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No tape backup support without 3rd-party software

SteveMC

By SteveMC
in Windows Server 2008

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SteveMC

SteveMC

Posted
Posted

Having just installed Server 2008 on a test box, I'm rather annoyed to discover that in the replacement for NTBackup, Microsoft have removed support for tape backup.

 

Plenty of the schools I visit make use of a scripted NTBackup, using LTO2 tape drives, and the cost of buying something like Backup Exec is rather extortionate when compared to the initial server OS price.

 

Anyone recommend other tape backup solutions (that work with 2008)?

 

Stephen

Guest metalmonkey

Guest metalmonkey

Posted
Posted

I became a victim of of that particular Microsoft decision when moving to Vista. (I use a SATA DAT tape drive at home)

 

Having tried many options, including... finally getting NTBackup to work on vista - only to find out (as you say) tape drive support has been dropped from Removal Storage.

 

The only truely reliable way I backup is using NovaBackup from NovaStore. Its not expensive when compared to the likes of Veri-ass/Symantec BackupExec but by the same token, it should only be seen as a replacement for NTBackup, not BackupExec. It's not overly powerful, but does as it says on the tin.

 

Having said all this - I only know by using it on Vista, not 2008 (but hey, it's only re-badged Vista anyway!!)

 

Hope this helps

torledo

torledo

Posted
Posted
I became a victim of of that particular Microsoft decision when moving to Vista. (I use a SATA DAT tape drive at home)

 

Having tried many options, including... finally getting NTBackup to work on vista - only to find out (as you say) tape drive support has been dropped from Removal Storage.

 

The only truely reliable way I backup is using NovaBackup from NovaStore. Its not expensive when compared to the likes of Veri-ass/Symantec BackupExec but by the same token, it should only be seen as a replacement for NTBackup, not BackupExec. It's not overly powerful, but does as it says on the tin.

 

Having said all this - I only know by using it on Vista, not 2008 (but hey, it's only re-badged Vista anyway!!)

 

Hope this helps

 

 

SATA DAT ? didn't think you got get those, unusual that someone would use a relatviely new connection type for a legacy tape format such as DAT.

 

Sure you don't mean scsi ?

SteveMC

SteveMC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The only truely reliable way I backup is using NovaBackup from NovaStore. Its not expensive when compared to the likes of Veri-ass/Symantec BackupExec but by the same token, it should only be seen as a replacement for NTBackup, not BackupExec. It's not overly powerful, but does as it says on the tin.

 

Thanks for that - I'll bear it in mind. It looks like NovaBackup can also do encrypted backups, but it doesn't say what sort of encryption they use. I think this might become more important with all the data protection issues these days (especially with admin staff taking the SIMS server tape off-site each night).

 

The larger schools are mostly using BackupExec anyway, for the remote agents and all the other features, but for the schools with just one or two servers NovaStore looks good.

 

Stephen

Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted

This decision is awful for Vista and Server 2008 users. I've used NTBackup for years and I cannot understand why Microsoft made this decision.

 

It's confirmed here

 

You can no longer back up to tape. (However, support of tape storage drivers is still included in Windows Server 2008.) Windows Server Backup supports backing up to external and internal disks, DVDs, and shared folders.

 

It definitely seems Microsoft want you to use a third party solution, unless they're going to release a chargeable update/package to allow users to backup to tape.

torledo

torledo

Posted
Posted
I became a victim of of that particular Microsoft decision when moving to Vista. (I use a SATA DAT tape drive at home)

 

Having tried many options, including... finally getting NTBackup to work on vista - only to find out (as you say) tape drive support has been dropped from Removal Storage.

 

The only truely reliable way I backup is using NovaBackup from NovaStore. Its not expensive when compared to the likes of Veri-ass/Symantec BackupExec but by the same token, it should only be seen as a replacement for NTBackup, not BackupExec. It's not overly powerful, but does as it says on the tin.

 

Having said all this - I only know by using it on Vista, not 2008 (but hey, it's only re-badged Vista anyway!!)

 

Hope this helps

 

Backup Exec. expensive ? In that case the prices of some of the other backup products on the market would give you a heart attack....

