Ok, so here's the deal...
This is the backup scenario I have inherited...
1. 5 locations
2. Each uses a separate tape drive, 2 are DAT72, 1 is LTO (only one that doesn't make me scream), and 2 DLT VS160.
3. Each place has a two week rotation of tapes, that's 14 days that are in constant use, another bunch for month ends (11 sets for each office) and 1 more set for year end.
4. Backup Exec 11d is the software that is currently in use.
There are multiple weaknesses that I cannot stand with this, one is that backup exec isn't that great, 2 is that using tape really doesn't appeal to me whatsoever, I just can't see restoring an entire server using tape and it working without issue, not to mention making a server image using tape just sounds ludicrous and asking for failure. There is no option for a full server restore, only a portion of the data, and definitely no bare metal restores or universal restores or deduplication.
I want to implement a new backup strategy with the following requirements;
1. Must maintain daily offsite portability. ( I was thinking sata drives in a removable enclosure of some kind, but it's complicated, I'll explain below)
2. I must maintain the current rotation setup, 14 days constant, 11 month ends, and 1 year end. (I realize this is going to be a retarded amount of disks and I'm ok with that, which is why to make it less costly i figured on using something like 1TB regular Sata drives, it's the enclosure and software used and everything else that has me stumped)
3. There are basically two pieces of software that I am looking at, either an Acronis solution such as True Image Echo w/ Universal restore because I have used them extensively and been satisfied and understand how to use their products. Or Backup Exec 12 with System Restore. So whatever solution I go with, I would like it to work with these, unless someone has a better idea. I have already looked into Doubletake and it is prohibitively expensive.
4. I am trying to pull this project off for about 20k all together, which is why I chose to use cheap software and cheap drives, the benefit is pretty damn nice though, and a vast improvement over tape in my opinion.
So that's the idea here, and I know what I want to achieve. The biggest challenge is what enclosures or whatever to use. Maintaining ease of daily offsite ability makes it difficult. Ideally since I have computer challenged users in the other 4 offices maintaining my backups currently by simply physically changing the tapes daily, it would be fantastic if I could find an enclosure that had a button or something on it to "eject" the drive for a hot swap.
I don't know if anyone else is doing this but I think it's a pretty kick A$$ approach to having powerful fast disk to disk backups, good disaster recovery and a high level of protection with offsite data on the cheap. So let the ideas fly ladies and gentleman...
This is the backup scenario I have inherited...
1. 5 locations
2. Each uses a separate tape drive, 2 are DAT72, 1 is LTO (only one that doesn't make me scream), and 2 DLT VS160.
3. Each place has a two week rotation of tapes, that's 14 days that are in constant use, another bunch for month ends (11 sets for each office) and 1 more set for year end.
4. Backup Exec 11d is the software that is currently in use.
There are multiple weaknesses that I cannot stand with this, one is that backup exec isn't that great, 2 is that using tape really doesn't appeal to me whatsoever, I just can't see restoring an entire server using tape and it working without issue, not to mention making a server image using tape just sounds ludicrous and asking for failure. There is no option for a full server restore, only a portion of the data, and definitely no bare metal restores or universal restores or deduplication.
I want to implement a new backup strategy with the following requirements;
1. Must maintain daily offsite portability. ( I was thinking sata drives in a removable enclosure of some kind, but it's complicated, I'll explain below)
2. I must maintain the current rotation setup, 14 days constant, 11 month ends, and 1 year end. (I realize this is going to be a retarded amount of disks and I'm ok with that, which is why to make it less costly i figured on using something like 1TB regular Sata drives, it's the enclosure and software used and everything else that has me stumped)
3. There are basically two pieces of software that I am looking at, either an Acronis solution such as True Image Echo w/ Universal restore because I have used them extensively and been satisfied and understand how to use their products. Or Backup Exec 12 with System Restore. So whatever solution I go with, I would like it to work with these, unless someone has a better idea. I have already looked into Doubletake and it is prohibitively expensive.
4. I am trying to pull this project off for about 20k all together, which is why I chose to use cheap software and cheap drives, the benefit is pretty damn nice though, and a vast improvement over tape in my opinion.
So that's the idea here, and I know what I want to achieve. The biggest challenge is what enclosures or whatever to use. Maintaining ease of daily offsite ability makes it difficult. Ideally since I have computer challenged users in the other 4 offices maintaining my backups currently by simply physically changing the tapes daily, it would be fantastic if I could find an enclosure that had a button or something on it to "eject" the drive for a hot swap.
I don't know if anyone else is doing this but I think it's a pretty kick A$$ approach to having powerful fast disk to disk backups, good disaster recovery and a high level of protection with offsite data on the cheap. So let the ideas fly ladies and gentleman...