[sims] will be moving to SIMS, how best to incorporate into backup

[falko1]

As per title we will be moving to SIMS for the next academic year, and I was hoping to just put this out there to make sure I follow the correct procedures when backing up the system.

 

I haven't looked too much into SIMS yet as it is my boss who has been organizing with other members of the school and the project has not really started yet.

 

We have Veeam and I will be looking to make a new backup job (nightly incremental with Weekly Full) just for the SIMS VM that will be built, under Application aware processing I am going to enable "Require successful processing" and "process transaction logs with this job" is this correct?

 

also, is Veeam enough? should we also implement another backup solution for the SIMS SQL DB ?

 

I have seen in this thread that SQLBackupFTP is used also

 

what are your thoughts and how do you backup your SIMS in general and for those with Veeam what do you do?

 

 

thanks for any input/advice

Edited March 3, 2015 by falko1

[vikpaw]

For us, the DB is in simple recovery mode, so don't worry about transactions.

 

Take a full backup using management studio every night to disk. This is then part of the wider network's backup strategy and the files get zapped to tape on a differential scheme.

 

The virtual machine is fairly static, but i take a snapshot whenever we do something big, or when there is an update, and retain (which is overkill) but handy if you want to restore an older backup. I also have another TEST SIMS server on a different blade as VM.

 

Based on a couple of other recent threads which are relevant, I'd also setup a test sims server on a laptop or machine that isn't part of the server setup for a disaster recovery scenario, and maybe copy over one backup every week or two weeks, even if you don't restore it.

 

Also to make @matt40k happy - talk your plans over with the other IT bods that have any touch-points, IT Manager, Network Manager, local support company / LA. So they all know what is being done.

 

I don't think there is that much that will change on the server to warrant so much virtual machine backup. It depends on your setup, but there may be folders that are in the shared S drive, used for Nova, Data exchange and some other things, otherwise it's pretty much static. So you need to focus on the database itself and the document storage if that's on the same server.

 

Another thing to consider is if you'll be using FMS for finance, that usually lives on the same server as SIMS.

[DavetheITguy]

We use Sims in an Academic situation. I have a script that just backs up the databases we have few as we use FMS as well. a simple server backup doesn't back the databases up unless you have something like DPM. If you want a look at the script I have I can post it for you. It simply creates a backup of the database, names it with the date and saves it in a specified location.

[matt40k]

Thank you. Sorry to nag but we get topics on here for example where they go on and on trying to unpick how it is setup and why, often assuming its wrong, when a quick 5min call to the support desk and it's resolved and fully understood. We unfortunately don't get the updates when it goes wrong after they change something based on advice given here and it breaks it - and i'm not just talking about the OP, remember advise is taken by the lurkers too.

 

Personally, use Online Backup, Disaster Recovery, Storage and Archiving Services. Least then its backed up offsite securely.

[vikpaw]

That was why i added the line to my sig a long time ago - but you don't read it, perhaps you're blind to Comic SANS

[Banjo]

Backs up SQL and the document server.

 

Attix5 Pro | capita-sims.co.uk | capita-sims.co.uk

 

The only Capita accredited SIMS backup product

[matt40k]

FYI RedStor \ RBBUS (which a number LA sell) uses Attix5, they just bundle the approved software with a managed environment, after all software is useless if your still backing up to the same hard drive

@vikpaw - I think signatures fall under the same heading as email footer disclaimers, "meaningless" to quote Sir Alan Duncan - this is based on years of experience picking up the pieces after failure to read the small print\comic sans and asking support

[falko1]

thanks all

[pauldredge]

Capita use Redstor anyway for their backups and almost anyone can be a reseller (including ourselves) or you can go direct to Redstor. Wouldnt go through capita as youll pay more.