File Management and Backup Methods

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File Managementand Backup Methods

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Data vs. Information

• Review
• Data are words, numbers, and graphics that
  describe people, events, things, and ideas.
• Information organized data used for human actions
  and decisions.
• File named, related collection of data on a
  storage medium such as a hard or floppy disk

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Directories Paths

• A file specification (path) is the drive letter,
  folder(s), filename extension.
• A\Word\Gumbo.doc

Drive letter
Filename
Subdirectory (folder)
Extension
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File Name Conventions (Rules)

• Filename identifies/describes the file
• Unique set of letters, numbers spaces
• Operating systems set limitations on filenames
• Length Limits
• May not use \ ? / lt gt
• Some names forbidden e.g. Com1, Lpt1, Prn
• Upper/lower Case In Unix it matters, but not in
  Windows.
• Filename extension indicates to the operating
  system how to treat the file
• Eg. .exe .htm .doc .xls .ppt .mdb .jpg .bmp
• Wildcards are handy for finding specific files.
  The asterisk is a wildcard character used to
  represent a group of characters in the filename
  or extension.
• Eg. In Explorer
• File Data Search Files or Folders

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File-Naming Conventions
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Executable vs. Data Files

• Executable file programs
• .exe or .com extensions.
• A data file Contains
• Words, numbers, pictures that you can view,
  edit, save, send, print. (.doc, .xls, .ppt,
  .jpg, pdf)
• Passive - created using application software
• You manipulate a data file using the same
  software that was used to create it.
• A generic filename extension indicates general
  type of data contained in a file.
• Eg. a .bmp could be opened in Microsoft Paint or
  MicroGrafx Picture Publisher
• See File Extensions Note

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Binary Codes Bits Bytes

• All Computers use binary codes (a series of 1s
  0s) to convert information into digital data.
• Bit Binary Digit (1 or 0)
• Bit - smallest unit for digitizing data 1 or 0
• Byte - 8 bits - represents
• a character, space, numeral, punctuation or a
  code for pixel color intensity

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Prefixes for Digital Metrics
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How Do Computers Store Data?

• Storage medium
• Magnetic Floppy, Hard Disk, Tape
• Optical - CD, DVD
• Solid State SD, CF, USB Flash
• Storage device Each medium has an apparatus
  that records and retrieves data.

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Media Characteristics

• Versatility
• Durability
• Storage capacity
• kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte
• Speed (Access time, rotation speed, data transfer
  rate)
• Random vs. Sequential Access

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Magnetic Media use an iron oxide coating on a
substrate
Disk surface
Read-write head
Storing data on magnetic media
Mylar disk
The reliable life may be as short as three years.
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Head Crash

• Heads are close to media, especially on hard
  drives
• Jarring computers can lead to head crashes
• read-write head scratches the disk surface and
  damages (loses) the data.

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Optical Media CD, DVD, Blu-Ray

• 5-10 year life (but play devices become obsolete)
• (originally thought longer probably NOT)
• Inexpensive
• Not subject to electromagnetic destruction
• Heat still a problem

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• Optical storage stores data as microscopic light
• spots (lands) and dark spots (pits) on the disk
  surface.

Optical storage devices read data using
reflected laser light
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CD, DVD, Blu-Ray
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Solid State

• Flash memory card
• A chip that is nonvolatile
• Small and can be easily modified and reprogrammed
• Sometimes referred to as media cards
• USB flash drive
• Susceptible to electric pulses

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A disk stores data in tracks, sectors, clusters
cylinders
A formatted disk is divided into circular
Tracks. The red Region Is a Sector.
De-fragmentation reorganizes files into
contiguous sectors on a disk so it will operate
more efficiently.
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Operating SystemExtra Functions(Demo using
Explorer)

• Defragmentation
• Undelete

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Back Up Principles

• Scope
• Documents, Data, Media
• Executable Program files
• Operating System and Drivers
• Frequency
• How often should you back up?
• Cost of lost information
• vs
• Cost of back up (time, media)