Backup Exec is considered a reltively cheap entry level products - but that viewpoint depends on you're budget.

localzuk

localzuk

Posted
Posted
I think it might come down to the fact that tape backup is generally being seen as a system for small scale backup. For example, small businesses and schools are moving towards disk to disk backup or online backup. This is then coupled with the thought that any business wishing to make use of tapes would spend money on complex backup systems involving tape libraries etc... so therefore would buy third party software.
SteveMC

SteveMC

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Backup Exec is considered a reltively cheap entry level products - but that viewpoint depends on you're budget.

 

Indeed it does, - my viewpoint on this one is from the perspective of some of our primary schools, who are running SIMS on a server that cost around £1200, with an OS that cost them £50 (or thereabouts). To suddenly have an extra £375 stuck on for Backup Exec (with possibly another £300 or so for the SQL agent) makes it all rather more expensive.

 

Stephen

Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted
Personally when I eventually adopt Server 2008 (in a working environment), I'd also deploy a NAS of some kind (still using NTBackup). Works out much, much cheaper.
Guest metalmonkey

Guest metalmonkey

Posted
Posted
SATA DAT ? didn't think you got get those, unusual that someone would use a relatviely new connection type for a legacy tape format such as DAT.

 

Sure you don't mean scsi ?

 

Sata Dat drives have been around for a while. It's a HP StorageWorks device.

 

But it certainly isn't SCSI. Thats a swearword to me!! :p

torledo

torledo

Posted
Posted
Sata Dat drives have been around for a while. It's a HP StorageWorks device.

 

But it certainly isn't SCSI. Thats a swearword to me!! :p

 

I'll have to get me one of those.

Guest metalmonkey

Guest metalmonkey

Posted
Posted
Please justify your statement ....

 

As Novabackup does SQl, Exchange, Open files and Disaster Recovery... So why is it not as good as Backup exec ?

 

I stand corrected. Didn't know.

 

Feel better now?

john

john

Posted
Posted
Sata Dat drives have been around for a while. It's a HP StorageWorks device.

 

But it certainly isn't SCSI. Thats a swearword to me!! :p

I aint seen a SATA one, I've seen IDE, USB2.0, and SCSI but no SATA units, I haven't even spotted them on the HP site, you sure its SATA?

torledo

torledo

Posted
Posted
I aint seen a SATA one, I've seen IDE, USB2.0, and SCSI but no SATA units, I haven't even spotted them on the HP site, you sure its SATA?

 

they've also got a SAS version of the drive on the website. My guess is if it's a new model it's the SAS version.

 

Quantum i think do a SATA dat drive, and it looks like the hp drives could be OEM'ed from Quantum, but that doesn't explain why there's no mention of a SATA version on the hp website, unless it's an older model.

 

Didn't realise they did usb aswell - here i was stuck with scsi for tape connectivity. Looks like i need to join the 21st century.

john

john

Posted
Posted
Im fairly sure the HP ones are HP rather than re-baged. The freecom ones are HP ones (I've had them before as they were at one point nearly £150 cheaper than the HP ones!) But I could be wrong. I hadn't spotted they were doing a SAS one but it would make sense as they are moving more of the ProLiants to SAS now instead of SCSI.
PeterW

PeterW

Posted
Posted
The freecom ones are HP ones (I've had them before as they were at one point nearly £150 cheaper than the HP ones!) But I could be wrong.

 

No your not wrong, spot on actually.

john

john

Posted
Posted
No your not wrong, spot on actually.

Good stuff :) Begs the question why do places sell both Freecom and HP ones that are identical appart from the price :)

Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted
Good stuff :) Begs the question why do places sell both Freecom and HP ones that are identical appart from the price :)

 

Goes to show that it's all about the brand that attracts a lot of people :)

AyatollahPies

AyatollahPies

Posted
Posted

Went to a Server 2008 workshop late last year. The chap hosting it is an MVP and runs his own consultancy company. Upon raising this issue with him, he simply said it's tough. Businesses should get with the times and use modern backup methods.

 

So basically, MS don't care if you are a small business that doesn't have a lot of money, i.e. a primary school.

 

I'm no fan of tape backups, but this is narrow-minded thinking from the Redmond Beast.

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