mdeek
asked on
Offsite Backup of a Nas
I am thinking of several ways we might be able to backup our NAS (it is a Thecus N880) - Just something we can take away once a week so we have a basic disaster recovery plan in place -
(It is nothing critical but for testing out some strategies) -
We get Three THECUS N880 units
• All Same Hard Drives (8 2TB Disks)
• All Same Configuration Files
One is at our DataCenter, which is Empty, two are at our office for backups
We back up our main thecus (production) to both backup thecus units, to get the show started – and we keep swapping the harddisks from one of the backup thecus units to the datacenters thecus –
So at any point we have a thecus at the datacenter which is up to date up to two weeks ago – and we have a backup localy that is up to a week old – and we can easily verify – we drop the drives off since they are hot swappable and when the raid array has been reloaded we can verify that the backups all made it safely to the datacenter by the next day
Does that sound like a plausible solution?
(It is nothing critical but for testing out some strategies) -
We get Three THECUS N880 units
• All Same Hard Drives (8 2TB Disks)
• All Same Configuration Files
One is at our DataCenter, which is Empty, two are at our office for backups
We back up our main thecus (production) to both backup thecus units, to get the show started – and we keep swapping the harddisks from one of the backup thecus units to the datacenters thecus –
So at any point we have a thecus at the datacenter which is up to date up to two weeks ago – and we have a backup localy that is up to a week old – and we can easily verify – we drop the drives off since they are hot swappable and when the raid array has been reloaded we can verify that the backups all made it safely to the datacenter by the next day
Does that sound like a plausible solution?
ASKER
We are talking about 3 or 4 terabytes of data...
And we have a THECUS Unit already (where that data is stored) how feasible would it be to get that data accross the intenret? (it would take months I imagine?)
Secondly, how can we get things from thecus to a tape -
Sas
And we have a THECUS Unit already (where that data is stored) how feasible would it be to get that data accross the intenret? (it would take months I imagine?)
Secondly, how can we get things from thecus to a tape -
Sas
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o0o completely forgot. you can buy a 2U plastic all-weather case with a handle and use the other THECUS you have as a portable NAS
ASKER
Except the thecus itself is SO GOSH DARN HEAVY :)
Thats why we wanted to move the harddsks around only... as a possiblity -
Sas
Thats why we wanted to move the harddsks around only... as a possiblity -
Sas
ASKER
Also what does DUAL nics on the machine do - how does that help get 1gb speed?
Sas
Sas
The dual NICs will allow you to plug both NAS units into one computer and let it transfer all the data as opposed to using a switch will will slow down performance since your single NIC will have to run full duplex not half duplex.
Your best bet as of right now is to get in touch with the manufacturer and ask if it is possible to transfer the disks as you want to without data loss.
Your best bet as of right now is to get in touch with the manufacturer and ask if it is possible to transfer the disks as you want to without data loss.
ASKER
Ok so let me give u some back ground =)
We have the THECUS on our Switch Currently -
All backups go there currenty
What your suggesting (and I am liking this) is that we keep a PC with TWO NIC Cards - and plug one of them nito the THECUS, and plug the other into ther PORTABALE NAS -
And copy them from one to the other, should we be using crss over cables? (Youll have to exuse me, im not much of an IT person) - could you make it a lil simpler for me :)
Thanks
We have the THECUS on our Switch Currently -
All backups go there currenty
What your suggesting (and I am liking this) is that we keep a PC with TWO NIC Cards - and plug one of them nito the THECUS, and plug the other into ther PORTABALE NAS -
And copy them from one to the other, should we be using crss over cables? (Youll have to exuse me, im not much of an IT person) - could you make it a lil simpler for me :)
Thanks
Your employer would be much better served if you set up a real backup system.
Carrying around disks and moving them from place to place will lead to disk and backplane failure, and data loss.
Using something like Veritas netbackup you can do your backups and using replication, you can transfer the data changes to the remote site.
Since you are not much of an IT person, it would be good to contact a professional backup vendor, before you spend a lot of money for a system that is destined to fail.
Think hard about how much the loss of your data would cost your company. For many companies, catastrophic data loss would mean bankruptcy and closure.
Your employer, your customers and your data deserve more than a jury rigged system.
Good Luck!
Carrying around disks and moving them from place to place will lead to disk and backplane failure, and data loss.
Using something like Veritas netbackup you can do your backups and using replication, you can transfer the data changes to the remote site.
Since you are not much of an IT person, it would be good to contact a professional backup vendor, before you spend a lot of money for a system that is destined to fail.
Think hard about how much the loss of your data would cost your company. For many companies, catastrophic data loss would mean bankruptcy and closure.
Your employer, your customers and your data deserve more than a jury rigged system.
Good Luck!
no cross overs aren't needed you can just use patch cables.
if youd like e-mail me
yshteyn@bmdatasys.com
we can create a whole plan for this
if youd like e-mail me
yshteyn@bmdatasys.com
we can create a whole plan for this
ASKER
With the restraints provided that made the most sense and in all honesty - it could have gone multiple ways
Sas
Sas
Probably be safer to have a rolling backup using a network connection to the Data Center.
Tape of coarse is the classic option and is still a great way to go fro safe secure off-site back-ups