Redundancy is very important, especially in a print center established in a remote area where supplies and parts are difficult to access. Often, it is important to have multiple layers of redundancy. For example, having an extra copy of your data isn't very helpful if you don't have a way to access your data; you also need hardware redundancy!

Hardware redundancy ensures that if one machine or component fails, you have an identical or similar machine or component available that can be quickly substituted. Then, while you are repairing or replacing the faulty machine or component, operations continue on the backup.

Before traveling to America, I set up the file and print server. Shortly after I was gone, the server was somehow fried and quit working. Thankfully, I had prepared an identical plug-and-play server in case this happened. The solution was to unplug the fried server and to plug in the spare server, and the print shop was back up and running again.

One form of hardware redundancy is owning several machines of the same mark. The print center in Chad owns three models of Riso equipment. Each of the three machines are different and have their place, but they have some components in common, as well. For example the feeder tray lift mechanism is nearly identical on all machines. One day our main machine broke down. We were able to scavenge parts off of the smaller machine to repair our main machine.

We have repeatedly found that if a part breaks once, it might break again. So when you buy a replacement part, consider buying two or more: one to install and one or more to keep as a backup for the next time it breaks.

Keep extra copies of important software on hand. When you have access to a fast connection, download what you need and save it for later use.

• Keep an offline Linux repository thumb drive. Consider downloading the first few DVDs (or the full repository if possible) of the Linux software repository if possible. Having this available when needed is a massive time-saver for areas with slow Internet connections. See Set up an offline Linux repository.
• Keep a spare Linux install thumb drive.
• Keep a spare Windows install thumb drive.
• Keep a spare Linux recovery thumb drive.
• Backup any purchased software along with the accompanying installation codes and passwords.

Data redundancy ensures your data will not be lost, destroyed, or corrupted. Keep multiple copies of your important data in multiple locations on different types of devices. See Backups

One day I received a call informing me that my colleague could no longer access files on the server. Later that day, I investigated to discover that the little server machine was literally melted from heat, and the memory card was cracked. No wonder we could no longer access data! Unfortunately, we were already using our backup server. I had not made it a priority to replace the main server which had fried about six months earlier when I was in America. Fortunately, our hardware redundancy plan includes keeping a spare laptop on hand for emergencies. This was an emergency! So we installed a file server on the laptop. This is an example of when an identical solution was not available, but we used a similar machine. A script had been backing up data regularly (every two hours) from the memory card of the server to a USB external drive connected to the server. So even though the memory card overheated and cracked, the USB drive was distant enough from the heat that it was not affected. Once the server was set up on the laptop, we just had to copy over the data from the external USB drive and we were back to operating later that day.

This ensures you have an alternative method to access your data in the event of your network failing.

If your network switch fails due to overheating or electrical surge, how can you access the file server to access your data? How can you access the print server to print your files? In this case, you can revert to a less sophisticated method while waiting for your network to be repaired. Use a current backup copy of your data on a USB drive and plug it into your laptop. From there, you may have several options:

• You may be able to connect to the printer using a USB cable.
• You may be able to print to the printer using a USB thumb drive (depending on your printer).
• If you planned ahead and have a spare four-port router on hand, you can bypass either a faulty switch or a faulty router by plugging into this backup router.

This ensures that if your main power source is cut off or disrupted, you still can continue functioning, even if on a limited basis.

We run on solar power most of the time. But in the event of a low solar power event, we can easily switch power sources by simply unplugging the plug from the inverter and plugging it into an extension cord connected to our generator. The power is simply and easily switched in this manner without complicated wiring or switches.

This is one of the significant advantages of a decentralized model.

A print center may suddenly be forced to close or may cease to practically function for various reasons: natural disasters such as fire or flood, regional conflicts, mismanagement, lack of vision, or other possibilities. If the only publishing house for a vast region ceases to function, the vast region suffers for lack of a functioning publishing house.

With a decentralized model of publishing, multiple smaller print centers are established in various regions. When one suffers, the others may be able to help it back to a stable position. Or, if one is really shut down, the others can pick up the slack and continue filling the needs.

For a more detailed analysis of this decentralized model, you may want to read Why Mini Print Centers