Adding another layer of disaster recovery

[Bradtechonline]

I got about 200 GB of information that include network programs, user files, and databases. We currently do full backups with tapes, and incrementals during the week after a full.

I am wanting to add another layer of data backup JUST incase for some reason the data ever became corrupt on the tape. I've done some test, and it all worked but I don't feel comfortable enough to feel 100% safe in case something happened *HDD failures etc*.

Here are some of my ideas I am coming up with.


1. Remote FTP backup, I am thinking of using Symentec Backup Exec 11 to backup all my data via FTP daily. The only cons to this is the added risk of data being exposed to the internet, and the time it would take to backup 200 GB via T1 line.

2. Adding Network Storage devices around the campus. I am thinking of getting some Western Digital 250 GB network storage devices, and putting them in multiple secure locations around campus. It's very unlikely that every single building is taken out in a natural disaster or fire.

Does anyone know of a network storage device that has automated settings to backup at a certain time or whenever a archieve bit is reset on a file? I'd like to backup to several network storage devices from multiple servers.

 

[InlineFive]

I like option 2, but you can do it much cheaper with regular removalbe enclosures on NewEgg.

 

[Bradtechonline]

Yeah, I like option two better also. I am planning on sticking a couple 250 GB NAS devices in each building. We have 8 buildings that are connected via fiber optic cable. I highly doubt all of them get taken out.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Bradtechonline
Yeah, I like option two better also. I am planning on sticking a couple 250 GB NAS devices in each building. We have 8 buildings that are connected via fiber optic cable. I highly doubt all of them get taken out.

Unless they are all in New Orleans or Florida or California. :frown:

With only 200GB of data, isn't there somebody you can trust to swap out a single removable hard drive once a week or so, and to take it some place else?

 

[cmetz]

Bradtechonline, go buy a tape drive.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: cmetz
Bradtechonline, go buy a tape drive.

Uh...Bradtechonline already has a tape drive. He's looking for a secondary backup on a different medium. Not a horrible idea, although the biggest problems with tapes are:

1) People don't actually test them to see if they can restore their data.
2) Nobody ever changes the tapes.
3) They don't keep an offsite copy.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: cmetz
Bradtechonline, go buy a tape drive.

Uh...Bradtechonline already has a tape drive. He's looking for a secondary backup on a different medium. Not a horrible idea, although the biggest problems with tapes are:

1) People don't follow their DRP.
2) Nobody ever follows their DRP..
3) They don't follow their DRP.

fixed

 

[Bradtechonline]

Originally posted by: cmetz
Bradtechonline, go buy a tape drive.

Learn to read

 

[Bradtechonline]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: cmetz
Bradtechonline, go buy a tape drive.

Uh...Bradtechonline already has a tape drive. He's looking for a secondary backup on a different medium. Not a horrible idea, although the biggest problems with tapes are:

1) People don't follow their DRP.
2) Nobody ever follows their DRP..
3) They don't follow their DRP.

fixed

Learn to read

 

[Bradtechonline]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: cmetz
Bradtechonline, go buy a tape drive.

Uh...Bradtechonline already has a tape drive. He's looking for a secondary backup on a different medium. Not a horrible idea, although the biggest problems with tapes are:

1) People don't actually test them to see if they can restore their data.
2) Nobody ever changes the tapes.
3) They don't keep an offsite copy.

Yeah, the tapes work I tested them last week, but I still want to do more. Yeah, I think I may just install buy, and use a removable hard drive. I still think I am going to go with the FTP site for my databases, and use a cheap NAS for user programs in a different building.

I worry a lot even when things are 100%. You can never have enough data redundancy IMHO. My database server has RAID 5, and all my data servers have RAID 1 duplexing. Thanks for the input about the removable hard drive. I haven't used one of those since taking college MCSE courses. I am going to put the NAS in a building that is tornado proof.

 

[RebateMonger]

The things I like about swapping out removable hard drives:

-Cheap, cheap, cheap. And if you go with removable SATA, you'll have a very fast, reliable (in my experience so far) interface.
-Ultra fast access for individual file recovery
-The offsite drives are NOT online, so a digital disaster (worms, viruses, trojans) can't propagate to it.
-You can hold a lot of data on a single drive. Often, you can store multiple generations of data on the same drive.
-You can plug it into ANY PC and read the data. If you lose your tape drive in a disaster, you'll have to find another compatible one before you can get your data back.