Backing Up DT Database to a USB Flash Drive

DEVONthink
1

I currently use two Macs, each with a local copy of my DEVONthink database files (synced via a Dropbox sync store).
On one of them, I also back up to an external hard drive using Time Machine.
To add an extra layer of backup, I’m considering using a USB flash drive (specifically, a SanDisk 256gb model).

I understand that it’s not recommended to store and actively access database files on a USB flash drive due to potential reliability issues. However, would it be acceptable to use a flash drive for occasional backups?

Also, is it okay to copy the database files in their native .dtBase2 format, or would it be better to archive them as .zip files first?

2

My opinion, yes, ok to save Archive Zips (created by the DEVONthink menu option) to USB flash drives. Re their reliability or unreliability, that risk up to you to accept or not. Given this is a redundant backup, risk is low. Good you are properly not relying on sync-ed databases as backup.

3

Acceptable, so long as you know the reliability risk
It would not be my media choice for backups

For my backups, I also use Time Machine to an external HDD
and a second backup copy offsite
using cloud service Arq

4

I don’t see any issue with it as a quick ad-hoc backup, e.g., a tertiary one. And either the .dtBase2 file or .ZIP should be sufficient.

5

Could you clarify the differences between simply backing up .dtBase2 files, compressing them into a ZIP file using macOS Finder, and using File > Export > Database Archive in DEVONthink 3?