Archive for September, 2008

Data Integrity in HP SCSI Hard Disk Ultra320

Monday, September 29th, 2008

The HP SCSI hard drives are reliable & robust because they are tested under severe and extreme conditions. These hard disks models are available in both non pluggable & pluggable. The HP hard drives revolution per minute (rpm) is 15,000 while the other standard hard drives have revolution per minute up to 10,000. Therefore, performance of HP hard disks is about 26% more than the other hard drives. The HP drives are passed through a series of rigorous tests to check their reliability and performance both in the workstation and in ProLiant server. The HP disk drives are given the HP unique firmware before the final certification and shipment. The firmware enhances the compatibility and the insight manager. HP introduced the “Hot pluggable universal drive carrier” and in the year 1999, Hewlett-Packard was awarded the “Gold Idea Award”.
This drive carrier has many additional features of compact design. The cooling process is also enhanced. The vibration in the HP drives is also reduced because the mounting drive is more secured. The models of the HP SCSI drives are the HP 300GB 5K Universal Hard Disk Drive (411089-B22), HP 146GB U320 15K Universal Disk drive (347708-B22) and HP 72GB U320 15K Universal Hard drive (286778-B22).
Nowadays the enterprises are facing the increasing demand of complex applications, processing of transactions and movement of critical data to server.
The Storage defines the performance & reliability of the system and is one of the most important components of Information System. HP hard drives do not have problems related to data integrity, failure or corruption because they are tested to overcome such problems. The HP drives are highly compatible & functional. The hard drives give high performance and best optimum output in the Hewlett-Packard systems and equipment. The HP hard disks are highly reliable in the HP systems and provide best results in ProLiant server and storage systems.

The HP Ultra 320 has SCSI bus transfer speed of 320 Megabytes/second, while the transfer speeds of Ultra 2 & Ultra 3 hard drives are 80 and 160MB/sec. Therefore, this fast speed of HP drives increases the performance level of SCSI devices. All the three HP drives Ultra- 2, Ultra-320, and Ultra3 have new and advanced plug drive carriers and they can also be used in either of their capable systems. The maximum transfer speed of 320MB/sec can be achieved in the HP Ultra 320 drive when both the array controller and the hard disk are capable with the Ultra-320.

The HP Ultra 320 universal hard drives are compatible between the Ultra 3, Ultra 2 and Ultra 320 Proliant storage systems, modular array and servers. The plug drives come in different capacities and have multiple spindle speeds. The HP drives have edge over other, because it has low complexity of storage and the cost of ownership is also low. Therefore, as a result the spare inventory of the drives also reduces. The data transfer speed of the Ultra320 drive (320 MB/sec), twice that of the systems of Ultra 3. The HP hard drives have an edge because they are compatible through hot plug between the three platforms of HP SCSI drives (ultra 320, ultra 2 & ultra 3). Before the HP drives are shipped, it is made sure that they fulfill all the requirements related to the performance and reliability.
These drives give the best results and enhanced performance. The HP drives have the latest technology and the capability to handle the increasing demand of data recording and also competes in the data critical environment in the enterprises. If the user wants to immediately install the drives on the Proliant storage or the server system, then it can be done by configuring the “option universal kits” and then per mounting the suitable “hot plug tray”.


Shawn Paul (Marketing Manager)
Tape4backup.com
34972 Newark Blvd, # 501, Newark CA 94560
Tel : 888-491-4949
Fax : 888-449-5050
Email: sales@tape4backup.com

When Can They Recover Data If A Hard Drive Crash Happens

Monday, September 29th, 2008

The worst thing that can occur to someone who works only on the computer is a hard drive crash. This is a disaster especially if data backup hasn’t been made. Luckily, nowadays the data can be recovered, that’s the good part, and the bad part is that it costs a lot of money. That’s why a lot of companies are out there, which offer data recovering services. Many of them use tricks to attract costumers. They ask a low fee at the beginning and after the evaluation the fee suddenly increases. Many customers prefer to pay than have it sent back and look for another company.

