NAS or SAN?

[motorbiking]

Look on ebay - data centre/server room quality UPS's get refreshed every 3 years or so and the batteries will still have lots of life in them.

 

[motorbiking]

so the UPS won't add any value, unless it happens to be able to provide power longer than the outage

True but the outage I mentioned was less than a second. The guy is now faced with a recovery bill of something in excess of $500.

Of course, if there's nothing unique on the drive (and there shouldn't be) then it doesn't really matter if it gets trashed. However, a £100 UPS will probably give you ten minute protection for the next 5 years (i.e. until the battery needs replacing) so you need to decide whether it's necessary or worth it.

And still no protection from logical failure vastly more common than physical. Its a backup you need

 

[motorbiking]

so the UPS won't add any value, unless it happens to be able to provide power longer than the outage

True but the outage I mentioned was less than a second. The guy is now faced with a recovery bill of something in excess of $500.

Of course, if there's nothing unique on the drive (and there shouldn't be) then it doesn't really matter if it gets trashed. However, a £100 UPS will probably give you ten minute protection for the next 5 years (i.e. until the battery needs replacing) so you need to decide whether it's necessary or worth it.

Edit: I see what you mean about unique - i.e. you mean backup