Question

DoubleTake Software Alternative and Distaster Recovery Plan

Asked by: mikensales

We are looking for an alternative to DoubleTake software. Though a great solution when it comes to replicating your data and applications it tends to be a deal breaker because of cost.

I have a client in need of a disaster recovery plan that will enable them to failover their Primary SBS 2003 server and their Blackberry server running on Windows 2003 server.

Our thoughts were to put a server at our data center and replicate the server at the production site over to the hosted data center server. The hosted data center server will be a Dell PowerEdge R710. Our thoughts were to load SBS 2003 server and virtualize the blackberry server on top.

Looking for alternative solutions and replication software to the above project.

Thank you.

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Asked On
2009-11-07 at 10:10:04ID24880708
Tags

doubletake software

,

disaster recovery

,

hosted server

Topics

Backup & Restore Software

,

Storage Technology

,

Disaster Recovery

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: DextertronicPosted on 2009-11-08 at 14:47:57ID: 25772382

It's pretty hard to go past Doubletake but Symantec and CA both do replication software.

If you already have an investment in one of these companies then have a look at

Replication Exec: http://www.symantec.com/business/replication-exec

CA XOSoft http://arcserve.com/us/products/product.aspx?id=8282

Note that while CA has blackberry support there are some limitations with their SBS failover.

Personally I believe that Doubletake while expensive is worth the investment and this is one area where less comprehensive products can induce a significant degree of risk into your DR plans.

I would avoid the lesser known and cheaper scenarios like the plague unless you are commited to monitoring and troubleshooting for this client on a constant basis.

 

by: tpartnersPosted on 2009-11-09 at 04:34:31ID: 25775290

Do you need to have replication or are you o.k. with recovering from a backup? If the customer doesn't have stringent RPO and RTO... recovering from a backup would be less expensive.

 

by: mikensalesPosted on 2009-11-09 at 13:15:50ID: 31651428

I agree with both. I'm giving more points to Dextertronic for addressing my original questions. tpartners confirmed my thoughts originally that the client really doesn't need a failover solution.

Thank you both!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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