There exist two important causes which can lead to a hard drive crash. One of them is logical and the other one is physical. You can find out yourself if it’s physical or logical; it’s not a sure test but it is usually right on the money. If your BIOS recognizes the hard drive, it’s logical. If not, the problem is physical. Anyway, it is best that if you suspect a hard drive crash and you didn’t do a backup of your data to turn off the computer and let a professional examine your hard disk.

If you are sure that your hard drive has crashed, the best you can hope for is that the problem is logical and not physical. Not only that it could take also ten days to recover the data, but in some cases they won’t be able to recover it, in case of a physical problem. If it is logical they will try to restore the file system and if they are successful, the hard disk will work as it did earlier. If not, a thorough scan will be done and every file found will be copied. The cause of a logical problem is usually a virus, but it can also happen if you, by accident, delete some important files.

Having a physical problem means that it will be hard work to recover the data. The parts that were damaged will need to be replaced. Sometimes, this won’t even work if it isn’t done properly. That’s why these things should be done only by professionals. If your hard drive crashed, I hope that you will be able to recover your data, because sometimes no one will be able to recover it. However, the percentage of success is pretty high, since almost 85% of the recovery processes are successful.


When a hard drive crash happens, it can get really nasty. Find out more about hard drive crash data recovery and laptop hard drive recovery.

How Many Drives?

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

Back in the day when the humble Pc came about there was pretty much only one type of storage device that you really needed to know about and that was your hard drive. Sure there were a few others to be fair but they were so hellishly expensive that only massive companies could afford them.

Of course we also had ram memory wish is a type of storage medium but it cost so much and you got so little that it never really figured, but boy oh boy how times have changed, and if you have not kept up to date with whats available – sit down and buckle up as we go on a storage ride.

NAS, SAN, Snap Devices, kind of sounds like a breakfast cereal doesn’t it? Well here’s the explanation.

NAS, SAN, SNAP Devices are Network Attached Storage (NAS), Storage Area Network (SAN) and, System Network Attached Protocol (SNAP).

Essentially in laymans terms these tend to be large storage drives that are external to a particular server but provide a centralised data store area for companies data.

It s often cheaper to have large amounts of data external to a server or they could be for back up purposes but if these fail you will need to call out the data recovery company.

External Drives

External Drives are essentially hard drives that sit outside of your computer and attach to it by a usb cable. These are great if you want extra storage on your Pc or want to back up your own data just in case.

SSD

Solid State Drive (SSD) is the newest form of data storage device and SSD devices are gradually increasing in size. They are very fast and because they have no moving parts are potentially more reliable.

They are still very expensive but are tipped to eventually replace the hard drive.

Flash Memory Sticks and Memory Cards

These are essentially small portable storage devices with no moving parts just like an SSD. These devices are getting very large in their capacity and have become the prefeerd method of easily moving data around or for use in cameras and digital video recorders.

And of course you now have ever increasing amounts of storage in your phone and in your MP3 and MP4 player as well principally due to the fact that memory is now a whole lot cheaper than it used to be.

So thats a whistle stop tour of current technology and if you want to get more information about technology visit technology explained for useful and informative help.

Where To Go For Data Recovery

Friday, September 26th, 2008

All computer owners out there know that hard drives can and probably will fail at some point in time. Even though hard drives are built to last and withstand a lot of things, crashes are something that hard drives dont handle well. Although the loss of data is something to be expected - data recovery ensures that your hard drive doesnt fail you when you need it the most.

Where To Go For Data Recovery
Your hard drive is very important. It stores all of your data and files, and keeps all of your important computer documents. Hard drives have rotating gears, an aperture arm, and 4 platters that store data. No matter how great a hard drive is built, failure is bound to happen one day.

When your hard drive crashes or you lose all of your information, there are things you can do to get back your data. The best way to get back your data, is to take your hard drive to a specialist in your area or send it off to a company. This way, tests can be ran on it and the specialists there can recover your data, which may require rebuilding your hard drive.

If you happen to have multiple hard drives or a RAID configuration, then all you need to do is replace the broken hard drive, and the data that you thought you lost will be regenerated among the other drives. If all of the hard drives in the RAID or mirror configuration have crashed, then youll need to send them off together.

