Backup to tape library, over network

[tlemons]

Hi

I'm setting up an automated backup solution for a small office (~5 computers) that is using Windows XP Professional. I like the basic features of the XP-supplied backup and ASR programs. But, I'm having trouble over-coming two problems:

1. NTbackup does not seem to support the ADIC Scalar 218 tape library used by this computer; XP doesn't even seem to have a driver for ADIC tape libraries.

2. Though I know how to back up a file share using NTbackup, I'm not sure how to back up the entire system (including Registry information, etc).

Thanks for your thoughts!
tl

 

[bcastner]

Use a Third-Party software program.

I like this one, NetVault:

http://www.bakbone.com/products/

But NovaStor I think good.

See:

http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Backup/Tape_Backup/

 

[tlemons]

Thanks for these specific suggestions. But, since you didn't say how to make this work with the standard Windows XP backup software, do you believe that it can't support what I need to do?

Thanks
tl

 

[bcastner]

You can only back up the System State data on a local computer You cannot back up the System State data on a remote computer using NTbackup.

This alone suggests it is not appropriate for the requirements you gave in your first message.

 

[tlemons]

Hi

Actually, enterprise class backup software applications do this, by running the, say, Registry backup locally, then transfreeing this data over the network to another system, which writes the data to tape. I don't know if the backup application in Windows XP Pro is sophisticated enough to handle this. Maybe not?

tl

 

[bcastner]

It is easy enough to script yourself. You could:

1. Run ntbackup on the local machines to a local filestore, and retrieve the backups through the network; or,

2. Use utilities in a script to backup the registry locally, copy the registry store through a network map; and process the remainder through ntbackup.

See, for example,

http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/erunt/

My concern about using NTbackup with tape libraries is that it is too fussy for multi-tape library use. And you cannot script an erase, allocate sequence. Third-party utilities offer this and more in an easily job scriptable fashion.

What is genuinly interesting is the increasing appearance of backup methods that use the Volume Shadow service. There are some very interesting things done in Windows 2003 in this regard, and at least the newest Drive Image workstation and Acronis products show how the Shadow service can help under XP.

 

[tlemons]

Gotcha, thanks. Then, may I ask everyone if they know if Windows XP's backup program supports tape libraries? In this environment, I really need this level of automation.

Thanks!
tl

 

[bcastner]

It supports tape libraries.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q239892

 

[Moonrsr]

A step by step guide (have your popup filter going!), its a lil annoying but good procedure for backing on tape with the XP Backup

http://delltech.150m.com/XP/backup/1.htm