First day of new job, project!

[Pastore]

Ahhh this sucks, I got my first assignment. I thought I was going to be programming, but they're short staffed so they need me to do this. I need to do a report on enterprise data backup software. Right now they're using Seagates Veritas, apparently it's won't do what they want. My instruction are too find a solution that will back up Exchange, Sql Server, and single files (such as outlook PST files). This is all I know. What I'm looking for is a general listing of a bunch of them that you know, nothing more.

Ones that I've been researching already are UltraBac and ARCserve.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[BCYL]

We are supposed to do the work for you?

Sorry I have no idea, can't help u

 

[five40]

Manual floppy backup > *

 

[boredhokie]

hey stupid, use linux with some hardcore calendar routines. Then you can back up all the stupid crap you want and save a lot of crappy money.

 

[PELarson]

http://www.sim-ia.com/

 

[Baked]

YAWT: Yet Another help me do my job so I can get paid and buy beer Work Thread.

 

[KLin]

Veritas Backup Exec has backup agents for SQL Server, Exchange, and it also has an advanced open file backup agent that will backup files that are currently open. I use version 9.0 or 9.1 at work to backup a file/print server and a SQL server.

 

[Pastore]

Oops, one of the other requirements was that it can back up to DVD. This confuses me because can't you just use UNC to point it to whatever media you want to? And if so, is it that their just missing something? Argh

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Oops, one of the other requirements was that it can back up to DVD. This confuses me because can't you just use UNC to point it to whatever media you want to? And if so, is it that their just missing something? Argh

They want to be able to backup to DVD? Quit your job now. NOW!!!!!!

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Oops, one of the other requirements was that it can back up to DVD. This confuses me because can't you just use UNC to point it to whatever media you want to? And if so, is it that their just missing something? Argh

They want to be able to backup to DVD? Quit your job now. NOW!!!!!!

Apparently it's easier to do it to dvd because the single files they want to back up are just pst files and my documents. The nightly and weekly backups are to tape. I don't know, I can't quit, heh.

 

[Pastore]

bump

 

[Wizkid]

Try Retrospect, I believe it will do what you want.

 

[TheToOTaLL]

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Ahhh this sucks, I got my first assignment. I thought I was going to be programming, but they're short staffed so they need me to do this. I need to do a report on enterprise data backup software. Right now they're using Seagates Veritas, apparently it's won't do what they want. My instruction are too find a solution that will back up Exchange, Sql Server, and single files (such as outlook PST files). This is all I know. What I'm looking for is a general listing of a bunch of them that you know, nothing more.

Ones that I've been researching already are UltraBac and ARCserve.

Thanks for any ideas.

They want to backup PSTs, but they are using Exchange? WTF?

You can easily schedule tasks to backup Exchange (NTBackup) & SQL (Enterprise Manager) to file without the need for additional software.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Ahhh this sucks, I got my first assignment. I thought I was going to be programming, but they're short staffed so they need me to do this. I need to do a report on enterprise data backup software. Right now they're using Seagates Veritas, apparently it's won't do what they want. My instruction are too find a solution that will back up Exchange, Sql Server, and single files (such as outlook PST files). This is all I know. What I'm looking for is a general listing of a bunch of them that you know, nothing more.

Ones that I've been researching already are UltraBac and ARCserve.

Thanks for any ideas.

They want to backup PSTs, but they are using Exchange? WTF?

You can easily schedule tasks to backup Exchange (NTBackup) & SQL (Enterprise Manager) to file without the need for additional software.

Like I said, I have no idea... Not even sure what he wants in this "report". Prices, feature listing? And everytime I ask a question about it I get attitude. heh, only my second day and I'm loving it already!

 

[AU Tiger]

If he won't give more details then overload him with information. If you think there is a better solution to what he is asking provide it along with the other research.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: AU Tiger
If he won't give more details then overload him with information. If you think there is a better solution to what he is asking provide it along with the other research.

The thing is I know nothing about backup software. I'm basically a programmer with some networking experience. I'd never even heard of any of these apps. So along with researching the features, I have to teach myself what this crap means. Never heard of SAN, autoloaders, etc. I mean, I haven't even used the software we currently have, so how am I supposed to know if I'm researching an inferior product? lol, this is fun.

 

[iamwiz82]

We use Veritas' Backup Exec and it works pretty well. It also does everything you need.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We use Veritas' Backup Exec and it works pretty well. It also does everything you need.

That's what's confusing me! Everywhere I look it seems to support all the things he wants to replace it for. I'm very confused indeed.

 

[iamwiz82]

I'm assuming your network admin. sucks.

I'd write up a memo stating that it works and list how it should be configured. Veritas is a lot easier to work with than ARCServe. Can you get on the server to play with it?

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: Beast1284

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Oops, one of the other requirements was that it can back up to DVD. This confuses me because can't you just use UNC to point it to whatever media you want to? And if so, is it that their just missing something? Argh

They want to be able to backup to DVD? Quit your job now. NOW!!!!!!

Apparently it's easier to do it to dvd because the single files they want to back up are just pst files and my documents. The nightly and weekly backups are to tape. I don't know, I can't quit, heh.

get backup exec or just plain ntbackup for the normal backups

and then try a dedicated computer with hot swap usb disks for external storage along with second copy for the files

but.. dont go with dvd's

 

[Czar]

and one more, the one who is giving you this project, does he know anything about computers?

 

[Pastore]

Ok, finally got a little more information from him. To specify what to backup, you have to manually go to each machine that you want backed up and use the local backup exec desktop app. This is obviously a pain as there are 50+ machines here. The other thing is that Veritas won't backup a file that's in use. Meaning the PST files can't be backed up while Outlook is running. I can confirm this as I tested it on my machine using the desktop app. Are there are workarounds to this?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Ok, finally got a little more information from him. To specify what to backup, you have to manually go to each machine that you want backed up and use the local backup exec desktop app. This is obviously a pain as there are 50+ machines here. The other thing is that Veritas won't backup a file that's in use. Meaning the PST files can't be backed up while Outlook is running. I can confirm this as I tested it on my machine using the desktop app. Are there are workarounds to this?

You need Open File Agent for backing up open files. WTF are they thinking by not only using PSTs with Exchange, but also having it stored on each PC?! That company sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Anyways, you will be paying out the nose if you want to legally license 50 end machines to be backed up selectively.

 

[Chrono]

psssssssh. do your own work.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Ok, finally got a little more information from him. To specify what to backup, you have to manually go to each machine that you want backed up and use the local backup exec desktop app. This is obviously a pain as there are 50+ machines here. The other thing is that Veritas won't backup a file that's in use. Meaning the PST files can't be backed up while Outlook is running. I can confirm this as I tested it on my machine using the desktop app. Are there are workarounds to this?

You need Open File Agent for backing up open files. WTF are they thinking by not only using PSTs with Exchange, but also having it stored on each PC?! That company sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Anyways, you will be paying out the nose if you want to legally license 50 end machines to be backed up selectively.

Ok, so the open file option will solve that problem. So there is no way to select which machines you want to backup there PSTs from the server?

Arghh... the problem is the backup server has a KVM switch to my bosses computer so I can't get on it while he's there. He did say I could play with it sometime today though.