powered off for my back-ups. Use each for what it is best at.

[richb]

@entropyfoe

I found your post very useful and I learned something. Thank you.

[uncle mark]

On externals, it's usually the electronics that fail, not the drive itself.

I'd use a NAS rated HDD and a USB dock.

[cyrilus31]

. They give several reasons. One is that data can just disappear (the drive can be reformatted and used again but the data is gone)

It depends on storage temperatures and how often data is written. If you backup data once every few months, I would choose hdd over ssd.

https://www.jedec.org/sites/default/files/Alvin_Cox%20[Compatibility%20Mode]_0.pdf

[Eadwine Rose]

What I do as well is autobackup to the cloud for the really important stuff. In my case Mega.nz

Saved my hiney once, not too long ago!

[KBD]

What I do as well is autobackup to the cloud for the really important stuff. In my case Mega.nz

Saved my hiney once, not too long ago!

I also back up in the cloud. You could have 10 backups in your house but if it is damaged by fire or water those back ups are useless. If one does not like the idea of backing up in the cloud, either ask a friend or relative to hold a copy or get a safe deposit box.

[Mauser]

SSD reliability is generally considered better than spinning drives these days. However, the big advantage of SSD's are their speed, and you say you don't need that, so why bother? SSD's also tend to fail catastrophically, without warning, and with no way of recovering data.

For the cost of a high-capacity SSD, you could buy two spinners, and alternate their use, such that you would only lose a small part of your data if your main drive and one of the backups failed.

Chris

Actually an SSD is over 8 times the price of a HDD and good luck finding large SDDs.

[Krissharm]

I prefer SSDs for live data storage and rotating drives for powered off storage (back-ups).

This policy splits data to devices where data security plays to the drives strong points.

SSDs do have a powered off retention spec, and it is not infinite. [It depends on the use of the drive and temperature, a heavily used drive run hot has shorter data retention) The topic is some-what controversial...and a powered off drive will NOT store data indefinitely.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/9248/th ... -retention
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/29079 ... ta-powered
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2921590 ... ility.html

A rotating hard drive, degrades and risks your data when powered on and spinning.
When the power is off, and not spinning, the data life is virtually unlimited. I have internal rotating drives with a key switch to keep them powered off when not in use for backing up the SSD. That way they are protected against wear, power surges, accidental deletion, malware. (RAWPOD = Redundant Array of Powered Off Disks - a play on RAID)

So, I use SSD for my working drives, and rotating drives, powered off for my back-ups. Use each for what it is best at.

Informative and good post - thank you.
I tend to do the same, SSD in the computer to keep things speedy, then backup on a large old fashioned spinner!