Data Backup options

[Guest Sher]

Hi all,

I know this is not really a microsoft question, but I wanted to ask about

backup options. We are a non-profit mid sized business currently using tape

backup on four different servers. I was wondering if there is a more relible

method of backup up data in case of a disaster. Currently I take the friday

backup tapes across town to a safe deposit box. (putting us a week behind in

case of a disaster). Also I do not get Saturday or Sunday backups if users

work on the weekend.

I know there are option for backup appliances but that would mean they are

in the same building as the servers.

Are there any new options to cover auto backups, disaster recovery, ect.

Thanks in advance for any help.\

Sher

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Data Backup options

 

 

"Sher" <Sher@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:B04457A0-FF18-4A86-856F-77E6041D76E1@microsoft.com...

> Hi all,

> I know this is not really a microsoft question, but I wanted to ask about

> backup options. We are a non-profit mid sized business currently using

> tape

> backup on four different servers. I was wondering if there is a more

> relible

> method of backup up data in case of a disaster. Currently I take the

> friday

> backup tapes across town to a safe deposit box. (putting us a week behind

> in

> case of a disaster). Also I do not get Saturday or Sunday backups if

> users

> work on the weekend.

> I know there are option for backup appliances but that would mean they are

> in the same building as the servers.

> Are there any new options to cover auto backups, disaster recovery, ect.

> Thanks in advance for any help.\

> Sher

 

The interval between you changing your backup medium is a business

decision. With your current process, you risk losing one week's worth

of data. Can you afford this?

 

Instead of using tapes, you could use external USB disks. Depending

on the amount of data you have and the size of the disks, you could

use one disk for all three servers. You could also reduce your potential

data loss to one day by having three to five disks and asking staff to

take one disk home each day. Make sure to use 2.5" disks if you expect

females to handle the disks. They don't appreciate having a brick in

their handbag.

 

You could use imaging tools such as Acronis TrueImage for your

disaster recovery. You should update the the stored image perhaps

twice a year and also before any major change. Retain the two most

recent images at all times!

 

With all you backups you must remember that an *untested*

backup is only a *hope* of a backup. It is essential that you

perform a test recovery, both for your data and for your system

disk. It's the only way to build up the confidence that you can

handle any disaster.

[Guest Filipe Matias]

Re: Data Backup options

 

Pegasus (MVP) wrote:

> "Sher" <Sher@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:B04457A0-FF18-4A86-856F-77E6041D76E1@microsoft.com...

>> Hi all,

>> I know this is not really a microsoft question, but I wanted to ask about

>> backup options. We are a non-profit mid sized business currently using

>> tape

>> backup on four different servers. I was wondering if there is a more

>> relible

>> method of backup up data in case of a disaster. Currently I take the

>> friday

>> backup tapes across town to a safe deposit box. (putting us a week behind

>> in

>> case of a disaster). Also I do not get Saturday or Sunday backups if

>> users

>> work on the weekend.

>> I know there are option for backup appliances but that would mean they are

>> in the same building as the servers.

>> Are there any new options to cover auto backups, disaster recovery, ect.

>> Thanks in advance for any help.\

>> Sher

>

> The interval between you changing your backup medium is a business

> decision. With your current process, you risk losing one week's worth

> of data. Can you afford this?

>

> Instead of using tapes, you could use external USB disks. Depending

> on the amount of data you have and the size of the disks, you could

> use one disk for all three servers. You could also reduce your potential

> data loss to one day by having three to five disks and asking staff to

> take one disk home each day. Make sure to use 2.5" disks if you expect

> females to handle the disks. They don't appreciate having a brick in

> their handbag.

>

> You could use imaging tools such as Acronis TrueImage for your

> disaster recovery. You should update the the stored image perhaps

> twice a year and also before any major change. Retain the two most

> recent images at all times!

>

> With all you backups you must remember that an *untested*

> backup is only a *hope* of a backup. It is essential that you

> perform a test recovery, both for your data and for your system

> disk. It's the only way to build up the confidence that you can

> handle any disaster.

>

>

Remember that USB disks are fat32 and only work with files smaller then 4Gb.

 

Well tapes are always a good option but you need a good backup plan. You

should take the tape out of the office every day and not just friday.

