I am installing a backup 40gig hard drive for a doctor on an office
computer. This HD will be pulled nightly & carried home in a briefcase
for safekeeping. (Unless I can talk him into keeping it onsite in a
fireproof safe.)
I have looked at some online but have no hands-on experience with any
brand. I want to make sure the pull out handle is sturdy & the case
will protect the HD. It also needs to be simple; pull out, push back
in. Cooling the HD is a plus.
Ideas?
Thanks a lot,
Ed West

---

Request for Question Clarification by alienintelligence-ga on 22 Dec 2003 20:01 PST

Hi thebookguy,

Are you familiar with or are there
any reasons you haven't decided to
try a USB external HD?

thanks,
-AI

---

Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 22 Dec 2003 22:48 PST

thebookguy-ga:

You can find a relatively rich list of various options at:

http://www.epinions.com/search/?submitted_form=searchbar&search_string=removable&tax_name=Drive+Cases&dyn_nav=0&dyn_nav_id=&search_vertical=t159618433

However, as alienintelligence-ga mentions, you may want to give
serious consideration to using a USB hard drive solution. This is a
valid option if the computer is using Windows 2000 or XP. Since this
is a backup hard drive, there is one solution in particular that I
would highly recommend. If, however, the computer is using a
proprietary system (unfortunately common in the medical office systems
world) provided by a medical records management vendor, then the
removable drive tray will be your best option.

Depending on which option meets your needs, I would be happy to
provide you with the necessary information and links to make an
informed decision regarding either the removable drive tray, or a USB
hard drive. Please start by describing the application in more detail
so that the right recommendation can be made.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by thebookguy-ga on 23 Dec 2003 06:04 PST

The computer will have WinXP Pro & be using this software:
http://www.eonsystems.net/products.htm
He will be using this laptop
http://products.gateway.com/products/GConfig/prodDetails.asp?system_id=m275x&seg=hm
    & networked to the computer.
Why an external hd?

---

Clarification of Question by thebookguy-ga on 23 Dec 2003 06:47 PST

Another note considering your initial suggestion:
External hd's are much more expensive than internal.
Ed

---

Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 23 Dec 2003 07:46 PST

The primary reason for suggesting a USB unit is to facilitate the
daily removal and transport of the hard drive. The removable drive
trays, while robust, will suffer from the wear and tear of daily
removal/reinstallation. An external unit is designed and packaged to
handle being transported on a daily basis. However, you are absolutely
correct that the cost of an external unit will be greater than the
cost of a basic hard drive plus mobile tray. That difference in cost
comes down to the convenience factor.

One additional clarification request; how will the backup be
performed? Will you be installing mirroring software on the office
computer that the laptop is networked to, to backup both the data on
the office computer as well as the laptop? Or is the intent here to
simply backup the patient data from the office computer? I realize
that these questions are not directly related to the question of which
is the best removable drive tray, but they are directly related to
recommending the best solution for this situation.

To properly position the value of an external solution, there is a
unit with integrated backup capability, 120 GB capacity, for a list
price of under $200 US. Using a USB 2.0 connection, this solution
would allow your customer to backup their entire system with the push
of a button and would be ideal if there is not already a backup system
in place.

If, however, you have determined that a removable drive tray is the
only acceptable solution, I would be happy to point you towards one
that should meet your needs. Please let me know what your preference
is.

Regards,

aht-ga

---

Clarification of Question by thebookguy-ga on 23 Dec 2003 11:21 PST

aht-ga wrote "That difference in cost comes down to the convenience factor."

Do you think it only convenience or is there a diffrence in protection
of the hd too?

I will install on the office computer True Image from Acronis.com. I
will do a complete copy of the C drive & then incremental backups of
changing patient data thereafter.

This doctor is a friend of mine and I want the best solution for him.
He is installing new software per my last clarifacation & purchasing
the new laptop to make adding patient data easier & quicker. There of
course needs to be backup & one that is secure (new HIPAA rules) and
endurable. Do you believe the external would be more protective of the
hd? Also, what is your experience, please, in computers?

Thanks a lot for your continued patience & help. As I stated I want to
do this right & though building computers for a few years now I have
been mostly confined to pc clones & not much else.

---

Request for Question Clarification by alienintelligence-ga on 23 Dec 2003 14:40 PST

Hi again thebookguy...

After some question clarifications it seems 
that your initial question may have morphed
into something more like this:

I need a cost-effective solution for a system
that will allow incremental backups on a daily
basis, and will allow the media containing the
backup to be removed from the premises and/or
kept in a **fire/moisture proof safe. The backup
media must be rugged to allow for moving but
should also be easily attachable to the PC.


I say it like this, because each of those 
requirements pull the final candidate in
a different direction. Removable, and rugged
always equals expensive. Removable, and cheap,
well... it's cheap. Rugged and cheap? Probably
not. 

As AHT stated... USB solutions should provide
more ruggedness with the intent on transportable
usage. This doesn't mean that you need to invest
in a hard drive already in a USB case. There are
several empty USB cases for both USB v.1 and v.2
out there, that you can put an existing HD into.
I haven't tried any USB case solutions, but it
is possible that the manufactured ruggedness of
a preassembled unit, wouldn't be available in
one you assemble yourself.


