an inexpensive storage system is disclosed along with methods of managing such a system . in one preferred embodiment , the system includes a high performance high reliability storage medium configured for initial storage of data , a low performance high reliability storage medium configured for backup of data initially stored on the high performance high reliability storage medium , and a high performance low reliability storage medium , configured to receive data transferred from the high performance high reliability storage medium , after the data has been backed up on the low performance high reliability storage medium . this significantly reduces the cost of the system without substantially comprising performance . reliability is likewise maintained owing to the high reliability backup .