Data Backup - What should and shouldn't I be backing up?

[Janx1975]

Hi,

 

I am trying to streamline our backups and as I have inherited the current system, wondered what is good/best practice for what data is backed up.

 

In this instance we still have Symantec Backup Exec, taking a weekly digital backup of all the VMs and then a separate server backup of the 1st & 2nd server, along with member servers (we are an RM CC4 school) but also includes a backup of the backup server, VCenter and wireless servers. These server backups are then duplicated to Tape weekly. There is also a daily incremental backup of the servers.

 

As the actual VM's are being digitally backed up, do we really need to be backing up a whole server (including Window, program data, Program files etc etc.) such as the 1st or member servers, or just the user data folders?

 

We are hopefully going to be migrating to a Vanilla network very soon, and we are looking to potentially backup to the cloud, either via Redstore or a MS Azure solution as the tapes and loader are very old and starting to fail with greater regularity - so anything to get our data backup down is a priority. We are also going to be getting students (but mostly staff) to purge old documents, or upload them to their Google Drive areas as part of this also.

 

Just wondering what your thoughts are, and best practice/examples you may have.

 

Thanks in advance.

[DrBeaker]

Have you got an RM support contract? Are they not backing up the servers as part of that contract?

[Janx1975]

Hi mhaddock,

We do have an RM support contract, but they dont choose what does and doesnt go into the backup - they only appear to support the backup technology and fix software related issues.

The previous Network Manager appears to be backing up the kitchen sink, I just dont know if we need to be uploading to tape - things like "Program Files", "Temp", "Perflogs" etc when they are backed up as part of the VM digitial backup.

[bald_pig]

To be honest, if you have the resources to do it, I say do it. Just make sure the backups are in multiple locations, no good if they're all in the server room and the room implodes!

 

Only difference I'd make is backup to cloud storage instead of tape. Google has limits on drive uploads that aren't widely advertised, so double check that before deciding.

[Janx1975]

To be honest, if you have the resources to do it, I say do it. Just make sure the backups are in multiple locations, no good if they're all in the server room and the room implodes!

Only difference I'd make is backup to cloud storage instead of tape. Google has limits on drive uploads that aren't widely advertised, so double check that before deciding.

That's our hope - but we want to ultimately reduce what is uploaded to the cloud, thus what is backed up in the first place.