Cubbybulin
asked on
Tape backup recommendations
Right now we have an iomega rev zip drive with 35G capacity. We need bigger capacity. Any recommendations? Around 50Gig or more and not too costly. We are backing up data and exchange. Thank you!
If I were backing up 50GB and needed to have removable storage, I'd probably go for Blu-Ray. The media is fairly cheap, it's random access, and it takes up little room. Just make sure you're backing up archives and not thousands of files, though, or it'll be SLOOOOOOWWWWW...
Some applications benefit from backup to disk -- but it's like saying that the preferred car now is a 4-passenger coupe: It depends a lot on what you're doing, doesn't it?
Tape has many advantages:
- Tape is wicked fast compared to most other backup targets
- Tape provides cheap archive, if there's a chance you might need to recover data from a year or ten years ago.
- Tape can be encrypted (if you use LTO-4 or later) with no performance penalty
- Tape supports WORM (write and append, but never change written data) to meet various legal requirements (LTO-3 and later)
- Tape can be shared in a SAN environment
- Because the media is removable, the capacity is unlimited, the cartridges are relatively inexpensive
Before you decide between backup to disk and backup to tape, think about your requirements:
- What's my data retention need? The longer you need to retain data, the more tape shines
- What is my need for encryption?
- What is my need for off-siting data? Tape works well for this
If you decide to go with disk, consider something like HP's RDX -- a removable, ruggedized SATA disk with built-in software for performing incremental byte-wise backups for constant data protection. An entire server can be restored to a checkpoint generated every 4-6 hours, or individual files with much greater granularity. http://www.hp.com/go/rdx
If you want tape and don't need encryption or WORM, an LTO-2 holds 200GB/tape (native; more if your data is compressible) and would probably work well for you. This is a couple generations old, so you should be able to get one for a good price, even new. New drives (from HP at least, probably others as well) come with a single-server backup application that can be upgraded to perform network backups if needed.
Backing up Exchange, you probably don't want to use NTBackup, as I don't think it can give you a consistent backup without shutting down Exchange.
Tape has many advantages:
- Tape is wicked fast compared to most other backup targets
- Tape provides cheap archive, if there's a chance you might need to recover data from a year or ten years ago.
- Tape can be encrypted (if you use LTO-4 or later) with no performance penalty
- Tape supports WORM (write and append, but never change written data) to meet various legal requirements (LTO-3 and later)
- Tape can be shared in a SAN environment
- Because the media is removable, the capacity is unlimited, the cartridges are relatively inexpensive
Before you decide between backup to disk and backup to tape, think about your requirements:
- What's my data retention need? The longer you need to retain data, the more tape shines
- What is my need for encryption?
- What is my need for off-siting data? Tape works well for this
If you decide to go with disk, consider something like HP's RDX -- a removable, ruggedized SATA disk with built-in software for performing incremental byte-wise backups for constant data protection. An entire server can be restored to a checkpoint generated every 4-6 hours, or individual files with much greater granularity. http://www.hp.com/go/rdx
If you want tape and don't need encryption or WORM, an LTO-2 holds 200GB/tape (native; more if your data is compressible) and would probably work well for you. This is a couple generations old, so you should be able to get one for a good price, even new. New drives (from HP at least, probably others as well) come with a single-server backup application that can be upgraded to perform network backups if needed.
Backing up Exchange, you probably don't want to use NTBackup, as I don't think it can give you a consistent backup without shutting down Exchange.
"Backing up Exchange, you probably don't want to use NTBackup, as I don't think it can give you a consistent backup without shutting down Exchange."
That is incorrect.
NTBACKUP is Exchange aware and does not require Exchange to be shutdown.
It is third party applications that do not have Exchange aware plugins that require the database to be shutdown.
I used NTBACKUP for many years without any problems and only switched to something else because of the change in Backup of Exchange 2007 on Windows 2008. I then switched to Backup Assist which works well.
Simon.
That is incorrect.
NTBACKUP is Exchange aware and does not require Exchange to be shutdown.
It is third party applications that do not have Exchange aware plugins that require the database to be shutdown.
I used NTBACKUP for many years without any problems and only switched to something else because of the change in Backup of Exchange 2007 on Windows 2008. I then switched to Backup Assist which works well.
Simon.
Thanks for the correction! :)
ASKER
It's a Poweredge 1800 server - I found this: DELL POWERVAULT 110T LTO2 EXTERNAL 200/400GB SE/LVD (LTO21YR) (http://www.coastalmicrosupply.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=322) Would this fit? I dont want to get one and then realize i dont have anywhere to plug it in my server. Thanks!