So, a number of smaller questions come up.

-How much data needs to be stored?

-Does it have to be a hard drive solution?
 You could get an inexpensive DVD burner.
 Tape drive (wouldn't be 'up there' as a choice
 for me)
 
-Do you have the hard drive already, or will
 that be an additional purchase?
 
-What exactly is the TCO (total cost of ownership)
 limit we are working with here? What is
 the specific budget?
 
-How long is this solution supposed to be
 implemented? Will there be an upgrade path?
 
-Can you not use the new laptop for backups
 via a network?

-Have you considered making the backups across
 a broadband connection to an 'offsite' server?

-Might be outlandish, but have you considered
 fireproofing the current PC and using a mirror
 or higer RAID (redundant disk) for data protection?
 
 
My biggest concern is the hard drive being moved
all the time. Total hard drive failure isn't 
foremost in my mind, but with slight jarring,
the drive surface can become corrupt over time.
The removal could even be hard on the onboard
controller card. For simple data movement this
isn't a concern but for data safety/backups,
it would be.

Not sure who the "experience in computers" question
was directed to, but my dad taught me boolean
algebra when I was 5. This was a good 2 years before
any computers hit the market for public consumption.


**Before I forget, please remember that a number
of fireproof safes on the market contain gels,
etc. that hold moisture and release the moisture
when the safe gets hot from a fire. This would
be very bad for an electronic backup method,
such as a hard drive. Please be sure if you go
the safe route... that you invest in a fireproof
safe designed for electronics.


thanks,
-AI

---

Clarification of Question by thebookguy-ga on 28 Dec 2003 06:53 PST

Okay, I?m back:~ )

?How much data needs to be stored??

 About 40gigs or less

?Does it have to be a hard drive solution?
 You could get an inexpensive DVD burner.
 Tape drive (wouldn't be 'up there' as a choice
 for me)?
 
I prefer the simplest available. DVD or CD/R or Tape, etc, require an
action by the doctor. Not good:~ ) I am thinking more & more that
external HD might be best because of travel & use.

?Do you have the hard drive already, or will
 that be an additional purchase??
 
 No, additional.

?What exactly is the TCO (total cost of ownership)
 limit we are working with here? What is
 the specific budget??
 
About $200.00 tops for this part.

?How long is this solution supposed to be
 implemented? Will there be an upgrade path??

 Eventually but not for a year or more.

?Can you not use the new laptop for backups
 via a network??
 
Hadn?t considered this. Don?t know.

?Have you considered making the backups across
 a broadband connection to an 'offsite' server??
 
Yes, but as a redundancy idea.

Look at this:
http://www.kanguru.com/kdisk.html
I haven?t fully investigated it as I just found the sight last night before bed. 


The solution should be kept at no more than $200.00 though I would
like it to be less. It should be VERY simple & safe, as this needs to
be protected from damage & loss. It will be going back & forth daily.
He needs to be able to unplug in the evening & replug in the morning,
simple as that. I would like to do an initial ghost of the C drive &
then have AUTOMATIC incremental back-ups.
Thanks a lot,
Ed

---

Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 28 Dec 2003 11:24 PST

thebookguy-ga:

The Kanguru solution is an excellent all-in-one approach that will
simplify your friend's daily insertion/removal of the drive. For the
price, I'd say you've found your solution ($140 for a 40 GB system).

The limitation for the USB solutions is transfer speed, the advantage
being the plug'n'play approach. This KanguruDisk system gives you the
plug'n'play capability in an internal solution where transfer speed
isn't an issue. Sounds like the perfect complement to the True Image
backup software you are planning on using.

Looks like you've answered your own Question! :)

For comparison purposes, you can price out how much it would cost you
to go with this ruggedized mobile IDE drive drawer system:

http://www.startech.com/ststore/itemdetail.cfm?ProductID=DRW113ATA&topbar=topbara.htm

This is the ultimate in IT-grade drive drawers, with built-in shock
absorbers inside the removable drawer. You will need to supply your
own drive, though. For only a little bit more money, the Kanguru
approach comes with a single warranty covering the whole thing.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by thebookguy-ga on 28 Dec 2003 16:28 PST

Yes, after studying it I really like the Kanguru deal. Looks perfect.
My only qualm is not knowing the brand. Well, I will give it a try.
Thank you very much for your help. I am quite willing however to
"award" you the pittance offered as you did stay with me & did your
own research. Were I not on disability (old before my time:~ ) I'd
throw in a healthy tip.
Thank you very much.

thebookguy-ga:

I am happy that you have a solution that you wish to proceed with;
often, the best ideas are your own!

To justify the investment you have made in posting this Question,
though, I will help answer some of the 'other' questions in your mind
regarding the Kanguru brand, and in particular the KanguruDisk
solution.

