recommended backup system?

[mystifying]

We are a small business using Win2000 Server with approx. 12 or 13 computers on our network. Our server has approx. 50 gigs of used space (total) on it. We have approx. 12 gigs of important information (maybe 2 or 3 of it vital/critcal). We have been using a tape backup, but having to switch out the tapes, as it takes two. We recently had a crash that it took about a week to recover from. We want to reduce this time, of course. I'll be the first to admit, our backup plans were far less than perfect (hit or miss, really), and better planning with the equipment we have has been our first step. But now I am trying to take the next step of having a more robust system that is not fast, but stable as well (and preferably doesn't require switching media halfway through). Any suggestions? (keep in mind it is a small/ med. business, so budget is a concern)

 

[LeonBar]

Yes install a DDS tape drive. I have tapes that range from 20gig not compressed to 40 gig. The software is not that expensive and you can get a program that has a open file manager that will allow backups to run wile files are open. We use DDS backup tape drives on all of our servers. If you need more information about DDS drives I need to know if your server is scsi or IDE.

Leon

 

[cbrider]

Try Computer Associates' Arcserve v.9. I've been professionally consulting for many years, using many different types of backup software. The one I found most accurate and usable for your size company has been Arcserve. It is easy to learn and foolproof if configured properly. The only drawback is the price, and thier tech support is still in the lower ranks. But if your server comes with a warranty, the vendor usually has a bounty of inoformation in regards to Arcserve support.

 

[mystifying]

Thanks I'll check it out. I am curious ...I've been told a removable hard drive for complete system backup and DVD's for critical file backups are not a good way to go, but I haven't had anyone that can say why. Can someone please explain why tape (either DDS or DLT) is the preferred backup method, especially today when hard drives and DVD-RW's are less expensive and less hardware specific?

 

[ricpinto]

Go 4 the cheapest tape library drive that u can find (1 drive can access multiple tapes). As 4 your other question, tape drives are been around for as long as you can remember. It's portable with a lot of back up strategeis. it can range to 8 to 110 GB double that for compressed. It also comes with tape libraries. It also can be daisy chained, back up from the network. etc. etc.

If you go 4 HDD, image your drive to the HDD/dvd-rw.. so that you can fully restore back and it's faster.. but i don't how you gonna run this on scheduler. . . THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION, I never tried it really.. maybe nobody tried it and that's the reason they advise you against it.

 

[LeonBar]

Depends on how critical and how often you need to backup. We use a 5 tape rotation using dds tapes. Every day all of the critical data is backed up. Once a month we put in a new tape in the rotation and save the last tape of the month. This way if a user deletes a file they need we can retrieve it. If a user deletes a file they need but doesn’t know about it for a month like a client letter they needed for a case but the case has not been active for months we can get the last tape from that saved month and retrieve it. Everything depends on how often your date changes. Retrieving files is very easy put in the tape pick the file click restore.

Leon