Is there any good backup software

[langleymass]

Is there any good backup software out there? I used Arcserve for almost four years and found it to be garbage. Now I am on a job using Veritas Netbackup and am not finding it to be much better. I have been trying to backup a server for about three weeks now and have gotten probably a half dozen different error messages.

On Friday, a guy from Veritas actually claimed that they make it difficult so people will end up buying support contracts. It doesn't surprise me much.

 

[birky]

Hi

Take a look at CommVault Galaxy.

I've used most of them out there and so far this one comes out on top

 

[langleymass]

I hadn't heard of them. Also, I have used Lone-Tar on Linux and Unix machines. It's pretty good. I have yet to find anything good for Windows.

My fear is that there is more money to be made with software that sort-of works instead of software that actually does.

 

[birky]

Gartner last year placed them in the top tier for enterprise backup/restore.

Good and bad points in all of the current offerings but, Galaxy seems to do the job quite well for us regarding backup/restore. You can also add HSM, email archiving etc which is then all managed from one gui.

 

[mrn]

Netbackup is by far the best I've used out of the "Big" ones. With a little training all becomes clear.

Mike

"A foolproof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble, then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant.

 

[Yrrk]

In my experience they all have their pros/cons and problems. The best depends on your requirements and needs. Properly evaluating your needs and TCO (total cost of ownership) will tell you which is best for you.

The cheapies are Arcserve and Backup Exec. The enterprise apps are TSM, Netbackup, CommVault and Networker. You'll find the cheapies are easy to learn and use but have a lot of limitations while the enterprise apps are feature rich and more difficult to learn, but come with a lot of configurability that the cheapies can't hope to match.

 

[clonny2]

There are pros and cons about all of them. Another one to look at is BakBone Netvault. It is pretty easy and lots of add-on modules.

NetBackup is the best, most expensive, most difficult big one out there. But once you know it, it is pretty easy.

Take a look at Netvault. Might meet your needs.

 

[Yrrk]

one more thing.. beware of anyone who tells you one of them is the best. I run a team of data restoration engineers who are familiar with all the before mentioned products. I can tell you that there is no best. Show me someone who thinks one product is the best across the board and i'll show you someone who doesn't really know the competing products very well.

I do generally agree that the products all require support and knowledge to effectively use them. If you use one of the enterprise ones, make sure you either have someone on staff who has a few years working with the product or send someone to formal classes to learn it. It'll be money well spent.

 

[karmic]

It's gotten to the point where i've ditched the tape backup system altogether and have opted for external 2.5" hard drives. Set up xcopy thru dos and i've never had any problems.
I will only use tape drives if the client really wants it.

5 hard drives in a weekly rotation = $1000, cost of software? zilch. Clients love it.

~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[stevet3]

How would a xcopy get active files or system files?

 

[langleymass]

Arcserve and BackupExec are "cheapies" because they are basically single-server backups programs. I'm still thinking this is the best way to go--put a tape drive in every server. Backup every server to its own tape drive.

Netbackup is designed to be a multi-server backup plan.

 

[karmic]

Stevet3, what files do you have open?
Any loaded service on your server can be controlled in dos (net start or net stop service) via a batch file, do the data backup and start the services again. If I really need the system state, i'll use the builtin ntbackup to file then xcopy that. Data is the most important to the clients...

I'll usually do a ntbackup to file on a different server with exchange server as well, then backup using xcopy. To me, it's better to have a no-fail backup with data that be in every other day trying to repair the tape software that's not working.

Just my two cents

~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[Stumpr]

Is there any good backup software?

Yes, but it is my opinion not to spend too much money on a backup system. I suggest investigating more in replication/HA and mirroring and then structure the backup software around that architecture.



Bob Stump
Just because the Veritas documentation states a certain thing does not make it a fact

 

[langleymass]

I agree with you on the mirroring and stuff. However, most of the times I have restored files from backup, it has been because of users deleting files mistakenly or because of database problems or corruption.

I also remember restoring files because a VP's laptop was stolen right out of his office.

 

[clonny2]

Yrrk, you are correct, I should have said Most Popular not best. I am not advicating Netbackup at all. And the term Best is very subjective. I am very familiar with all of the big backup packages, including Replication Software. Here are some questions to ask, in no particular order.

1: What are my needs and requirements.

2: What is my cost range.

3: What is my techincal challenge of learning the product.

4: How are the support costs associated with the package.

5: How easy is the backup / restore process. Can I get to my data fast in an emergency?

Just a couple of things to think about, because there really are lots of packages out there.