can somebody help understand the difference between replication and mirroring, what is more preferable for a small business of 1-10 employees, and what is the ideal hardware recommended for this ?

thanks.

Mirroring: Duplicating data onto another computer at another location. Mirroring is performed for backup purposes or to be in closer proximity to the user.

Disk Mirroring: The recording of redundant data for fault tolerant operation. Data are written on two partitions of the same disk or on two separate disks within the same system. Disk mirroring uses the same controller. RAID 1 provides for mirroring, which is usually accomplished with SCSI drives and, increasingly, with IDE drives.

Replication: In database management, the ability to keep distributed databases synchronized by routinely copying the entire database or subsets of the database to other servers in the network.

There are various replication methods. Primary site replication maintains the master copy of the data in one site and sends read-only copies to the other sites. In a workflow environment, the master copy can move from one site to another. This is called "shared replication" or "transferred ownership replication." In symmetric replication, also called "update-anywhere" or "peer-to-peer replication," each site can receive updates, and all other sites are then updated. Failover replication, or hot backup, maintains an up-to-date copy of the data at a different site for backup.

Geeky, Geeky, Geeky!

"The recording of redundant data for fault tolerant operation. Data are written on two partitions of the same disk or on two separate disks within the same system. Disk mirroring uses the same controller. RAID 1 provides for mirroring, which is usually accomplished with SCSI drives and, increasingly, with IDE drives."

Yes. Thanks a lot. Could you tell me the hardware and software processes required for that ? Suppose I have 3 80 GB hard drives, and I want to do a disk mirroring from the first and second to the third !!!

1) What is more preferable for a small business of 1-10 employees.
Depends on what your looking to accomplish, where the data is sitting, what operating systems are running, how many servers, how many workstations, etc. Is the network operating in a peer-to-peer or client-server environment? There are many variables that need to be taken into consideration. I wish I could give you a straight cut and dry answer, but I can't. Need more input

2) What is the ideal hardware recommended for this?
Again, depends on what you're looking to accomplish.

I'd love to read other thoughts on the subject(s).

What operating system?

EDIT: Also, what hardware? Does the motherboard support RAID? Do you have RAID cards? Do you have expansion in the system? Do you want software as opposed to hardware RAID (I recommend hardware RAID).

I have the Dell Dimension 2400 motherboard. Only One expansion slot. Was looking at the DupliDisk3 PCI solution at www.arcoide.com http://www.arcoide.com/products/raidcontro...ollers/pci.html

Here's a couple of decent reads on the different types of RAID arrays and the requirements for each:

Technet - Achieving Fault Tolerance by Using RAID

ACNC.com - Get to Know RAID

wow. this seems really cool to achieve a software-based raid without any additional hardware

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;309043

what do you think about this, alan ?

Hardware all the way. Among the differences, software RAID degrades overall system performance. There are other, more serious differences too. Here's yet another link for your reading pleasure Adaptec - Software RAID vs. Hardware RAID. You can Google for others. Lots of info out there.

not as much a knowledgeable enthusiast like you. then i would revert back to my previous question: "I have the Dell Dimension 2400 motherboard. Only One expansion slot. Was looking at the DupliDisk3 PCI solution at www.arcoide.com http://www.arcoide.com/products/raidcontro...ollers/pci.html "

actually, this looks more interesting, wow

ATA RAID 1200A Kit ATA/100 PCI 4Ch 0/0+1/1/4JBOD w/Stor Mgr

http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/product/p...RAID%2fATA+RAID

Looks good. Just be aware that the card does not support RAID 5, but not a big deal if your not implementing it.

The best advice I can give anyone who wants to configure a RAID array is to learn about it first. Read about the different configurations, their advantages and disadvantages then decide which is the best for your purposes. A little education now will save alot of headaches later

thanks for all your help, alan