Re: [Bacula-users] backup tapes at home

[Alan B. <aj...@ms...>]

On Fri, 2 Mar 2007, Bill Moran wrote:

>> A fire safe might fit the bill here.
>
> I've always wondered about this.
>
> If I put _plastic_ tapes in a fire safe, how long does the safe actually
> insulate the tapes from the heat that will damage them.

Not long.

A standards-compliant "data safe" on the other hand will provide 
protection agains at least 2 hours at 1500C and 24 hour coooling down 
period. Most also provide protection against large drops (floor failure in 
multistory buildings) and longer burn periods.

Several data safes are simply firesafes fitted with inserts aimed at 
keeping internal temperatures below 60C.

> Does anyone have any direct experience with how well a fire safe protects
> something like backup tapes?  If it's well insulated, it will protect them
> for a while, but long enough for the fire to be extinguished?

Only once, and only a small safe on a customer site, but yes.

Our current main fire/data safe is a Phoenx Data commander 4623, which is 
capable of taking 720 LTO tapes in current configuration (39 per drawer, 
cased, increasing to 45 uncased)

See http://www.phoenixsafeusa.com/
or http://www.phoenixsafeusa.com/us/viewproduct/4620_data_commander.html

This cost a shade under US $10,000 with tax and delivery included.

Having said that, I think that Chubb data safes are better made - but 
they're also more expensive. the Phoenix safes are korean firesafe units 
fitted with water/airtight inserts to limit temperature rises.

Small data safes start at less than US$500 each, but they may only hold 
10-15 LTO size tapes. What is surprising is how few manufacturers there 
are.