Those of you who decide to on the task of fixing the hard drive yourself, should rethink about it. Repairing a hard drive takes a lot of time, effort, and research. If you have no experience with hard drives, it is definitely something that you dont want to get into. Even if you have a neighbor who is very experienced with computers and hard drives, you should still look into taking your hard drive to a professional - and get it done right the first time.

Data Recovery
In the rare cases where the hard drive cannot be repaired, the experts will let you know. They will tell you that there is nothing you can do, the hard drive is completely destroyed. This way, you dont waste time or money on something that simply cannot be fixed.

Top Tips for Backing Up Your Files With [lc]a[lc] Small Portable Hard Drive

Friday, September 26th, 2008

Interestingly, Many people who have a computer do not own a handy portable hard drive, which is a very useful device for backing up your summer vacation picture way for backing up your favorite files and storing them in one place . Some people still go through the daunting time consuming task of backing up their files multiple CDs. Some users simply do not realize that a is the easiest way to make sure you do not lose any of your files in the event your main hard drive goes bad . Backing up your computer files on another drive is a fairly simple process.

What Files do You Want to Back Up on Your Portable Hard Drive?

Look through your personal computer and determine which ones you would like to back up to your portable hard drive. This is an important step, as you need to make sure that you have the proper amount of storage space to complete the back up. This is generally figured in megabytes (MB) or, gigabytes (GB) depending upon the capacity of the drive . Once you have done this, you will have a general idea of the portable hard drive size you will need. It is always good to add extra storage so that you can add more files later if you choose.

Purchase a Portable Hard Drive if You Don’t Already Have One

The next step is actually purchase a compact USB drive. While there are multiple steps to the purchase, there are a few easy tips to follow. Find a good brand that is reputable make your entire purchasing decision based upon price alone.

Set Up Your Portable Hard Drive

Your new drive will come with a power cord and a USB cable. Using the power cord, plug it into your power supply (either directly into the wall or a power strip), while one end of the cable will simply plug into your portable hard drive and the other, flatter looking end plugs into one of your USB ports located on your desktop . It is important to note, however, that many newer drives have a simple extending USB port that, attached directly to the drive that simply plugs directly into your USB port. Make sure you read up on any special features the drive may have come with like fingerprint id capability or push button backup.

Moving or Copying Your Files

You have already identified the files you want to move onto your portable hard drive, so now it’s time to move them. Simply “drag and drop” the files you want to move onto the folder that designates the portable hard drive in your “My Computer” window. You may notice it may take a few moments for larger files to move over to the portable hard drive. If you feel like moving (and not simply copying), just delete the files on your computer from their original location once you have completed transferring them.

When you have completed the steps, you have officially backed up your files on your portable hard drive. You can store files on both hard drives, but you can also keep files on only the portable hard drive itself, allowing you to essentially double or triple your hard drive space for any new files you would like to transfer or back up.

Data Recovery One On One

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

The computer has become the powerhouse of modern business culture and we are now able to work and produce data at a pace that only 10 years or so ago would have seemed at the very least impossible and almost certainly unmanageable.

Sure storing every thing digitally does seem like a sensible idea and the ever increasing capacity of hard drives and network storage is encouraging this practice which is great until you hard drive or raid server suddenly ceases to function, so what then?

The potential problem is worse still if you have not implemented a sensible data back up solution then in some cases a business could have to close especially if the data is required by legislation to be held for a number of years as is becoming the case in many business sectors.

If you still have access to the internet on another computer at least you will be able to go online and find a data recovery expert or server specialist, however you do need to make sure you pick the right one.

Not all so called data recovery specialists have access to their own or group data recovery facilities and often they will be using software to try and recover the data without a great understanding of how it really works. Which in many cases can cause further degradation.

There is software available that can help with data recovery that some of the lets say less professional establishments will use. But the problem with these is that rather than doing a partial recovery of undamaged data first, which is essential. They will start the software application which in many instances can actually destroy what was recoverable already.

Where a data recovery company does not have dedicated and certified clean room facilitates you will need to ask where the drive will end up. If you are in the UK it may end up in America or even India somewhere.

If the drive will be repaired in a different country you really need to factor in the amount of time you are likely to be without your data, and if this is critical find a company that has local facilities.

