Back-up solutions

[SYNACK]

eSATA pcie card NZD$60

5x 1tb external usb/eSATA hds @ about NZD$220 each

$0 on software cost as bundled

 

or

 

1x USB3 enclosure plus usb3 card @ about AUD$200 plus 1tb hd at about NZD$140

4x enclosure at about AUD$120 each plus 1tb HD @ NZD$140 each

[FN-GM]

All ours go onto LTO tapes daily. We also have Symantec CPS backing user files and shared areas continuously, 24 x 7

[mac_shinobi]

LTO tapes have a lifetime of approximately 200 read/writes of the entire tape - to be a bit conservative I look to replace the tapes when they reach around 150 total read/writes or the tape reports its first error - whichever occurs first.

 

I estimate it'll be 2 years before I'll need to replace any media unless any develops faults.

 

With hard drives, it's much more difficult to estimate their lifetime as there are many more varying factors that can influence how long a Hard Drive lasts for - we've probably all hand the dreaded server re-boot that's caused a drive failure. It's this sort of failure that you just don't get with tape, tape tends to degrade gradually and backup software reports errors long before the media physically fails - discs don't tend to do this and are prone to sudden failures. Knowing my data is safe on a system purposely designed and tested for backup purposes rather than a hashed together NAS box or simelar helps me sleep better at night. I think some people don't class backup systems as a priority, and will just 'make do' with whatever that have or can get their hands on, where as I see it as one of the most important componants of the system - it's the one part you really don't want to let you down - ever!

 

I have suffered data loss in a previous job, and it's no laughing matter - jobs have been lost, luckily I didn't lose mine, but there were some very tough questions asked. Not a position I ever want to be in again!

 

Mike.

 

Never said it was a laughing matter - also if you use raid 6 or something with a bit more redundancy does that not help and also once SSD's have been out for a number of years ie 5 to 10 maybe more then will those not be a good option *shrugs* ?? Guess it depends if they support trim and other feature sets and also interface ie sata, sas etc

[maniac]

Never said it was a laughing matter - also if you use raid 6 or something with a bit more redundancy does that not help and also once SSD's have been out for a number of years ie 5 to 10 maybe more then will those not be a good option *shrugs* ?? Guess it depends if they support trim and other feature sets and also interface ie sata, sas etc

 

Yes, I am watching the development of SSD's very carefully - at the moment the capacity lets them down, but 5yrs time I think we could be onto a winner with SSDs.

 

My reply wasn't a dig at you by the way, there's a few people on here saying 'home built NAS box' or simelar, I just hope these devices are up to task for all those involved.

 

Mike.

[round2it]

Backup Exec 12.5 with sql Add on Backing up the full cmis+sims (yes running both at the moment as 2 years with serco did not work out) backsup to Negear ready Nas 2tb

 

also backup to tape as im kinda paranoid

 

backupforAll to copy userdata to nas great for quick access to recover the kids stuff when the delete everything. (yes i know robocopy but it was dirt cheap and does a great job) never failed us

 

Frogserver just use ntbackup to the Nas

 

NTbackup for the exchange server + a ghost image of the server ready if needed running it on an old Dell GX60 with 512mb ram 300gb HD no raid or resilience hence the ghost image.

 

Thats about it. but the whole backup system is in need of a huge overhaul i need to spend some money.

Edited March 13, 2010 by round2it

[Sylv3r]

D-D-Tape Solution

 

Off the top of my head I can't remember exactly how much data is backed up.

 

We used to use BackupExec but have sinced move to Yosemite Backup Solution as it was more cost effective then purchasing additional BackupExec agents for new servers.

 

Differential Mon - Thur

Full Backup Fri

 

Half Term a full backup is also taken.

[FragglePete]

Backing up to a Sony LIB-81 AIT-5; 8 Tape Carousel unit using Backup Exec 11d. Currently backs up the server it is attached to (the main DC) and four other servers (including a Exchange 2007 box) with Remote Agents. Differential Mon-Thur, with a Full on Friday. Keep at least Four sets of Friday tapes at a time. Keep a Full backup set at the end of the academic year also.

 

SIMS server has its own local Ultrium Drive which does a Full Backup Each night, tape for each weekday Mon to Thur with four sets of Friday tapes cycled.

 

Looking to implement a 4Tb Terrastation in the not too distant future in additional to the above, which I'll backup to also as a belt and braces solution and providing quicker recovery.

 

Pete

[TheydonBois]

Three servers that back up via Symantec to Autoloaders LTO-3, around 400GB/server full backups each night, tapes ejected in morning. 15 tapes in and 15 tapes 'offsite' (other end of the school).

 

End of month tapes stored offsite which also takes tapes out of rotation.

 

Other servers are on NTBackup to RAID 5 terastations that are robocopied every weekend to offsite Terastations, and these servers that we have not yet got to a tape solution are backed up to tape during the terms as a psudo end of month solution via Symantec and Remote Agent.