Looking for Backup Solutions

[Guest rkircher]

All,

 

I've been using Veritas (now Symantec) Backup Exec for many years now and

frankly I've had enough of the complexity and error proneness of this

software. I'm looking for suggestions on a replacement.

 

Environment.

Multiple Windows 2003 servers

Exchange 2003 (full DB and Mailbox lever backups)

SQL 2K and 2K5

 

I need reliable Open File backup preferably through VSS

 

Backups are done to disk nightly and to tape weekly.

 

 

I've downloaded an eval of CA ARCServer and I'm looking for other suggestions.

 

TIA

 

Rob

[Guest moncho]

Re: Looking for Backup Solutions

 

rkircher wrote:

> All,

>

> I've been using Veritas (now Symantec) Backup Exec for many years now and

> frankly I've had enough of the complexity and error proneness of this

> software. I'm looking for suggestions on a replacement.

>

> Environment.

> Multiple Windows 2003 servers

> Exchange 2003 (full DB and Mailbox lever backups)

> SQL 2K and 2K5

>

> I need reliable Open File backup preferably through VSS

>

> Backups are done to disk nightly and to tape weekly.

>

>

> I've downloaded an eval of CA ARCServer and I'm looking for other suggestions.

>

 

I have been testing Yosemite Backup and it has what you want. So far

I have not experienced any significant issues.

 

It has an SQL and Exchange Agent.

 

Pricing and licensing is pretty simple.

Unlimited Windows Server - $1249 - Includes Virtual Servers and Such.

Exchange and SQL Agent - $849 each ( I believe this would be

per server too).

 

You can download their 30 day trial and it includes the SQL Agent.

I don't use Exchange so I do not know if it offers the Exchange

Agent but if you call their sales department they may give a you

a 30 day license.

 

I have been looking around myself but most of the solutions

are way out of my price range or does not include a piece

of functionality I am looking for.

 

You could also look into MS System Center Data Protection Manager.

It will do all you want and then some.

 

My issue is it requires its own server (from what I have read).

Depending upon your MS licensing program, this may be affordable.

 

Based on what I have read using the MS Open License model, the

main server is $550 and each protected computer is $105.

 

moncho

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Looking for Backup Solutions

 

rkircher <rkircher@newsgroup.nospam> wrote:

> All,

>

> I've been using Veritas (now Symantec) Backup Exec for many years now

> and frankly I've had enough of the complexity and error proneness of

> this software. I'm looking for suggestions on a replacement.

>

> Environment.

> Multiple Windows 2003 servers

> Exchange 2003 (full DB and Mailbox lever backups)

> SQL 2K and 2K5

>

> I need reliable Open File backup preferably through VSS

>

> Backups are done to disk nightly and to tape weekly.

>

>

> I've downloaded an eval of CA ARCServer and I'm looking for other

> suggestions.

>

> TIA

>

> Rob

 

I dunno, I think the latest version of BE is great. It's true that Symantec

has done its best to make it impossible to register (their customer service

is awful), but the software is still good, as is the support. It's the one

yellow box product I like.

 

That said, there are other options and others will post, but take my advice

& do not do brick-level/mailbox level backups. They are not recommended, and

MS doesn't support them to the best of my knowledge. They suck up tons of

tape & time. You don't need them - you've got the recovery storage group and

deleted item & mailbox retention. BE now allows you to restore single items

from their online store backup so you don't need to do mailbox-level

backups.

 

I do SQL backups the cheap and cheerful way, by setting up SQL to backup to

file, and then including the file in my file-system backup. Saves me needing

an agent.

 

I am not a fan of CA stuff - used to use Arcserve years ago.

 

Just my $.02 in a slightly meandering fashion.

[Guest Robert R Kircher, Jr.]

Re: Looking for Backup Solutions

 

 

 

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

<lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in message

news:eKoKre%23IJHA.468@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> rkircher <rkircher@newsgroup.nospam> wrote:

>> All,

>>

>> I've been using Veritas (now Symantec) Backup Exec for many years now

>> and frankly I've had enough of the complexity and error proneness of

>> this software. I'm looking for suggestions on a replacement.

>>

>> Environment.

>> Multiple Windows 2003 servers

>> Exchange 2003 (full DB and Mailbox lever backups)

>> SQL 2K and 2K5

>>

>> I need reliable Open File backup preferably through VSS

>>

>> Backups are done to disk nightly and to tape weekly.

>>

>>

>> I've downloaded an eval of CA ARCServer and I'm looking for other

>> suggestions.

>>

>> TIA

>>

>> Rob

>

> I dunno, I think the latest version of BE is great. It's true that

> Symantec has done its best to make it impossible to register (their

> customer service is awful), but the software is still good, as is the

> support. It's the one yellow box product I like.

>

> That said, there are other options and others will post, but take my

> advice & do not do brick-level/mailbox level backups. They are not

> recommended, and MS doesn't support them to the best of my knowledge. They

> suck up tons of tape & time. You don't need them - you've got the recovery

> storage group and deleted item & mailbox retention. BE now allows you to

> restore single items from their online store backup so you don't need to

> do mailbox-level backups.

>

> I do SQL backups the cheap and cheerful way, by setting up SQL to backup

> to file, and then including the file in my file-system backup. Saves me

> needing an agent.

>

> I am not a fan of CA stuff - used to use Arcserve years ago.

>

> Just my $.02 in a slightly meandering fashion.

 

The straw that broke the camel back as far as BE goes is when I went to buy

an Open File Agent for v11. I can't buy that anymore. I have to either

upgrade my entire suite at over 4K or I may be able to buy the upgrade to

v12 Remote Agent and then call Symantec for a down grade license number for

AFOA. (VSS isnt' working reliably with v11)

 

That and the simple fact that I have about 6 installations in different

locations and almost never get a good error free backup. I've had it. I'm

tired of chasing down endless error reports on the support site and adding

this patch and that patch and correcting things according to the support

docs and still having errors.

 

 

Its unfortunate because I've used BE though about 3 different owners but at

this point I'm done.

 

 

As to Brick Backups. Yes I know there are other methods and MS does not

support them but the are by far the easiest way to restore single items and

individual mailboxes. I also use the SQL method you describe but frankly

I'm tired of maintaining several backup methods for different applications.

I want a centralized solution that does it all.

 

DPM looks really good but it also looks pricey after you add a dedicated

server and enough storage space. It won't be a good solution for smaller

clients with limited funds.

 

CA: Used it before myself and didn't like it much. I'll do an eval and see

if its any better.

 

Thanks,

 

--

 

Rob