I have a (RAID 1)windows 2000 server running access, exchange and
other such business software which I need to make a weekly "offsite"
backup for disaster recovery purposes of about 40GB .

I was thinking of using Symantec corporate ghost to copy the whole
drive to an external HDD by USB 2.0, but have been advised that
Veritas solution is better.  The main reason I want a backup solution
is to keep our data offsite in case of disaster - I dont really care
about the operating system really as if the server is stolen, I'll
have to build another one anyway and reinstalling the software is no
problem.

I would be most grateful for any advice on using backup software, and
any problems I may get with using external HDD rather than what I
believe to be pretty expensive tape drive solutions.

cheers

adrian

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In article
<4d320869.0408020733.4648e14d@posting.google.com>,
freefree60@hotmail.com says...
> I have a (RAID 1)windows 2000 server running access, exchange and
> other such business software which I need to make a weekly "offsite"
> backup for disaster recovery purposes of about 40GB .
>
> I was thinking of using Symantec corporate ghost to copy the whole
> drive to an external HDD by USB 2.0, but have been advised that
> Veritas solution is better.  The main reason I want a backup solution
> is to keep our data offsite in case of disaster - I dont really care
> about the operating system really as if the server is stolen, I'll
> have to build another one anyway and reinstalling the software is no
> problem.

AFAIK, neither Ghost or other imaging software properly
handle RAID.  You can sometimes do it with RAID1 by
unplugging the card from the controller and re-plugging
into the motherboard prior to Ghosting.

Still, what is the data worth to you?  $5,000, $10,000,
$50,000+?  For 40GB of data, you can go with something
as inexpensive as $1000 tape drives plus $45-$50 per
50/100GB tape.  Or you could plan ahead and get a
100/200GB or 160/320GB drive for $3000 and still only
pay $45-$50 per tape.

I don't have a good software recommendation.  You can be
as basic as tar/bzip2 or pay for products which will
backup Exchange and other apps without having to shut
them down first.  (We use NovaNet... and I have a
hate/love/hate relationship with it.)

To get started, before you push through a purchase
request for a tape drive, try a pair of USB/firewire
drive enclosures.  (e.g. the CA405U2 enclosure)  The
enclosure is $40 or so, and a 160GB 5400rpm drive is
around $80.

Next step up is removable drive bays.  Roughly $50 per
caddy (StarTech DRW115 line) plus the drive (I prefer
5400rpm drives for less heat).

We're setting up a 2-tier system at work (redoing our
backup strategy now that we've blown out a 20/40 DAT).
Full backup on Friday night, differentials on Mon-Thu.
Backups get written both to (4) removable drives
(rotated weekly offsite) and tape.  Drives are great for
restoring a file here or there (much quicker then tape),
but tape's advantage is in long-term archiving.

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