Need help in selecting Backup Solution. 1

[sqladmin99]

Hi All,

Recently I put together small network of 3 computers. These computers are windows xp pro and networked under microsoft workgroup 'MS Home'.

Although it is very small network, these three computers are responsible for running business with avg $5000.00 revenue per day. If one of the computers goes down than entire business shuts down until I fix that computer. End users who use these computers have very limited knowledge about operating systems. I am looking for solution so that if one of these computers die than my client can purchase new computer from nearest store and restore it back to the old computer without any high level technical support.

Do they make any storage device that backups everything on the computer (including operating system) and can be operated by non-technical person?

I was thinking, combination of Norton ghost and NAS or external hard drive.

I appreciate your feedback.

RS

 

[comtec17]

Sounds as if you are looking for a "Bare Metal Backup and Restore" product such as Veritas BMR or for economical solutions, BakBone NetVault (

http://www.bakbone.com)

NetVault Product -

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

NetVault DR Product -

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

You do not need NAS to backup to as NAS is for Network File Shares. You will need a Tape Drive to backup the data to.

Also note, the recovery process depends on the type of application you are running as well. If you are running SQL server, Exchange, or Oracle type applications, then you will also need to back them up using the above product with the proper plugin.

 

[sqladmin99]

I was thinking about Mextor 300 GB NAS drive that comes with backup software.

Networking 3 computer and one 300 GB Drive with router. Running Backup program every night to back up all three computers. In case of disaster my client can afford to lose one day worth of data.

Do you see any flaws in this solution? Please let me know because I have not done anything like this before.

Thanks

RS

 

[comtec17]

The only issue I have is using disk as the primary holding place for the backup. It is like storing all of your money in 1 cardboard box with no lock. Disk fails very, very often and having all your backups in 1 location such as that can spell trouble.

If you really need to use disk, use it as a staging area, then move that data to tape daily and send or store the tape in a safe location.

 

[birky]

Don't use this NAS device as your only secondary storage...you are going to invite trouble unless you are going to stage or copy the data to tape.

If you are looking at only using disk as your secondary storage then you want something that you can use something like RAID5 so that if one of the disks fail then you don't lose all of your data.

Personaly if I was trying to protect these systems that were making 5k per day then I would look at investing in some proper backup software and creating an effective DR plan...needn't be expensive.

This also looks interesting

http://www.hostinterface.com/double.html