It's an external SCSI drive, so you would need the appropriate adapter. You may want to just call Dell support, tell them what you have (have your serial number ready) and what would they recommend. Doesn't matter if it's on support, this would be considered a sales call.
ASKER
Ok Dell told me I can use this: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Controllers/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=310-5976#Overview to connect this: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Backup_Tape_Zip/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en
to my server. However tech support told me "Since it's a single channel, that would be all you could use it for, if you have a Tape Backup Unit, but yes, it can be used for that also. The server cannot run the internal drives, if you connect the tape Backup unit to this."
What does this mean?
to my server. However tech support told me "Since it's a single channel, that would be all you could use it for, if you have a Tape Backup Unit, but yes, it can be used for that also. The server cannot run the internal drives, if you connect the tape Backup unit to this."
What does this mean?
If you insist on getting tape, may I suggest you read my link first and get a better understanding of what you actually need to consider?
http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp - I can copy and paste it here, but it got so long, I thought a web page would better... unless you like scrolling through questions :-)
Quick points:
*Do you need to ARCHIVE backups for any length of time?
*How much do you expect the data to grow
*COST PER GB BACKED UP.
http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp - I can copy and paste it here, but it got so long, I thought a web page would better... unless you like scrolling through questions :-)
Quick points:
*Do you need to ARCHIVE backups for any length of time?
*How much do you expect the data to grow
*COST PER GB BACKED UP.
ASKER
yes i need a tape, we need to carry it off site.
Have you ever had to recover tape data when the tape heads go out of alignment?
Why can't you carry a hard drive off site? I do it all the time. You know, those USB hard drives that are 1 TB and cost $100? It's a lot cheaper... Buy 3 of them and it costs you $300 and each one holds 20+ backups before you reformat and start over. And a reformat takes about 30 seconds. And they are fast. And they are random access. And they are easily recovered from. The tape drive will cost you well over the $300 that three drives would... plus another $150+ for tapes and cleaning cartridge.
I realize I have no experience in this matter... but perhaps you should consider reading the link I posted before completely dismissing me...?
Why can't you carry a hard drive off site? I do it all the time. You know, those USB hard drives that are 1 TB and cost $100? It's a lot cheaper... Buy 3 of them and it costs you $300 and each one holds 20+ backups before you reformat and start over. And a reformat takes about 30 seconds. And they are fast. And they are random access. And they are easily recovered from. The tape drive will cost you well over the $300 that three drives would... plus another $150+ for tapes and cleaning cartridge.
I realize I have no experience in this matter... but perhaps you should consider reading the link I posted before completely dismissing me...?
ASKER
Sorry - did not mean to dismiss you - boss is insisting on tapes.
ASKER
opps my second link did not work here it is again: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Backup_Tape_Zip/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0548359#Overview
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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I second TapeDude's LTO recommendation. Much better technology than DLT.
I have to disagree on full-height vs. half-height, though. For many small businesses not running the fastest of disk arrays, the fact that the half-height drives are a bit slower is a benefit -- they are better matched to the speed of the disk subsystems. I am not aware of any quality differences, at least on HP drives.
LTO-4 full-height is 120MB/sec. Half-height is 80MB/s
LTO-3 full-height is 80MB/s. Half-height is 60MB/s.
LTO-2 full-height is 30MB/s. Half-height is 24MB/s.
Multiply those numbers by the compressibility of your data to see how fast the tape drive can write. Unless your servers can consistently provide more data than that to the tape drives, you're not giving up any performance with the half-height drives. If your server can't feed the drive at least 1/3 of the above speed times compression, then you'll put less stress and wear on your tapes by stepping down to something slower.
I have to disagree on full-height vs. half-height, though. For many small businesses not running the fastest of disk arrays, the fact that the half-height drives are a bit slower is a benefit -- they are better matched to the speed of the disk subsystems. I am not aware of any quality differences, at least on HP drives.
LTO-4 full-height is 120MB/sec. Half-height is 80MB/s
LTO-3 full-height is 80MB/s. Half-height is 60MB/s.
LTO-2 full-height is 30MB/s. Half-height is 24MB/s.
Multiply those numbers by the compressibility of your data to see how fast the tape drive can write. Unless your servers can consistently provide more data than that to the tape drives, you're not giving up any performance with the half-height drives. If your server can't feed the drive at least 1/3 of the above speed times compression, then you'll put less stress and wear on your tapes by stepping down to something slower.
However if you insist on tape, then LTO is fast and the media is now pretty cheap. I picked up a drive off ebay, and then bought new tapes for it.
However do compare the costs between a set of hard disks.
Simon.