About selecting a backup destination

You should review the following information before deciding where to store recovery points and file and folder backup data.

Note:

If you choose to use CDs or DVDs as your backup destination (not recommended), you cannot back up to a sub-folder on the disk. Backup data must be created at the root of CDs and DVDs.

The following table contains information that you need to consider when selecting a backup destination.

Table: Selecting a backup destination

Backup destination

Information to consider

Local hard drive, USB drive, or FireWire drive

(recommended)

The benefits of this option are as follows:

  • Fast backup and recovery

  • Can schedule unattended backups

  • Inexpensive because drive space can be overwritten repeatedly

  • Off-site storage is possible

  • Reserves hard drive space for other uses

Although you can save the recovery point to the same drive that you are backing up, it is not recommended for the following reasons:

  • As the number or size of recovery points grows, you will have less disk space available for regular use.

  • The recovery point is included in subsequent recovery points of the drive, which increases the size of those recovery points.

  • If the computer suffers a catastrophic failure, you may not be able to recover the recovery point you need, even if you save it to a different drive on the same hard disk.

Network folder

If your computer is connected to a network, you can save your recovery points and file and folder backup data to a network folder.

Backing up to a network folder typically requires that you authenticate to the computer that is hosting the folder. If the computer is part of a network domain, you must provide the domain name, user name, and password. For example, domain\username.

If you are connecting to a computer in a workgroup, you should provide the remote computer name and user name. For example: remote_computer_name\username.

CD-RW/DVD-RW

When you save backup data to removable media, it is automatically split into the correct sizes if the backup spans more than one media.

If more than one drive is being backed up, the recovery points for each drive are stored independently on the media, even if there is space to store recovery points from multiple drives on the same media.

The scheduling of backups is not available when this option is used.

Note:

Using CD-RWs or DVD-RWs as your recovery point storage location is not the best option because you will be required to swap disks during the process.

The following table describes the advantages and disadvantages of different types of backup destinations.

Table: Advantages and disadvantages of backup destinations

Backup destination

Advantages

Disadvantages

Hard drive

(recommended)

  • Fast backup and recovery

  • Can schedule unattended backups

  • Inexpensive because drive space can be overwritten repeatedly

  • Uses valuable drive space

  • Vulnerable to loss if the hard drive fails

Network drive

(recommended)

  • Fast backup and recovery

  • Can schedule unattended backups

  • Inexpensive because drive space can be overwritten repeatedly

  • Protection from local hard drive failure

  • Off-site storage (through existing network backup strategies)

  • Must have supported network interface card drivers to restore from Symantec Recovery Disk

  • Must understand and assign the appropriate rights for users who will run backups and restore data

Removable media (local)

  • Protection from hard drive failure

  • Ideal for off-site storage

  • Reserves hard drive space for other uses

 

About selecting a backup destination