4. Grandfather-Father-Son - A Case Study

The grandfather-father-son schedule is most widely used method, and involves backing up data in following way:

* daily - on "son tapes" * weekly - on "father tapes" * monthly – on "grandfather tapes"

This system is far more powerful than five-tape rotation, but requires more tapes.

This strategy provides you with ability to restore data from last week, plus any Monday over last month, plus any month for as many monthly tapes as you have. Variations on this scheme are available, and provide a trade-off between number of tapes required, and number of monthly tapes available.

5. Different types of backup

Different types of backups are available in backup software.

* Full - all files, system data * Differential - all files added or changed since last full backup * Incremental - all files added or changed since last full, differential or incremental backup * Daily - all files added or changed on day of backup

A Full backup will copy all files and system data to backup media. It allows for complete restore of all data from one single tape.

Differential, Incremental and Daily are partial backups are designed to reduce amount of data backed-up to media, resulting in faster backups. To restore data using one of these backups, last Full backup tape will also be required, along with any other partial backups since last Full backup.

6. Tape backup software

At this point you may be thinking that performing tape backup is a complex task. Tape rotations, incremental backups... sure, you can try to do this manually, but this would make backup process hideously difficult and prone to human error! The solution is to invest in a good piece of server backup software that will manage and schedule your tape backups for you.

What should you look for in tape backup software? For many small business owners, price is crucial. Many brands of backup software are just too expensive - in $1000+ range - and contain features that you'll never need. Look for a backup utility that's designed specially for small business instead. It should be simple-to-use, reliable and affordable. Choose a good tape backup program and you'll be well on your way to safeguarding your files and data.

Of course there are web sites that met Showker’s scrutiny like Hallmark, Camobell Soups and Smuckers. These sites provided a good site for browsing and had a good visual offering for visitor.

Fred Showker’s main thesis in his review is importance of reader as an element in creation of web sites. The site must be tailor-made for reader for it to reap fullest benefits. The content must be of relevance to reader and not just provide a stiff approach to giving out information.

He further adds that a site may come up short on design aspect but it still should follow this basic concept, "The reader is most important element in equation." Style gives way to message, and content is STILL king.