Backup solutions

[jamoritch]

Hi all,

 

Currently looking at different options for backup. Currently we don't have anything in place for file level restoration. The Head insisted it wasnt needed and as such, we have now lost some pupil's coursework.

 

I have now been given the go ahead to look into getting a backup solution to prevent something like this happening again. As usual, the cheaper the better.

 

We have 6 sites all pointing to a virtual file server hosted by the Local Authority. I was looking at the possibility of having incremental backups onto a NAS box locally at one or a couple of the sites but wasn't sure which software to use for this.

 

Or is there any cheap cloud solutions that would work in this scenario? We have 6 sites so there is A LOT of data that needs backing up. We would potentially look at only backing up Student data if the cost seems too much.

 

Cheers

[msi_school]

For an easy file level restore I use volume shadow copy for previous versions, its quick and easy to set up and does not require management, I have also used a NAS and a robocopy script for quick and dirty backups of pupil data to give me peace of mind during coursework crunches and the like.

 

For real back ups I like Veeam it makes both restoring a single file and an entire VM easy.

[jamoritch]

I have seen a lot of people using Veeam, as we dont have access to the machine running the VM's though, will it still work?

 

Cheers

[willtech]

You possibly use the Windows Agent https://www.veeam.com/windows-endpoint-server-backup-free.html if you don't have access to the hypervisor.

[MS2011]

Veeam and shadow copy here.

[houlta]

I use a combination of robocopy scripts for certain mirror jobs I want doing such as app db dumps, VSquare for my vmware free esxi and Urbackup for file level restore of the fileserver.

 

http://www.vsquarebackup.com and UrBackup - Client/Server Open Source Network Backup for Windows and Linux

 

urbackup is free open source and available for both linux and windows, vsquare is not free but cheap thankfully. I'd like veeam and a licensed copy of esxi but that aint happening

[jonathon28]

I used to use Backup Assist for file level backups. Nice bit of software. Used to use Microsoft DPM but had more trouble than anything with it. We currently use VEEAM but not quickest to do a file level restore, in fact it takes ages! Fine for VM backups but I wouldn't have personally chosen it for file level protection. Edited April 3, 2019 by jonathon28

[CHiLL]

We're using VEEAM and VSS, both covering the last ~30 days. We copy our backups to the cloud each term for DR. We could do it more frequently, but the sheer amount of time is takes to upload multiple TBs, it makes it impractical. So our DR plan is that in a worst case scenario that we recover to up to 3/4 months prior. Not ideal, but it's better than nothing. We have just upgraded our Internet connection to 200/200, so I'll be reevaluating this to see if it's more feasible to do it monthly over a weekend.

[aguacate]

Another vote for Backup Assist, being using for over 3+ years, very intuitive, rock solid and annual support is less than £100.

[Areku]

Veeam and Shadowcopy

[Jobos]

Roughly what price is Veeam?

[yac2016]

Or Altaro is a more cost effective solution to Veeam.

[PotNoodleTech]

Veeam and Volume Shadow copy here, 90+% of our file level restores are handled by VSS.

 

But if you do not host the server, then you will not be able to use Veeam as Veeam will need administrative access to the server to install it's agent.

 

If it's an LEA server then they will be backing it up on their own backup system(s)?

[Fazza]

For an easy file level restore I use volume shadow copy for previous versions, its quick and easy to set up and does not require management

 

It's also free! And very quick to restore files/folders.

[chazzy2501]

I use Volume Copy Shadow Service (VSS) this is NOT a backup though. The great news is that normal users can restore their own files or folders, which is nice.

 

I used to use Windows backup on the servers but haven't looked at it in a decade! I still think the servers can do this though!

 

I use Vranger backup software this would need to run at the VM level though. This allows entire machine and file level restore.

[mbedford]

Another +1 for Veeam, great solution. We also use "Previous Versions" on the file shares to go back about 60 days of twice daily copies, obviously, there is a storage hit to doing this but this is managed quite well by Windows Server. It allows the end-users (staff and students) quick access to file recovery. Very rarely do we get asked to recover files from file shares now. Edited March 5, 2020 by mbedford

[Edu-IT]

Anyone here able to give me a rough cost for Veeam licensing or is it like Microsoft, complicated?

[Guest Guest]

We just purchased Veeam Essentials for 8 HyperV VMs across 2 hosts and this cost around £450 a year in total

[fredbayker]

The free veeam community edition without support will backup 10 instances, physical or Virtual using the newer universal licensing model.

 

1 instance = 1 server or up to 4 workstations.

 

I like veeam but I’ve also heard very good things about backup assist also. Didn’t like Altaro and DPM is nothing but trouble.

[Edu-IT]

Can you backup to a cloud server with the free edition?

[fredbayker]

Can you backup to a cloud server with the free edition?

 

Not in a supported configuration I think. But you may be able to add a cloud service as a scale-out repo and then use rclone or the likes to backup to it. I haven’t tried it so can’t say for sure.

I’ll soon be purchasing the licence and subscribing to a veeam cloud-connect partner for offsite backups.

[Jcx500]

Using volume shadow copy for files etc , then using redstor for vm backups

[TwistedHelixis]

Sign up for G Suite for education. Install Backup and sync on the server. Pick folders to backup.

 

Google Drive will automatically do file versions and also keep the files for as long as needed.

[JATSO]

Sign up for G Suite for education. Install Backup and sync on the server. Pick folders to backup.

 

Google Drive will automatically do file versions and also keep the files for as long as needed.

 

Do you have a specific account for this?

[keyboards]

We use Veeam as our main backup and Acronis as secondary, Veeam is a lovely bit of kit