If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
We have a USB 35gb Iomega rev drive that I think kinda sucks along with CA's backup program. I am not too happy with it and we are getting another server and I wanted to see what everyone else does to backup their systems. Tape, off site computer, network drive, nothing, etc...
I don't know who makes one, but I am looking for a backup solution that will back up both of our windows servers and I was considering an automated tape drive system but it seems a bit too cost prohibitive. What is the usual route for small companies to backup their stuff?
If anyone would give some advise that would be great.
Well the online method feels like a potential liability with customer info. We have an extra 500gb drive that I backup stuff onto in addition to the 35gb rev drive, but ideally I need something that is removable to put in a fireproof safe and be drop proof.
I was also considering that a solid state hard drive might be a good solution but I would need something over our current 35gb and I don't know if they are out in that size yet.
I use a Western Digital external MyBook Office Edition HD. It comes with a program that backs up whatever folders/files you tell it to, then every time a file is added or changed in one of those folders, it automatically backs it up on the spot. It also has a way to access the drive remotely. But I haven't tried to use that yet. I don't usually leave my pc on when I'm not home.
Well the online method feels like a potential liability with customer info.
Mozy allows you to select the encryption password which is 448 bit.
The reason I like it so much is it's automatic and offsite. No need for anyone to do anything. So theft isn't an issue, and neither is fire or any other natural disaster. They are based in Utah so thats plenty far enough away that if two disasters happened it would be the hand of God striking me down for both to fail
Mozy allows you to select the encryption password which is 448 bit.
The reason I like it so much is it's automatic and offsite. No need for anyone to do anything. So theft isn't an issue, and neither is fire or any other natural disaster. They are based in Utah so thats plenty far enough away that if two disasters happened it would be the hand of God striking me down for both to fail
i have a my book, but I think I might look into this site for personal usage.
__________________
"pepper jack love fraggle rock"
Need to know a little more about your situation. What is your backup plan and how big are your typical backups? What kind of internet access do you use, in particular your upload speed and monthly upload limits? What IT personnel resources do you have in your company? Would it be better for you to make one relatively big out-of-pocket expense or would you like monthly subscription charges?
Well our internet is comcast business with a slow upload speed. It is the only thing available where we are located. We have 2 windows servers and the only IT resource is me. We are running exchange, isa server 2004, SQL 2005 which runs our point of sale, and our fax service through the servers. I would like to back up our SQL data everyday and do a full server backup of all the other important data once or twice a week. We would prefer to host our backup in house versus an offsite location.
We would like to keep the cost low (around $1000) with a tape solution. I really want an automated program that will backup both servers to the same tape drive if it is possible.
We have CA's backup program, which might do both servers, but I am not sure.
If you're most concerned with protecting your data from a drive failure, your easiest bet is a RAID 5 or RAID 6 array on each server. (I don't recommend RAID 1 or 3 for servers.) RAID's pretty easy to set up, you don't have to pay licensing fees, they backup data in real time and recover automatically in the event of a drive failure. (RAID 6 is tolerant for two drive failures.) If you have a small number of clients and you don't use big files you can use SATA drive array which keeps the cost way down.
Now since you're talking about adding a second Windows server you can combine this with the backup feature in 2K3 and 2K8 to automatically store a copy of critical files on the other server on whatever schedule you choose. This gets you to a very high level of fault tolerance. Combine it with using a good, line interactive UPS for each server and you've covered yourself from the most common causes of data loss.
But I strongly recommend that you have some kind of offsite backup or storage in case of a physical disaster. Keep it simple so you'll use it. I would recommend storing the backups in an encrypted file on a portable hard drive. Use the Server2K3 backup utility to schedule a daily or weekly backup (depending on your needs) and take the drive home with you.
Well the drives are going to be in a raid 1 array unless I buy some more drives. The problem that I have with that being the only solution is that windows itself might get corrupted and I won't have a system backup if I only rely on raid drives. Now I guess what you are talking about with backing up each server on the other one makes sense if I map a network drive on each one. That is probably one step that I will take. I still want 100% coverage.
Ideally I want some sort of tape drive, not a hard drive since they are prone to failing when dropped, etc. Will a tape drive allow me to map it as a network drive to backup both servers with any backup program or do I need to buy a special program to automatic backing up both servers.
Really, I don't worry too much about losing Windows. You should worry even less. Run the second server as a domain controller, too. If your primary DC becomes corrupted you promote the second server and keep going while you repair the first. You can also add a system state backup, which means you have your Windows and domain configurations saved in the event of a catastrophic failure.
About the medium to use, I don't recommend tape for a business owner doing their own IT administration. If you don't know exactly what you're doing it is easy to misconfigure the backup and get blank tapes, even though every backup report said it is 100% complete with zero data loss. I just helped a friend who has a chiropractic office with this exact problem after their office management program went Chernobyl. That gets to another problem with tape, it is the least user-friendly for testing your backups. Add in the much greater cost and slower backup speeds unless you go with DAT, and I can't sell that to a small business.
Also remember that backup planning works best as a layered approach. I started with a redundant RAID array in each server to protect from the most likely cause of failure - a failed disk drive. Then we have a networked backup of application data and Windows configuration on another server in the event catastrophic failure of the RAID array controller. Then we have the other server set up as a second domain controller to protect from either a Windows meltdown or the catastrophic failure of the other server. Finally we have something you keep out of the building to protect you against a meteor strike.
If you break the hard drive you're only screwed if it happens on the same night your servers are destroyed. You can avoid that if you want by using two hard drives for your backup, rotating them so one is always safely at home while you're transporting the one with today's backup. You'll still save hundreds (or more) over any tape backup.
Well first, I am not the owner, just the guy that is expected to design everything since my boss expects it of me. I know how tape drives are since that was the method my boss preferred with the last server. The cost of external hard drives is much cheaper but with the volume our business does we would rather have something more robust. Basically no to having a hard drive was the answer I got.
I plan on making the servers redundant but having the power go out here like it does often might be an issue and I don't trust the battery backups to tell the servers to shutdown. Sudden shutdowns with windows server usually don't end well. Thus why I want a full backup system.
Here are the two tape drives I was considering. If you have any experience with either types, I would love some feedback. Thanks.
What do you guys use for backup?
since 09/08/07
