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Windows Server Forum / Small Business Server / SBS 2000 / August 2003backup
Thanks for the help before.. new question. The site I have gotten involved with has no streaming tape for typical backup. It has a cd-rw drive which has been used to back up all documents on the server. I have another 35 Gb scsi drive ready to install at this time. a. Can this also be used for system backup. I realize it isn't the best (?) . My first thought is to reserve this drive purely for that purpose. Any comments or suggestions. TIA carl stockwell Hi Carl - The fundamental concept of a backup is not just to have a copy, but to have a copy that can be taken off-site. Backing up to a fixed SCSI hard drive will provide you with a copy - but you are not allowing for an on-site disaster such as fire, flood or theft. IMHO backing up to a fixed drive is about the same as backing up to a CD-RW. You can't get an full server backup on a CD-RW, but you can take it off-site. With the fixed drive, you can get a full server backup, but can't take it off-site. If it were me - I would use the spare SCSI drive to store an image of the server and invest in a tape drive for daily full backups. It will be less expensive for the client to invest in a tape backup solution today than to try to recover from a 100% loss of data if the server is stolen, etc. And don't be afraid to check out Ebay - I picked up a practically new Sony DDS-4 drive for a "money conscious" client a little over a year ago for under $200. Whatever you do, make sure you lay this all out on the table so that the customer understands the magnitude of this decision. If the customer opts not to change their backup strategy, be sure you get it in writing that they have opted to decline your recommendation and that you have explained the potential risk and costs involved with their decision.  SignatureChad A Gross Lerman's Law of Technology: Any technical problem can be overcome given enough time and money. Corollary: You are never given enough time or money. > Thanks for the help before.. new question. The site I have gotten > involved with has no streaming tape for typical backup. It has a [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > carl stockwell > Hi Carl - > > The fundamental concept of a backup is not just to have a copy, but to have > a copy that can be taken off-site. Backing up to a fixed SCSI hard drive In principle I agree, the problem tho is really the cost meanwhile. One of the first questions one receives from a customer is "Why do you say there is not much space left on the drive? Drive space is so cheap, just pop in more space!" Making it clear to them, that adding storage space involves at least two disks (depending on the RAID level) and that once they go over the 40 Gb border (which every Workstation these days does) the cost of a backup system rises dramatically (i.e. DDS4 is exceeded), is not always that easy. In excess of 40 Gigs you need Autoloaders or DLT drives which are expensive. The backup process get's complicated and needs more "awareness" and supervision. Therefore I am also looking into Hard Disk Drive backups. At the moment I am considering the following options: .) two SCSI hot swappable HDD's where one is always attached for $insertappropriatetimeslothere and the other one is off site .) IDE drives if I can get them hot swappable ;-) .) USB attached IDE drives .) serial ATA drives. at the moment I am favouring the USB approach as it should be possible for a standard user to connect the disk by plugging a cable in. The backup would be performed and a script would disconnect the USB device, so that the next drive could be attached without risk. The cost of this should be significantly lower than a DLT drive (including media) or a DDS3(4) autoloader. But I am still investigating. Regards Wolfgang Well, it's better than nothing. But: a) you'd only get a limited number of backups before you have to overwrite. b) not too convenient for off-site storage, so you have no protection from fire/theft/vandalism. Don't underestimate the value of the server to the business. Unplug the server for two days, and tell them when it comes back up they will not have any of the data they previously had, excepting possibly the stuff on cd. In that light, see whether a grand would have been money well spent. -- Les Connor ------------------ [SBS MVP] > Thanks for the help before.. new question. The site I have gotten involved > with has no streaming tape for typical backup. It has a cd-rw drive which [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > carl stockwell Thanks for the reply and they're really excellent points. A few weeks ago when I got involved, there had never been a backup eith of their op system or 5 years of documents (which is the lifeblood of their business), so for now we have an off-site copy of the documents and an on-site backup of the "system". Better then nothing but both of you make great points. Tape should be the next step! I did experiment last night with the backup wizzard and thet worked very well and I should be able to schedule that process on a daily basis. When I ran it I did not notice any setting which allows compression. Is there one using the wizzard? > Well, it's better than nothing. But: > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > > > carl stockwell get a DLT on ebay....cheap relaiable and fast. SignatureSincerely, Mark Mancini, CCA, CCNA, Master CIW&CI, CNE 4&5, MCSE+I 4&2000 www.MCSE2000.com www.AppLauncher.com > Thanks for the reply and they're really excellent points. A few weeks ago > when I got involved, there had never been a backup eith of their op system [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > > > > > carl stockwell I think that the point about eBay is a good one if cost is a real issue. I got a 35/70 drive off eBay for my home machine for a little over ?100 - works fine. DDS is used at the office, and while I would probably always buy new drives for production server if the client really does not want to spend the money I suggest you recommend eBay. Having said this, I have recently been making myself aware of the SFN issues which have been much discussed in these news groups. Take a look at the excellent posts by Jeff Middleton on the issue. This has been enough to convince me to take disk images of SBS servers in addition to tape backups. As has been suggested, probably use the extra HD for that. Toby. P.S. You can also get some good deals on tapes on eBay. I got a load of new shrink wrapped AIT tapes on eBay for around ?4/?5 each, which is pretty good considering they're ?30/?40 from a retailer. > get a DLT on ebay....cheap relaiable and fast. > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > > > > > > > carl stockwell |
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