Backup software

Hi rindi, I appreciate your answer. I already know that to meet the reqt's I specified will require expensive software. I already have one that will do it all. I'm just seeing if there is a cheaper solution.

thanks

I agree with Rindi.

1. Built in software does this just fine.
2. If you must do an individual mailbox backup, then you can use ExMerge to dump the mailboxes to PST files.  But that really is NOT the recommended method of backing up exchange.  You should backup the information store (which the built in backup tool does just fine).
3. The built in tool does NOT backup SQL databases natively. However, most admins simply schedule SQL to backup to a file.  Then the regular file based backup backs up that file and you have your backup.
4. Built in backup does this.  And it's scriptable for backups (not restores).  I have a sample script (and one I use on some clients) available on my page about backup (see below)
5. This is entirely dependent on your skill level.  But the built in tool is generally easy to use, although it can be tricky with tapes - backing up to a file it works fantastically well, in my opinion.

http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp

Hi guys, thanks for your input.

I suggest you check out http://www.asigra.com/.

This app will allow me to back and restore individual mailboxes, SQL databases.

Its just expensive, I guess you get what you pay for.

That's fine.  But you need to do a proper information store backup to clear the information store logs on exchange.  Backup Exec and ArcServe also will backup things for you.  And there are many other products.  My point (and I think Rindi's) is that the included tool is more than sufficient if you don't want to buy a product.  So take your pick - buy something - or not.

Yes, that was my point too.

As far as I'm concerned, all options are on the table, unless specifically stated otherwise

So, is there a product that I can buy that will meet all the criteria I specified.

thanks

Yes, BackupExec and ArcServe, among many others.  Is there a reason you want to do things the more complicated way?

Hi leew, more complicated? hmm

The product we are currently using from Asigra does a great job. Its very easy to use....but its expensive.

I'll check out backupexec and arcserve and then get back to you

thanks

If you're already using it, why are you asking?

The complication comes in purchasing and maintaining the product.  The built in tool is there and generally quite easy to use.

Because the current product is managed by someone else at a very high cost, like $90 K/year

I can license the product thru someone else where I become the manager, stil at approx $ 50 K/year

Whats nice about the product is that its all inclusive, per the reqt's I specified in my opening question, is proven to work. I have seen some Symantec products that state they do something, and they dont, or Not as you expected. We use Live state recovery etc.
But this product, if something equivalent could be had cheaply, it would be great.
So I thought I would ask the question

I took a look at BAckupexec. Long ago we used Veritas, before Symantec, but that was to tape. At least we have progressed beyond that. Again, I would want to test it fully.
CA Arcserve also looks pretty good

But looks like overall, if I want something much cheaper, I'll have to go with multiple products....

This issue is very much like a previous question I asked about drive images and virtual pcs'

Basically people offer solutions based on using multilple products. Rarely do you get a single solution

Its those companies that have seen the hurdles to overcoming a situation and develop a complete solution, that you want to find. That is why I ask the question here, hoping someone knows who might those companies be.

Why not provide a comprehensive detail of what you have, how large your environment is, how many servers, how much data, etc.  I suspect you have a large environment if you're spending 90K a year on a managed backup solution.

Hi, sure,
We have about 140 user accounts, everyone runs WinXP, 8 servers, all running Win2k3 std edn.
We're running Office 2002 for everyone, Exchange 2003, SQL 2000, Great Plains.
We backup each nite, selected directories, all our mailboxes, the entire infomation store, and most SQL databases, about a dozen. There are emails and logs detailing the progress. Currently the entire backup size for a month is about 450 GB

I know we're paying more than we should for the backups, this was in place before I got here.

This software IS convenient, maybe thats part of the problem. You want to find something as easy to use, but at a fraction of the cost.
Thanks

Your environment isn't that big, and I wonder why, if the current backup software is that convenient, you can't do the backup yourself?

The software creator will not license its product directly to you. you must got thru a var.
Now you can find one that will either manage it for you OR you to manage it yourself.

Currently our present var manages this software and we administer the backups. this is expensive
They, of course, dont want to lose that kind of money.

i have found a var that will allow us to manage the software ourselves. They provide support and maintenance. This is cheaper of course, still perhaps there is a better way. thats why I'm here.

As I said, its a good product, if I could have total control over it, without the middle man, and license it like other software, that would be ideal, OR find a product that will do ALL that this does.

Frankly, I think you're being fleeced.  With the kind of backup schedule you aparenetly keep, I wouldn't spend more than 15,000 on hardware and 10,000 on software.  I used to backup DOUBLE that in a week with 35 servers (backing up workstations is time consuming and in general a bad idea). And we didn't spend that on my salary and tapes in a year.  Spend a week at training, buy ArcServe, Veritas, or another product, buy a nice LTO or SDLT tape autoloader and some tapes and you're set.  You can also get a hard drive system and setup D2D2T.  And you can put in a separate backup network too.  And you'll STILL spend less than 90,000 in a year.  And you won't have to shell that out every year - more like every 4 or 5 years.  In 4 years, I would expect your TOTAL backup costs including purchase of D2D2T hardware, a separate backup network, tapes, tape drives, and software will run you between $40,000-80,000.  less than 25% of what you spend now.

I agree, what we've done so far, is setup a server specifically for the backups over fibre. By the way, we dont backup workstations, only network files.
We have a large SAN, raided, that will initially hold the data. Then at some age or increment, we will either burn to DVD or other media. This cost so far has been small, cause typically we lease all our hardware. So I have flexibility of software costs, but I agree 10-15k max should cover it.
So the software is the last portion.
Thanks I see that you and others have mentioned Arcserve and Veritas (BackupExec). They do seem to be predominant players in the market as you search. I'll certainly give them a good look.

I suggest Vision Backup Soltuion. Really good product and do all what you want. You can view information from www.vwsolutions.com. I use this software for 3 server and it's really good :)