Apart from this there are lots of ways to implement backups and disaster

recovery but it all depends on you budget and on your infrastructure.

If you have another site and a good connection you can try cross

backups( site A to B and B to A).

Also many ISP and communications operators have datacenters and let u

rent some space(or servers) to use as backup. Some banks here have their

IT infrastructure in duplicate( one in their HQ and one in a outside

datacenter)

It realy all depends on your budget.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Data Backup options

 

 

"Filipe Matias" <filipe.matias@unitek.pt> wrote in message

news:%23coaNhJdIHA.3788@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:

>> "Sher" <Sher@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:B04457A0-FF18-4A86-856F-77E6041D76E1@microsoft.com...

>>> Hi all,

>>> I know this is not really a microsoft question, but I wanted to ask

>>> about

>>> backup options. We are a non-profit mid sized business currently using

>>> tape

>>> backup on four different servers. I was wondering if there is a more

>>> relible

>>> method of backup up data in case of a disaster. Currently I take the

>>> friday

>>> backup tapes across town to a safe deposit box. (putting us a week

>>> behind in

>>> case of a disaster). Also I do not get Saturday or Sunday backups if

>>> users

>>> work on the weekend.

>>> I know there are option for backup appliances but that would mean they

>>> are

>>> in the same building as the servers.

>>> Are there any new options to cover auto backups, disaster recovery, ect.

>>> Thanks in advance for any help.\

>>> Sher

>>

>> The interval between you changing your backup medium is a business

>> decision. With your current process, you risk losing one week's worth

>> of data. Can you afford this?

>>

>> Instead of using tapes, you could use external USB disks. Depending

>> on the amount of data you have and the size of the disks, you could

>> use one disk for all three servers. You could also reduce your potential

>> data loss to one day by having three to five disks and asking staff to

>> take one disk home each day. Make sure to use 2.5" disks if you expect

>> females to handle the disks. They don't appreciate having a brick in

>> their handbag.

>>

>> You could use imaging tools such as Acronis TrueImage for your

>> disaster recovery. You should update the the stored image perhaps

>> twice a year and also before any major change. Retain the two most

>> recent images at all times!

>>

>> With all you backups you must remember that an *untested*

>> backup is only a *hope* of a backup. It is essential that you

>> perform a test recovery, both for your data and for your system

>> disk. It's the only way to build up the confidence that you can

>> handle any disaster.

> Remember that USB disks are fat32 and only work with files smaller then

> 4Gb.

>

> Well tapes are always a good option but you need a good backup plan. You

> should take the tape out of the office every day and not just friday.

> Apart from this there are lots of ways to implement backups and disaster

> recovery but it all depends on you budget and on your infrastructure.

> If you have another site and a good connection you can try cross

> backups( site A to B and B to A).

> Also many ISP and communications operators have datacenters and let u rent

> some space(or servers) to use as backup. Some banks here have their IT

> infrastructure in duplicate( one in their HQ and one in a outside

> datacenter)

> It realy all depends on your budget.

 

Good comment, but please try to reply to the OP next time.

[Guest Leythos]

Re: Data Backup options

 

In article <#coaNhJdIHA.3788@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>,

filipe.matias@unitek.pt says...

> >

> Remember that USB disks are fat32 and only work with files smaller then 4Gb.

 

Only if you don't format them before you use them.

 

I have NTFS USB drives, and I can't imagine why anyone using them for

backup would think of keeping them FAT32.

 

--

 

Leythos

- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.

- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a

drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"

spam999free@rrohio.com (remove 999 for proper email address)

[Guest Filipe Matias]

Re: Data Backup options

 

Leythos wrote:

> In article <#coaNhJdIHA.3788@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>,

> filipe.matias@unitek.pt says...

>> Remember that USB disks are fat32 and only work with files smaller then 4Gb.

>

> Only if you don't format them before you use them.

>

> I have NTFS USB drives, and I can't imagine why anyone using them for

> backup would think of keeping them FAT32.

>

Yes you can get them to work in NTFS but many people dont remember that

and start to use them in Fat32 (we had a case here in our company) and

dont notice that the backup is flawed until they need it ( and we all

know most people dont actualy test thei backups)