Kanguru Solutions is a division of Interactive Media Corporation, a
privately-held American computer technology computer based in
Massachusetts. The KanguruDisk solution itself has been around in an
evolving form since 1993, meaning that there are ten year's of
refinement and development embodied in its design. While longevity
does not necessarily guarantee reliability, it is a good indication
that the company makes good products.

Currently, Kanguru is best known for its line of removable USB storage
devices, often referred to as thumb drives or flash disks. They also
have a line of external storage devices to complement the internal
KanguruDisk. My personal favorite is the combination USB Wi-Fi
adapter/Flash Disk; put the driver for the Wi-Fi adapter on the flash
disk, and you have an instant networking solution for any USB-equipped
PC! But, I digress...

You may have already read their 'story' at:

http://www.kanguru.com/about.html

You can also read about their creation of the Kanguru Solutions division at:

http://www.kanguru.com/press/pr_new_division.pdf

-------------------------------------

If you look at the specifications on the KanguruDisk, and in
particular the environmental ratings found at:

http://www.kanguru.com/tech/kdiskspec.html

it is possible to draw some further conclusions (or at least,
speculations). First, the operating temperature and shock resistance
ratings match those of Western Digital's Protege line of hard drives.
Now, since the Protege line has the lowest environmental thresholds of
any of the mainstream 5400 RPM drives available from the major
manufacturers, it is possible that Kanguru is simply posting this as
the lowest common denominator. However, if they were NOT using WD hard
drives, then I suspect they would bump up these specifications simply
to take advantage of the perceived value of better figures.

The WD Protege line is considered the value-line for that
manufacturer, and has been around in its current technology format
based on 40 GB platters since early 2002. It's a proven unit, with
similar failure rates to other drives in its class (that said, it is
good to note that Kanguru does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on
it's products, and a 1-yr warranty).

All in all, the KanguruDisk solution is a sound option that will
provide the solution your friend needs when used in conjunction with a
good, automated data backup solution.

-------------------------------------

For comparison purposes, you may want to compare the cost of building
your own solution based on the following components:

Startech DRW113ATA Rugged ATA133 Removable Drive Drawer w/Shock Absorbers
http://www.startech.com/ststore/itemdetail.cfm?ProductID=DRW113ATA&topbar=topbara.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008AZ8H/103-2259939-0512607

Seagate 120GB 7200rpm EIDE Hard Drive (at TigerDirect.com)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=416275&Sku=THD-1200AA%20P&CatId=818

At the time of this writing, Startech is selling their drawer direct
through Amazon.com for $37.99, while the Seagate drive is $99.99 from
TigerDirect.com. This compares to the $179.95 price of the KanguruDisk
120GB version.

Personally, I like the Startech approach due to the key and lock
system; however, it does require you to build and validate your own
solution. The KanguruDisk is designed for portability (note the smooth
design of the KanguruDisk itself), the Startech is designed for
transportability. In this particular situation, where you are doing
this as a favour to a friend, the KanguruDisk is the 'better'
solution.

-------------------------------------

The reason I have based this above example on the 120 GB solution is
to allow for future growth. The lowest I would go is 80 GB, if there
is 40 GB of data to back up. This way, depending on the backup
application used, you will have enough room to store several versions
of any changed data, to allow your friend to "go back in time" when
restoring the data set. There may of course be HIPAA impacts of this.

The additional capacity will also allow you to configure the backup
software to backup the laptop computer on a semi-regular basis as
well, without affecting the amount of space available to back up the
actual patient data.

-------------------------------------

I hope that you find this information useful, and would be happy to
provide any clarifications needed.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Request for Answer Clarification by thebookguy-ga on 30 Dec 2003 09:10 PST

Hi, just wanted to let you know I had emailed Kanguru & was told that
the Kangurudisk is hotswappable & they use Western Digital Caviar
Drive's. What are your thoughts on that?
Thanks again

---

Clarification of Answer by aht-ga on 30 Dec 2003 09:32 PST

thebookguy-ga:

The hotswappable aspect is very important, especially if the user
(your friend) is not a "techie". This way, if he turns on the PC in
the morning before remembering to insert the KanguruDisk, he won't
crash the system or corrupt the backup. The Startech drawer also comes
with a hotswap driver, but again you would need to validate the
solution yourself.

The Caviar line isn't too different from the Protege line, except for
spindle speed. The Caviars are supposed to be 7200 RPM units now,
whereas the Protege is still 5400 RPM. That's what led me to speculate
that it is actually the Protege line that Kanguru uses. In the past,
the Caviar line was also 5400, but I would be quite surprised if
Kanguru is still able to source 5400 RPM Caviars from Western Digital.
So, my thought on this is to ask Kanguru to confirm that they are
indeed using Caviars, and if so, is it indeed 5400 RPM as indicated on
their specifications page for 40-120 GB units:

http://www.kanguru.com/tech/kdiskspec.html

Either way, for a backup drive, the Western Digital drives are no
worse than any of the major manufacturers. A 7200 RPM drive would be a
bonus for backup speed during the initial complete backup, but for the
incremental backups you should not notice too much difference as the
head seek times are comparable.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

I appreciate the fact that aht-ga stayed with me through the holidays
and never talked down to me despite his superior knowledge.