Do you still use tapes?

FN-GM · 17-11-2008, 10:34 PM

Just wondered how many people still use tape drives to backup? we have finally ditched them for a NAS solution.

We have one NAS Box onsite and then another one on the other side of town in the local CLC. We use a fiber connection between the two so its nice and fast.

DMcCoy · 17-11-2008, 10:54 PM

Spent the day putting one of my new LTO4s into a rack in fact!

sparkeh · 17-11-2008, 11:00 PM

Yeah at one site we do and I have never liked it.

Not actively looking at replacing yet but will nearer budget time. I think I will get the nod to move to NAS backup.

7andY · 18-11-2008, 01:28 PM

The good thing about tapes is that they are very easy to rotate, and store offsite - you do store offsite as well, don't you?

Cheers, 7&Y

Fuzzz · 18-11-2008, 01:33 PM

Still use tapes overhere... Their not (very) fragile, cheap, fast (enough), easy to rotate and I can keep an archive of several months. (Plus, ofcourse, the yearly and half-yearly archives)

Hightower · 18-11-2008, 01:34 PM

We use tapes

Also use a FreeNAS box for certain backups too (but this is really used for quick restores when kids delete work - not as a serious recovery tool)

Would love to move to something a bit more modern but money disagree's at the minute. Possibility of setting up virtualisation on network so would take another look at the solution then I guess.

elsiegee40 · 18-11-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7andY

you do store offsite as well, don't you?

Cheers, 7&Y

this old chestnut

... No we don't store off site. We have large grounds with 4 separate buildings a good distance from each other.

The NAS in use is secured in the building farthest from that containing the server. The one not in use is stored securely (not networked) in the building next furthest away (there's about 5 metres in it!)

After much discussion, we decided that this was the least risk option for us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

We use tapes

Also use a FreeNAS box for certain backups too (but this is really used for quick restores when kids delete work - not as a serious recovery tool)

Volume shadow copy is in place for quick data recovery for those accidental deletions!

Pete10141748 · 18-11-2008, 01:43 PM

We use tapes for 2 of our servers, they came with tape drives so we figured we'd use them.

One of our other servers used a strnage combination of a USB drive and a small-form HDD disk, the other we use a portable HDD.

All are stored offsite with relevant people (finance/admin backup with the Bursar, work/files/profiles etc. with us)

Would like to change to all portable HDD's or maybe offsite storage done via the 'net, but for the time being money dictates we have to keep doing what we are doing

Little-Miss · 18-11-2008, 01:55 PM

I use a NAS. Only a little network, so its ok at the moment..

DMcCoy · 18-11-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elsiegee40

this old chestnut

... No we don't store off site. We have large grounds with 4 separate buildings a good distance from each other.

The NAS in use is secured in the building farthest from that containing the server. The one not in use is stored securely (not networked) in the building next furthest away (there's about 5 metres in it!)

After much discussion, we decided that this was the least risk option for us.

Volume shadow copy is in place for quick data recovery for those accidental deletions!

Still one site though? The problem is, I would assume that the chances of all buildings catching fire probably increase if it's arson.

ICT_GUY · 18-11-2008, 02:18 PM

Too many gigs for Tape. Might be able to use it for User Data but that's about it.

I will be buying a few 64gig usb sticks next year, at which point they should be sub £30 I will also buy another external HD for the main DC.

jamin100 · 18-11-2008, 02:29 PM

We still use tapes (2 form primary) here and also some NAS located at the farthest point in the building as a backup.

CMIS data is backed up to an external HD attached to the server and also over the net every night.

7andY · 18-11-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICT_GUY

Too many gigs for Tape. .

Wow - must be some size. My tape system will store up to 800GB

7&Y

pete · 18-11-2008, 02:39 PM

We backup to disk, then to tape.

SimpleSi · 18-11-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamin100

We still use tapes (2 form primary) here and also some NAS located at the farthest point in the building as a backup.

CMIS data is backed up to an external HD attached to the server and also over the net every night.

Who/where/how much does it cost for the backup over the net?

regards

Simon

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View Poll Results: Do you still use tapes?
Yes	51	67.11%
No	16	21.05%
Looking into changing over to another solution.	9	11.84%
Voters: 76. You may not vote on this poll

17-11-2008, 10:34 PM	#1
FN-GM Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochdale, Lancashire Posts: 5,124 Thanks: 168 Thanked 179 Times in 173 Posts Rep Power: 43	Do you still use tapes? Just wondered how many people still use tape drives to backup? we have finally ditched them for a NAS solution. We have one NAS Box onsite and then another one on the other side of town in the local CLC. We use a fiber connection between the two so its nice and fast.

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Do you still use tapes?

17-11-2008, 10:54 PM	#2
DMcCoy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 1,959 Thanks: 2 Thanked 123 Times in 113 Posts Rep Power: 32	Spent the day putting one of my new LTO4s into a rack in fact!

17-11-2008, 11:00 PM	#3
sparkeh Join Date: May 2007 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 760 Thanks: 64 Thanked 40 Times in 36 Posts Rep Power: 13	Yeah at one site we do and I have never liked it. Not actively looking at replacing yet but will nearer budget time. I think I will get the nod to move to NAS backup.

18-11-2008, 01:28 PM	#4
7andY Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Rep Power: 1	The good thing about tapes is that they are very easy to rotate, and store offsite - you do store offsite as well, don't you? Cheers, 7&Y

18-11-2008, 01:33 PM	#5
Fuzzz Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Still use tapes overhere... Their not (very) fragile, cheap, fast (enough), easy to rotate and I can keep an archive of several months. (Plus, ofcourse, the yearly and half-yearly archives)

18-11-2008, 01:34 PM	#6
Hightower Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cloud 9 Posts: 766 Thanks: 49 Thanked 18 Times in 16 Posts Rep Power: 7	We use tapes Also use a FreeNAS box for certain backups too (but this is really used for quick restores when kids delete work - not as a serious recovery tool) Would love to move to something a bit more modern but money disagree's at the minute. Possibility of setting up virtualisation on network so would take another look at the solution then I guess.

18-11-2008, 01:43 PM	#8
Pete10141748 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 421 Thanks: 22 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Rep Power: 4	We use tapes for 2 of our servers, they came with tape drives so we figured we'd use them. One of our other servers used a strnage combination of a USB drive and a small-form HDD disk, the other we use a portable HDD. All are stored offsite with relevant people (finance/admin backup with the Bursar, work/files/profiles etc. with us) Would like to change to all portable HDD's or maybe offsite storage done via the 'net, but for the time being money dictates we have to keep doing what we are doing

18-11-2008, 01:55 PM	#9
Little-Miss Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 462 Thanks: 44 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts Rep Power: 9	I use a NAS. Only a little network, so its ok at the moment..

18-11-2008, 02:18 PM	#11
ICT_GUY Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Weymouth Posts: 899 Thanks: 147 Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts Rep Power: 16	Too many gigs for Tape. Might be able to use it for User Data but that's about it. I will be buying a few 64gig usb sticks next year, at which point they should be sub £30 I will also buy another external HD for the main DC.

18-11-2008, 02:29 PM	#12
jamin100 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 253 Thanks: 27 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Rep Power: 3	We still use tapes (2 form primary) here and also some NAS located at the farthest point in the building as a backup. CMIS data is backed up to an external HD attached to the server and also over the net every night.

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18-11-2008, 02:39 PM	#14
pete Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In the server room, with the lead pipe. Posts: 1,044 Thanks: 26 Thanked 36 Times in 25 Posts Rep Power: 15	We backup to disk, then to tape.

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