BackUp Solution

[piwadmin]

I recently took over administering my company’s network of about 50 users. I’m trying to implement a solid backup solution. Currently we are backing the information up to a CD. I suggested purchasing a tape drive and backing the information up on tape, this way I could keep the backup server current and ready to go in the event of a system failure. However, because the server is using an Ultra 160 LVD SCSI, these tape drives are considerably high. Can an adapter be used? Will a firewire drive be a better solution? Is there a better backup solution out there? Pls send me all of your opinions and I will way my options. Also, should I purchase backup software or is W2K backup sufficient? Thanks for the help.

 

[Beaghler]

Do you have any on-board SCSI or a slot to put another SCSI card? Look at the ECRIX external drive. I tested one a year or so ago, and found it reliable and easy to set up. They are also fairly affordable. The problem, at least then, was that the tapes were proprietary and a little pricey. Other options are HP and ?? (I can't think of the name- they're made in Boulder). HP used to make a nice DAT library that wasn't too expensive. I don't know if it's still available.

I assume that you are doing a file copy to the CD- Time consuming and not really dependable. Also a pain if you have to set up the job every day. Tapes will allow more versatility and more storage.

Try one of the available backup solutions- ArcServe, Veritas, etc. Don't depend on the built in back-up. It's pretty stripped. You want to be able to back up E-Mail and open files, etc.

 

[Hungster]

If you buy a PowerVault tape drive from Dell
it comes with a SCSI controller, usually they ship a Adaptec 39160 a dual 160 LVD card. Same drive is the Seagate Scorpion 40

if you are backing up around 20GB data, i suggest you look at DDS-4, tape are not really expensive compare to other bigger type

if you have un-compressed data, DDS-4 will store 40GB data in compressed form

 

[beezee28]

A third party software to use is Veritas Backup exec 8.6 is pretty good. I am using it in our company and setting it up is a smooth ride. The program will back up everything you want or you can set up which files or folders to backup. And as with all backup programs there is the incremental, differential and full backup options. The only things that would give you a failed backup is when you have a program open (eg. quickbooks, peachtree where the user did not log off the program when Backup exec. runs the backup.)

 

[Hungster]

Yes Veritas BackUp Exec 8.6 is good
i back up anything with open file and db and exchange
those agents costs a penny or two, but they work great