Many business have time sensitive data, that is data that needs to be recovered quickly for example a prestigious contract or a lengthy proposal, so the amount of time you will be without your data is often critical.

Small and large business and even computer support companies seldom have the ability to perform their own recoveries.

This is almost certainly the case when it comes to failed raid arrays, raid data recovery is not without risks and many a support engineer has wished they had not attempted a re-build as they have ended up losing the entire company data.

Your data will could either be the life blood of your business or your most treasured and fond memories and quite simply choosing the wrong data recovery provider can prove an absolute nightmare. Make sure you do your homework.

Data Recovery For Your Phone

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

Looking after your data is becoming an ever increasing problem as more and more of the devices we have come to rely on so readily each has its own memory.

The problem is we are all simply becoming too complacent with the way we manage our data and seldom entertain backing it up until that fateful day when it is no longer available to us.

Online back ups are readily available from bona fide data storage companies and all the reputable ones will even have back ups of your back ups just in case.

The data centres are very secure and the chances of somebody getting at your data are far far less than they are on you own Pc.

Just on your Pc or laptop alone you could have Word documents, Spreadsheets, Email files, Photographs, Music and Sound files and Video and DVD files. So with the risk of losing that lot if you haven’t considered a back up solution yet then you should as soon as possible.

Fortunately capable data recovery firms (no, they are not all they would appear to be sometimes) can recover deleted files from hard drive formatting, corruption, virus infection, unexpected loss due to surges or unexpected system shutdown.

Although that’s not a open invitation to forget about your back up, it is some consolation if data loss ever happens to you there may be a solution but it may cost a bit.

But once we go beyond the Pc data handling can be a little more awkward as there are a number of different storage solutions and configurations available for example RAID, NAS, SAN, Snap Devices, External Drives, Hard Drives, SSD’s , Ipod and MP3/MP4, Memory Sticks and of course not forgetting the humble cell and Mobile phone and iPhone’s.

Most important to the consumer apart from their hard drives of course will be their Ipod’s MP3 and MP4 playes, Memory Sticks and cell phones.

All of these devices have massive memory capability these days and people are simply forgetting to make sure the data is kept somewhere else as well.

Can you imagine for example writing a 10,000 word dissintation for your final exams only to find your memory stick suddenly gives you an error and you heart failure as you realise you have failed to save it anywhere else.

Fortunately for all, although it may be inconvenient data recovery is available for these devices as well so if this ever happens to you contact your local computer support technician as they will almost certainly be able to recommend a data recovery specialist who will be able to help you.

Learn Pros and Cons of Processing Data - Read these Tips

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Processing DATA is what all businesses do. Protecting data is what SMART businesses do. Smart businesses understand that if they lose their data they lose their business.

If you are considering taking steps to ensure the integrity and safety of your important computer data you may be concerned about the security involved when dealing with such a task. When considering a third party such as an online backup solution there are a few things to consider.

For starters, it is critical that your data be secure not only while in the possession of a third party but also while in transit to them. Most modern online secure data backup providers make their services available via the Internet and will provide you with the necessary software to back up a predefined set of your critical data, which is then encrypted (typically up to 448 bit), before it is transferred over a high speed connection to a secure data storage facility. You can be assured that your sensitive data (such as financial reports, company memos, and client databases) are safe from prying eyes. For ultra-critical, or highly sensitive applications, the data may be transferred over a completely encrypted channel. If you will be backing up sensitive data that demands the utmost of privacy be sure to inquire about the level of encryption offered by the online secure data backup you are considering.

When considering a remote data backup vendor you should also take into consideration the facilities in which your sensitive data will be physically stored. In addition to encryption technology other things to be on the lookout for are fully secure facilities, biometric security systems, facility lockout policies, and human security. Depending on the level of security you need there are many levels of protection for your data that can be provided by remote data backup companies.

Be sure to do your research and investigate the track record and reputation of the online data backup company you are considering doing business with and never hesitate to ask questions when it comes to ensuring the security of your mission critical confidential data.

How long have you been doing business online? Whether you are new or an old timer you need to understand the one important truth of the e-world. That being that the largest threat to business survival is data loss.

