[SoCoSA/discuss] Windows Server 2003 Backup

[Steve S.]

On 8/31/06, Dave Sisley <dsisley at sonic.net> wrote:

> Although I admit, I can't figure out what BackupExec
> costs, there are so many versions.

I'd go to 3-5 (or so) resellers (e.g. PC Connection as a typical
example) and ask for quotes on a standalone / single-server edition of
Backup Exec for WinServer2003R2.  Let /them/ figure out
version/pricing info (it's their JOB, after all... you'll be paying
their markup ANYHOW, might as well get their service too!) .  Also,
ask if they have any other backup packages that include software-based
data-compression, that are less expensive than B.E. so you'll have
some choice(s).

If any of the B.E. quotes are "anomalously low" ask 'em what /exactly/
you get for that price, and compare that to the other vendors' specs
(if necessary, asking the other vendors if "<insert detail of low
bidder quote> wouldn't do just as well, & wouldn't it be cheaper?").
If it turns out that the low bidder has produced a /different/ (but
viable) version, I'd go with them even if other bidders eventually
come in lower -- it's an indication that they're more on-the-ball, to
have come up with a better config for you...


> If by 'D2D' you mean backing up to an external HD, I'm doing that now,
> but as a sort of stop-gap.  I'm using rsync to copy directories onto a
> harddive connected to a Linux box.  I'm a little worried about being
> able to restore from that, though.

So, create some dummy data -- maybe copy over a 100MB or so
directory-tree to a different spot on your "live" system, wait for a
cycle of rsync to back it up... then blow it away, and see if you can
restore it.


>  I thought tape rotation would be
> easiest because that's what the department was used to and I could get
> somebody else to worry about the tapes (smiley).
>
> Now, I'm thinking that expanding and automating my backup to Hard Drive
> might be the way to go...

Note that the latest version of Backup Exec uses a tiered structure,
  "live data" <--> Backup HDD <--> Backup Tape
(if desired -- you can also just oldskool it with direct-to-tape (we
do, where I work; in fact, I had to ask explicitly to be sure that
mode WAS available)).


- Steve S.