The Magic Backup (long backstory)

[Geek King]

External HDDs are good to protect against normal software failure and machine-hdd failure but they're not good for even contained catastrophes... just think about this: http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/A-Bit-More-Dire.aspx

And this, kids, is why real disaster recovery plans involve off-site storage of backups and a secondary server(s) if you can swing the budget. Seriously, ouch.

[Kilamon]

We use an HP MSL6000. It has a robot in it and a single cleaning tape. The robot and the tapes and the software all work as a cohesive unit to ensure the drives are cleaned whenever required. Backups are flawless (short of human error). Your customer's specs for their original backup solution OBVIOUSLY did not have all the proper parameters and they'll need to submit a new work order for an upgrade to a system that works as they want it to and, get this, pay for it. Not your fault that they spec'd out a system that requires babying.