Online data backup is not just for huge multinational corporations and computer geeks anymore. More and more everyday computer users are saving important data to their hard drives. From schoolwork to financial documents, digital media files to journal entries, our computers are storing more and more digital data that holds personal, and in some cases monetary, value to us. It is because of this that online data storage and other backup solutions are becoming more and more critical to our everyday lives.

If the statements above describe you, you should consider utilizing an offsite data backup solution. These online-based backup providers come in many forms but can be very easy to use and convenient for end users to implement no matter what the platform or how large the network. Whether you need to back up a single laptop, or an entire network of machines, there is an online data backup solution that will meet your needs. That is why before buying a laptop and during notebook comparison review, make sure you remember about these matters.

Although there are several methods to accomplish online backup and data retrieval the simplest method is for the end user to install a backup package that has been pre-configured to connect to the service provider’s offsite servers. This software will allow you, the end user, to select a number of customizable settings, including what directories and files to backup, how often to back them up, number of file revisions to archive, etc. These packages take care of the complicated details such as server IP addresses, encryption levels, and secure logins for you so you can concern yourself with the important choices of what and when to backup.

Once you have set up an account with a service provider and have configured your software the rest of the process is typically transparent and requires little to no interaction from you. You can choose to be notified (via email or various other methods depending on provider) of successful backups for your records and to provide peace-of-mind, but beyond that, you can usually “set and forget” these solutions and rest assured knowing that the most critical data you generate is being saved in a safe and secure manner that is easily accessible to you whenever you may need it.

Whenever disaster strikes the most critical asset that every company should have protected from sudden loss due to fire, flooding, or theft is their data. No matter what happens to your hardware you can be sure to be able to be up and running no matter how sudden or how severe your damage or loss is - if you use an online backup system.

Online data back up is the most cost effective way for you to protect your investment by securely storing your data with an offsite data backup provider. No matter when incidents of data loss occur you can be sure that you will have immediate and complete access to your critical documents as you need it. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year you will be able to access and restore countless hours of work and unlimited amounts of data and documents of any type.

You can choose to restore an entire backup of your account or just the documents you need to get going in the event of a system failure. Access is available to any machine connected to the Internet. Access to backup data can keep employees up and running so even while facilities may be shut down indefinitely, your team can continue to do business as usual with little to no downtime.

Upon configuration of the backup software, offsite remote backups are performed transparently to the end users, so backups are performed thoroughly and consistently without the need for user interaction. There is nothing to remember when using a remote secure backup, you can just “set it and forget it” and be comfortable in knowing that your data is protected from accidental loss due to disaster or user negligence 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

A Small Usb Hard Drive is a Must for Any Computer User

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Until the mid 1990s a small USB hard drive was a relatively unknown file backup device that has become the standard today. These little drives can be exceptionally useful to the everyday computer user. While you are aware of the hard drive that sits inside your computer placed there upon assembly, many users may not be aware of the fact that a second, external hard drive is a great option and can be beneficial in more way than one. If you are looking to buy a USB drive, it is important to consider few certain factors. There are many facets to a USB external drive and understanding each one can help you determine exactly what you need .

What Dimensions Are You Looking For?

One of the main things to consider when considering a USB hard drive is the actual dimensions of the drive. The size is not referring to the amount of storage space the drive has, but the actual physical dimensions of the hard drive. Portable hard drives tend to be small , but many can be larger depending on the manufacturer. If you are looking for something easy to move around and hide , a small capacity drive such as a new 6GB USB hard drive may be exactly what you are looking for.

How Big is the Storage Capacity?

Storage capacity is arguably the most important thing when looking at USB drives. USB hard drives come in a variety of storage sizes. 4GB USB hard drives and 6GB USB hard drives are often selected for those who simply need a small amount of storage. 8GB USB hard drives and 12GB USB hard drives are the hard drives that are used for those who need a little bit more space, and do not want to “under buy,” only to learn they should have purchased more capacity in the first place.

Are They Easy to Set Up?

Connectivity is a big deal when it comes to USB hard drives. The purpose of having a new portable hard drive in the first place comes from the idea that the hard drive sits outside of your computer, and connects to your laptop or desktop via one of your computer’s USB ports and work as efficiently as the one inside of your computer. Connectivity simplicity is key, meaning that the hard drive simply connects to the drive through a cable and a USB port or be a self-powered flash drive that connects to your machine using a USB port.

