Lord_Lovatt
asked on
SBS 2003 remote mirror/backup server?
I am soon to be installing an SBS 2003 R2 server for a business. They have two sites, a main office and a small office a couple of miles away. They have a VPN connection between the two, although nothing really goes on at the small office.
The company is pretty hot on backup and disaster prevention, and it has been suggested to me that I use the VPN to backup the SBS 2003 server to the smaller office. They don't want to bother with third-party remote backup companies.
I think the idea is a good one, but I am unsure what my best option is. Ideally I would like to set up a mirror server at the second site, that is automatically kept identical in every way. I am not even sure if this is possible. The company already has a Server 2003 box setu p which is being decommisioned (long story) and I could use this either in its current flavour or with SBS 2003 if possible.
The second option that has been suggested to me is some kind of live, low-bandwidth backup link between the two sites. I suppose I could make an image of the SBS 2003 server every week, and if the worst happens, restore it with up-to-date backups from the second site.
I am open to ideas on this one, cost isn't a massive issue.
The company is pretty hot on backup and disaster prevention, and it has been suggested to me that I use the VPN to backup the SBS 2003 server to the smaller office. They don't want to bother with third-party remote backup companies.
I think the idea is a good one, but I am unsure what my best option is. Ideally I would like to set up a mirror server at the second site, that is automatically kept identical in every way. I am not even sure if this is possible. The company already has a Server 2003 box setu p which is being decommisioned (long story) and I could use this either in its current flavour or with SBS 2003 if possible.
The second option that has been suggested to me is some kind of live, low-bandwidth backup link between the two sites. I suppose I could make an image of the SBS 2003 server every week, and if the worst happens, restore it with up-to-date backups from the second site.
I am open to ideas on this one, cost isn't a massive issue.
ASKER
ryansoto, the objectives are are to prevent downtime and data loss.
Long story about the current Server 2003, it is basically a highly complex corporate set up, too complicated for the business needs. They are trying to dumb it down a little. I have more experience of SBS 2003 so suggested this.
No problem with 3rd party apps, they just don't want to use remote online backup services. Company policy I guess, nothing I can argue with.
Long story about the current Server 2003, it is basically a highly complex corporate set up, too complicated for the business needs. They are trying to dumb it down a little. I have more experience of SBS 2003 so suggested this.
No problem with 3rd party apps, they just don't want to use remote online backup services. Company policy I guess, nothing I can argue with.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
I owuld also say 2 domain controllers but left one out due to possible cost overruns. But f you can afford 3 boxes that would be the stellar way
OK, I'm looking to do something similar. My client has a single SBS server on a reasonably specced server (2 x Xeon, RAID drive array, twin power supply.) I run Backup Exec, onto tapes AND disk.
But what would a recovery time be in case of a server failure? What about a Bare Metal restore?
1. Local additional domain servers can replicate AD info for sure, but replicating all of that to another server is a L O N G process
2. Cannot move RAID drive array to anything other than the same hardware (iin this case built into motherboard) (so should I consider a 2nd server of the same type?)
3. I want to get off-site backup working without using a third party, and we can provide additional hardware at other company sites.
I'm thinking Double-Take for SBS. However, when I last tried this 15 months ago, it was hopeless. (And doesn't support failover.)
Thanks for any contributions
Brian
But what would a recovery time be in case of a server failure? What about a Bare Metal restore?
1. Local additional domain servers can replicate AD info for sure, but replicating all of that to another server is a L O N G process
2. Cannot move RAID drive array to anything other than the same hardware (iin this case built into motherboard) (so should I consider a 2nd server of the same type?)
3. I want to get off-site backup working without using a third party, and we can provide additional hardware at other company sites.
I'm thinking Double-Take for SBS. However, when I last tried this 15 months ago, it was hopeless. (And doesn't support failover.)
Thanks for any contributions
Brian
BrianMilnes - start a new thread
Prevent downtime?
First - if the domain already has win2k3 in it I would leave it and put in a new machine.
Second I would add a second domain controller so if one machine goes down operations will still continue.
As for the 3rd party apps why not?
Alternatively with a small setup you could create a baseline image and do incrementals but I would go the other way I just told you.