[Discuss] Recovering a corrupted usb hard drive with XFS

[slitt at troubleshooters.com (Steve Litt)]

Kent Borg said on Wed, 15 May 2024 16:21:24 -0700

>On 5/15/24 15:44, John Abreau wrote:
>> my other disks were close
>> to full when I purchased the 18TB disk. To back it up, I'd need to
>> purchase yet another disk  
>
>Indeed.
>
>I once heard as a metaphor* that a circus needs at least two
>elephants, because if one dies, it will require the second elephant
>haul away the first one. You have only one elephant.
>
>
>I'm so old that 18TB seems big to me. That's so much data that backing 
>it up by ANY means is very non-trivial. Even if the disk could spit
>data at the maximum "super speed" of USB 3.0, isn't that still
>something like 10-hours just to fit so much data through the wire?

The first time, yes. After that, using rsync for the backups takes only
a few minutes, depending on how many files have changed since the last
rsync.

On another note, I'm disturbed with the OP's statement that he won't
buy another 18GB disk for another year. Until he does, his 18GB remains
a single point of failure. Currently quality, non-seagate 18GB 7200RPM
drives cost under $300.00. Is the data worth less than $300.00? If so,
why are we even discussing this? If not, why not adjust the budget: Use
instant coffee instead of Starbucks et. al, eat out one time less per
week for 30 weeks, trade steak and fish for rice and beans for a month
or so. Drink from the tap instead of bottled water, quit alcohol and/or
cigarettes if they play into the budget, forego entertainment for a
month. Work a few hours overtime if that's possible.

Computing isn't cheap. It can be made cheaper by using older equipment
and lean Linux/BSD setups, but parts and storage have a finite cost.

SteveT

Steve Litt 

Autumn 2023 featured book: Rapid Learning for the 21st Century
http://www.troubleshooters.com/rl21