How Much do I Have to Spend?

The cost of a USB hard drive is a factor of course, but since there are so many options available today you can be sure to find a drive your like within your price range . Generally, you can purchase a 2GB USB drive for under $15 and you can purchase a 250GB drive for a little over $100. USB hard drives are smaller, and often feature lesser storage capacity but capacity has dramatically increased in recent years. Because of the smaller space used, the drives do not cost as much as their larger capacity external hard drive counterparts. The smaller space leads to a lower cost.

Benefits Summary

If you want to save important files, but do not want to spend a lot of money, a small USB drive is the perfect addition to your computer system. They allow you to copy your information to a second area (for safety and data loss prevention) without breaking the bank. If you are looking to simply move large files from one computer to another, a USB drive allows you to easily transfer data from your desktop to your laptop. Because of the ease of connectivity, any file can be moved easily. Fortunately, you no longer need to get bogged down copying files to CDs.

There are certainly a lot of different considerations to look at before purchasing a USB hard drive. The simple set up and variety of size choices, is what makes a portable hard drive more convenient than a large external hard drives of the past. The cost minimal, and the benefits are seemingly endless when it comes to the ability to back up your favorite family photos . When purchasing a USB hard drive, it is important to take all of these things into consideration. By using this information and thinking about your purchase, you can make sure that you buy a USB drive that will meet your needs.

Tips for Buying Portable Storage Devices

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

There are numerous types of portable storage devices that you might consider buying. Choices range from Blu ray drives to refurbished hard drives and all have features and benefits that vary from one to the other so it will serve you to understand what each one does ands if it will meet your computing needs. Below are a few types of devices that are useful to a wide variation of computer users. This by no means covers the entire list.

USB Hard Drive

Many beginner computer users still do not necessary think of a small USB hard drive as the most useful type of portable hard drive for their personal needs. Users often think of an external hard drive that requires a power supply, when it comes to expanding the storage capacity of their computer. A USB hard drive can often be a more cost effective and size efficient way to do the exact same thing as a larger, traditional size external drive. While USB hard drives are becoming more more popular, there is still a lot to learn about these great storage space alternatives. USB hard drives are available in a multitude of storage sizes ranging from 1GB (gigabytes) up to 500TB (terabytes.) Needless to say, you will not have any trouble finding a size to meet your needs.

Blu Ray Drive

A Blu ray burner is one of the more interesting types of technology on the market today . Blu ray technology is rapidly and popularity across the computer world as people [spin} catch wind of the | are reading more and more about the [/spin] technology. Many people already have some familiarity with Blu ray as the newest technology for movies, but perhaps do not understand that the technology has other applications. A Blu ray drive looks very similar to a external hard drive in terms of size, offering an enormously efficient way to move and store data . Blu ray discs (BDs) can hold up to 50GB of data, meaning that backing up files can be done on one single disc. Looking for a Blu ray burner can be difficult, however, as many are still confused about the technology and do not know where to start or what to look for. Looking for certain things can help you to purchase the best Blu ray drive for your needs.

Refurbished Hard Drives

When people think of purchasing an external hard drive, they often do not think of the fact that refurbished hard drives can be a great way to save money. Refurbished hard drives can be more cost effective way to back up your favorite vacation photos or to add a larger amount of space to your computer, if you are on a budget. Refurbished drives are often durable, and are just as good as their new counterparts, but often sell at a significantly lesser price. Many people tend to shy away from these drives, however, as they feel that they will be junk . It is true that some purchased refurbished drives may be “lemons”, and will not work properly. The vast majority of refurbished drives work perfectly.

A Few More Things to Consider

Other things to consider when looking for a portable storage device the size of capacity the external drive or perhaps you how much you can burn on a Blu ray disk or “BD.” For example, if you want to back up your entire hard drive you need to make sure the one you are considering purchasing is has enough storage to handle the backup. Sounds strange, but some novice computer users unintentionally make this mistake more frequently than you might imagine. If you are considering buying a Blu ray burner, you want to make sure you are comfortable with burning and storing your data on BDs rather than storing it on an external USB hard drive .