Just a general enquiry here,
We use Acronis Server backup software at work, and I'd prefer to do a full system backup (incremental) than just backing up files.
Unfortunatley, we have a 40gb tape drive to back up to.
Should we invest in an external hdd? Or would a 150 gb backup take forever over usb? What are the alternatives?
Cheers
Nas?
PHP Code:$s = new signature();
$s->sarcasm()->intellect()->font('Courier New')->display();
That seems to be perfect! (as long as it's portable - it has to leave the office) Looking into it more now!
Buffalo do a fairly portable looking single disk NAS that they reckon can do about 30MB/s (many can't... even though they have 1Gbps network ports, they're usually wasted.)
Alternatively, if you don't really need it to be networked, why not get something DAS?
USB2.0/eSATA interface, and usually cheaper & quicker than an equivalent NAS solution.
Also, I'm hoping a tape advocate is lurking around to cheer for good ol' tapes. I have no experience with them so can't comment on their performance.
PHP Code:$s = new signature();
$s->sarcasm()->intellect()->font('Courier New')->display();
surly you just need a slightly modified backup stratergy,
1.) take a "system recovery" tape say once a week or less frequent if it changes less
2.) take regular incrimental backups of your selected files and then shedule longer period full backups of your files.
Say Last friday of each week make a system restore tape, every day do incrimentals of the files and then sunday morning shedule a full backup of files.
you can play with the timings to suit.
It is Inevitable.....
Depends how much data you have and how much you want to spend?
The HP LTO 2 system is excellent, very rapid and reliable. Up to 800GB on a tape. Only problem is cost, not cheap at all.
Other than that there is the Sony AIT series of tapes, I think they range from about 100Gb up to 300Gb and they are fast and good value, sit in a standard cd bay.
I would say that some form of hard drive may be the way to go though.
We use CA's Brightstor Active backup software BTW.
At the moment (using true image) a full system image is 150gb - so of course this will increase. As with all business cost is an issue, and I've been spending a lot of the budget lately, because the network (and solutions) I've inherited are dated. (We were using 40gb tapes and backup exec 8).
I'd prefer a portable removal hdd solution and of course true image.
Now it has to be removable because I know my next project is a "Disaster recovery" paper.
My only problem with a portable hdd is usb 2.0 is slow. So the NAS sounds good to me!
If performance is your key issue, then like I said, DAS might be better:Originally Posted by Bazzlad
My only problem with a portable hdd is usb 2.0 is slow. So the NAS sounds good to me!
Red is eSATA, Blue USB2.0
All you'd need is an appropriate DAS box (maybe with RAID-1? or just a single drive if cost's an issue) and an eSATA card for the host, if necessary.
PHP Code:$s = new signature();
$s->sarcasm()->intellect()->font('Courier New')->display();
HP do a DDS3 autoloader, Bazzlad. Scan have them at about £200 inc VAT. Capacity is quoted at 144GB, but of course that assumes 2:1 compression. Whether that's optimistic, pessimistic or accurate depends on your dataset.
Perhaps breaking down (or changing the existing breakdown) the backup content into OS install (which changes rarely), perhaps including program installation, and data which changes frequently and needs more comprehensive protection, will open up the backup strategy options and the hardware/software solutions applicable?.
I know this is stating the bleedin' obvious, but if the next project is disaster recovery, does it not make sense to step back at this point, and look at backup strategy and disaster recovery as two aspects of the same issue, and to try to adopt a strategic approach that encompasses both.
Any solution, though, needs to reflect your specific needs. What's important? Resilience, and keeping users online 24/7? Or perhaps system availability, but only during working hours and outside that time, system-intensive backups can be done?
I'd have thought options might include RAID5 storage for resilience and uptime, perhaps a server mirroring arrangement, a comprehensive backup strategy, availability of hot-swap parts (maybe from a hard drive or two to an entire server), an analysis of points of weakness (such as single points of failure, like a central network switch), power conditioning and UPS, secure onsite storage (fireproof safe, etc), a practical offsite storage option, a security review (both penetration testing and physical security, to consider social engineering attacks) and so on.
Exactly how far you go very much depends on your situation, how important the data is, what the costs of downtime are, what the implications of data loss are, available budget, attitudes of management, and so forth.
But surely, if you're looking at backup and then disaster recovery, it makes sense to look at the whole situation strategically? Of course, if you're running a school netwrok, both the potential implications and the available budget will be a bit different from if you're protecting NatWest's customer database, the sales ledger for ICI or Pentagon secure satellite comms. But, within whatever practical contraints you have, look at the whole situation before tackling a backup solution.
That's my 2p anyway.
/Lecture mode off
LTO3 you mean
For "normal" data the limit is about 500GB. Tape figures have been rubbish for years now
"In a perfect world... spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a cell with many men who have enlarged their penises, taken Viagra and are looking for a new relationship."
I think you've covered everything there. Allthough I would not bother going DDS3 - its old and 12/24GB per tape i.e. 15 realistically. DDS4 is 20/40GB allthough I personally wouldn't bother with either. But that said I can get a huge budjet if need be. Quote from boss "only £10,000. Why haven't we got one already?"HP do a DDS3 autoloader, Bazzlad. Scan have them at about £200 inc VAT. Capacity is quoted at 144GB, but of course that assumes 2:1 compression. Whether that's optimistic, pessimistic or accurate depends on your dataset.
Perhaps breaking down (or changing the existing breakdown) the backup content into OS install (which changes rarely), perhaps including program installation, and data which changes frequently and needs more comprehensive protection, will open up the backup strategy options and the hardware/software solutions applicable?.
I know this is stating the bleedin' obvious, but if the next project is disaster recovery, does it not make sense to step back at this point, and look at backup strategy and disaster recovery as two aspects of the same issue, and to try to adopt a strategic approach that encompasses both.
Any solution, though, needs to reflect your specific needs. What's important? Resilience, and keeping users online 24/7? Or perhaps system availability, but only during working hours and outside that time, system-intensive backups can be done?
I'd have thought options might include RAID5 storage for resilience and uptime, perhaps a server mirroring arrangement, a comprehensive backup strategy, availability of hot-swap parts (maybe from a hard drive or two to an entire server), an analysis of points of weakness (such as single points of failure, like a central network switch), power conditioning and UPS, secure onsite storage (fireproof safe, etc), a practical offsite storage option, a security review (both penetration testing and physical security, to consider social engineering attacks) and so on.
Exactly how far you go very much depends on your situation, how important the data is, what the costs of downtime are, what the implications of data loss are, available budget, attitudes of management, and so forth.
But surely, if you're looking at backup and then disaster recovery, it makes sense to look at the whole situation strategically? Of course, if you're running a school netwrok, both the potential implications and the available budget will be a bit different from if you're protecting NatWest's customer database, the sales ledger for ICI or Pentagon secure satellite comms. But, within whatever practical contraints you have, look at the whole situation before tackling a backup solution.
That's my 2p anyway.
/Lecture mode off
We have all HP and Cisco kit where I work
"In a perfect world... spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a cell with many men who have enlarged their penises, taken Viagra and are looking for a new relationship."
Sorry misstype on my part. I was looking at one of our tapes at the time when I typed it. Our ones only seem to get about 380 odd GB on the tape native (we don't compress them as no one trusts itLTO3 you mean
For "normal" data the limit is about 500GB. Tape figures have been rubbish for years now)
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
