Enterprise Backup Solution: Your recommendations?

[|tera|]

As the title suggests.

This is mainly for a Windows Domain environment with a few 2K3 servers.

Workstation backup is not essential.

We've had a look at Paragon and Acronis, but haven't settled on a solution as yet.

Any links or info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[MadMailMan]

... a few acting 2K3 servers..

Are these Linux servers acting as 2K3 servers or Win**** servers acting as 2K3 servers?

I have always had good ROI from Arcserv and Backup Exec with a reliable tape device. Also depends on what exactly you are backing up. If it's just files you can add more drives and us file versioning. Does Win 2K3 have that built in? I think it does. Or a 3rd party product for versioning even on to a different bit of hardware. For DBs I would recommend tape and/or log shipping.

I need more detail to give you my professional opinion.

 

[|tera|]

Meant to say active servers

Anyways. Yes DB's are SQL and some host web apps.

Tape is not an option, too expensive. I need a software kit that can backup to standard storage like a dedicated box with hard drives in it. We'll swap the box out in regular intervals.

 

[warwickw]

Take a look at Vembu's StoreGrid very nice app, they support Windows and Linux.

http://www.vembu.com

 

[|tera|]

Thanks, keep the suggestions coming

 

[DarrylH]

BackupExec 10D
allows you to define shared folders as backup devices.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Tera - Mirrorfolder.

30 days trial.

Probeer dit, een van die opsies is RAID-1 mirroring

 

[|tera|]

Thanks guys.

Forgot to mention:
The software needs to be able to backup to an image preferably, thereby allowing easier restoring and management etc.

Love the suggestions so far

 

[Asha'man X]

Hey tera

My colleague at work has been playing around with something called BackupPC. It doesn't make images, but it does do some of the other things you need I think. It's open source, runs on Linux and uses Perl. The nice thing is that you just need a user in Active Directory to be part of the Backup Operators Group, and it will do the job.

When it comes to imaging, my guess would be to go with Acronis True Image server. Used that in the past on a small scale with some success.

 

[Amida]

You can use Bacup Exec 11d or you can just use NT Backup that comes with Windows that should be good enough.

 

[MadMailMan]

Meant to say active servers

Anyways. Yes DB's are SQL and some host web apps.

Tape is not an option, too expensive. I need a software kit that can backup to standard storage like a dedicated box with hard drives in it. We'll swap the box out in regular intervals.

Hmmm. If it's too expensive to back up your data then your data isn't worth backing up.

The problem you are going to find with imaging is that you will have to "restore" an entire image i.e. entire server when you could be just restoring one or two files. IMHO imaging is AWSOME for desktops. For servers you need a proper, individual file backup system. Just think if you have 5 MSSQL DBs on a server and an image backup you will have to restore the whole machine and all 5 DBs just because you have one DB corrupt/broken/gone fishing. How long does it take to restore a whole image because that's how long your server is offline.

At best you could do a hybrid. Backup all your servers using NT backup to another server and then image that server.

 

[|tera|]

Hmmm. If it's too expensive to back up your data then your data isn't worth backing up.

The problem you are going to find with imaging is that you will have to "restore" an entire image i.e. entire server when you could be just restoring one or two files. IMHO imaging is AWSOME for desktops. For servers you need a proper, individual file backup system. Just think if you have 5 MSSQL DBs on a server and an image backup you will have to restore the whole machine and all 5 DBs just because you have one DB corrupt/broken/gone fishing. How long does it take to restore a whole image because that's how long your server is offline.

At best you could do a hybrid. Backup all your servers using NT backup to another server and then image that server.

Correction, it's not my data, therefore I didn't set the budget for the project.

Long story short. Paragon and Acronis can create images and you are able to restore individual files or the whole server from those images.

The thing with the two aforementioned programs are that their management interfaces aren't very good, it's frustrating to work on to be honest.

There are tons of backup solutions out there, so that's the reason for this thread, to hear how the real world does it.

 

[dabouncer]

Had good success out of ShadowProtect, both restoring bare metal and files/folders.
Acronis was OK but quite slow and a bulky interface. Try the full version 30 day trial.

Server Version - http://www.storagecraft.com/shadow_protect_server.php
SBS Version - http://www.storagecraft.com/shadow_protect_SBS.php

 

[Conradl]

Perhaps you should consider splitting your requirements in two, i.e. a backup system for data, and one for imaging/full system backup/restore. I do not think that imaging is a substitute for a traditional backup system....

Backup Exec is a pretty good tool, since you can use it to do both traditional backups and bare metal system restores. Depending on the license type you can also backup AD, SQL, exchange, etc.

For system backup/restore you could also consider virtualising the server. Snaps and system backups are then built in for free, and you do not require additional software....

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Perhaps you should consider splitting your requirements in two, i.e. a backup system for data, and one for imaging/full system backup/restore. I do not think that imaging is a substitute for a traditional backup system....

Backup Exec is a pretty good tool, since you can use it to do both traditional backups and bare metal system restores. Depending on the license type you can also backup AD, SQL, exchange, etc.

For system backup/restore you could also consider virtualising the server. Snaps and system backups are then built in for free, and you do not require additional software....

This could work, but if someone deletes a file, you can't just restore a snapshot, cause then you will loose all the other updated files. I guess with some effort, you can make it work, but I think it is easier just to back up the files.

Make a snapshot once a week/month and still do backups as well. This will give you the quickest turn around time from any failure...

My 2c.

 

[Conradl]

This could work, but if someone deletes a file, you can't just restore a snapshot, cause then you will loose all the other updated files. I guess with some effort, you can make it work, but I think it is easier just to back up the files.

Make a snapshot once a week/month and still do backups as well. This will give you the quickest turn around time from any failure...

My 2c.

That's what I was trying to say. Have one backup system for system/OS backups, and one for data. It is not a good idea to snap your data disk....

 

[AvOk]

For a true enterprise backup software you should look at something like NetBackup from Symantec. But this is $$$

For Small to medium companies backup exec is great, it will backup to disk storage as well.

NTBackup is for anything more than files.

Meant to say active servers

Anyways. Yes DB's are SQL and some host web apps.

Tape is not an option, too expensive. I need a software kit that can backup to standard storage like a dedicated box with hard drives in it. We'll swap the box out in regular intervals.

 

[Abbuk]

Hello, sir.

Basing on the info you have already posted (not so much) I can advise MS DPM.
This is not an enterprise backup solution (not a platform at least) but I'm not sure you need the enterprise level backup.

You should start with your requirements to backup and disaster recovery solutions. There're many solutions on the market and most of them are good.
Look through your DRP. Decide what is the main factor when choosing solution.
Describe at least your storage node - is it an iSCSI NAS or smth else?.
Make sure the trial version supports it.
Check the trial versus Recovery Time Objective, Recovery Point Objective.
Check you needs in off-site replication, scalability, monitoring and reporting.

If not sure, go back to your CEO and ask him about the goals of having a backup and disaster recovery system.
For example you may need extremely good monitoring and reporting when preparing for an external audit.

Ignore holiwars like what is better Acronis or Symantec. There's no silver bullet and only you can determine which one is best for you and your business.

Have a good day.

 

[TWHB]

Windows 7 has a built in backup solution, Control Panel > System & Security > Backups

 

[ubercal]

Your answer lies in Symantec System Recovery 8.5