[NTLUG:Discuss] query on configuration for simple data backup storage...

[Fred James]

I don't want to get to fancy, but I don't want to miss a bet either, it
it is possible to balance those two...

I have a need to store some data on disk, but off-site, and I need to
keep the cost in line, so I was thinking of a PC running Linux, and then
set up some cron jobs to ftp the stuff from the on-site servers to the
off-site machine.

In general (showing estimated low and high water marks), I would:
(1) store a one week rotation of data backups (2.5 to 10 GB per day
times 5 days per week - 12.5 to 50 GB total)
(2) store the most recent two backups of the database applications (6 to
12 GB total - rotate in a new copy every week, or every time a change is
made)
(3) store the most recent two backups of the system (5 to 10 GB total)

So, right now I have about 39 GB of compressed data to store, and I can
see it growing to between 70 and 100 GB within the next few years.

My question?
(1) How large a drive can Linux support (IDE or SCSI)?
(2) Can Linux support a large file system across drives (not sure I said
that right - I mean one directory made up of more than one hard drive)?

I was thinking of a PC with a 4GB OS drive, a CD-ROM, and 3 36 GB drives
for storage, but I would appreciate any idea of the issues involved the
anybody would care to shine some light on.

Thanks.

-- 
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