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BACKUP PRINCIPLES

• Keep copy of backup files off site
• Test back ups before deleting prior version
• Protect hardware from natural disasters.
• Maintain redundant or backup systems for critical
  functions.
• Make plans for ongoing processing in the event of
  hardware/software/data disaster. (Consider 9/11)

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Back up Media - Magnetic Tape

• Tape is a sequential media not suitable for
  real time processing
• Tape is used mainly for Backup and Archive
• Relatively inexpensive compact

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Back up Media Hard Drives

• High Capacity
• Relatively fast back up
• Internal vs. External
• Internal is less expensive
• External is portable
• Relatively inexpensive

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Back Up Media Optical (CD, DVD)

• CD 650 850 MB .10 (lt.14/GB)
• CD recorders are common
• DVD 4.7 17 GB .30 (lt.06/GB)
• DVD recorders less common
• Record once vs. many times (R vs. RW)

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Back Up Media Solid State Devices

• Compact Flash (CF)
• Secure Digital (SD)
• Flash Drive (USB/Thumb Drive)
• Very portable
• Damaged by electric pulses.
• High Cost/GB

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BACKUP OPTIONS

• Full Backup Makes a complete copy of all files
  specified for backup
• Differential Backup Makes a copy of only those
  files added or changed since the last FULL backup
• Incremental Backup Makes a copy of the files
  added or changed since the last backup (any
  kind of backup).

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Discuss the CaseLDSLiving.com
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Surge Protector Issues

• Why they are needed
• How they work
• How to choose a good one

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Surge Protectors

• Critical to Protect your Computers and other
  Electronic Hardware

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Voltage as Pressure

• Voltage is like water pressure in a car-wash
  hose.
• There must be pressure or potential to get work
  done
• But too much pressure bursts the hoses and
  nozzles
• The same applies to Electronic Equipment
• Too much voltage destroys electrical circuits

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Definition of Surges and Spikes

• 120 Volts is normal
• Surges and Spikes
• Significant increases in voltage
• Surge lasts gt 3 nanoseconds
• Spike lasts 1-2 nanoseconds

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Sources of Spikes and Surges

• Lightning
• Millions of Volts, surge protectors wont help
  much here.
• More Common Sources
• Turning on appliances or motors cause surges
• Power Company
• Transformers blowing out
• Power-lines getting cut

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Anatomy of a Surge Protector

• Power diverters
• When voltage gets above a certain level, it is
  directed to the ground wire.
• If the diverter fails, some surge protectors cut
  the circuit
• Fuse works once
• Breaker works more than once

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What to look for in a surge protector

• Protection of outlets, coax, and phone wires
• UL Lab Listing
• Adequate Performance Ratings
• Indicator Light

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Protection of outlets phone wires

• phone line spikes are bad
• Modems plug into your motherboard
• MB connects to
• hard drive
• everything else

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Underwriter Lab (UL) Listing

• UL listing as transient voltage surge
  suppressor
• This means that it meets the criteria for UL
  1449, UL's minimum performance standard for surge
  suppressors.
• Warning! Many power strips listed by UL have no
  surge protection components at all.

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Example of UL Rating Label

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Adequate Performance Ratings

• Clamping Voltage
• Energy Absorption/Dissipation
• Response Time

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Clamping Voltage

• The voltage level that will activate the power
  diverter
• Look for 330 Volts or less.
• Inadequate 400 V or higher

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Energy Absorption/Dissipation

• How much energy joules a surge protector can
  absorb before it fails
• Basic Minimum 200-400 Joules
• Better 600 Joules

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Response time

• How fast surge protector kicks in
• Should be less than one nanosecond

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Indicator Lights

• If the divert burns out, power may still be there
• Protected and Ground indicator lights glow when
  the diverter is protecting and a ground exists

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QUIZ