If you run a small business, chances are you're saving important files to a server. But what happens when disaster strikes? How are you ensuring that your files won't be lost? Many people fail to realize that the loss of files could cripple their business. You can insure your office and equipment, but you can't insure files. You can't repair or buy back lost files. Ipso facto, they are lost!
This brings us to the concept of disaster recovery. What is disaster recovery? If you're thinking that disaster recovery is about frantically trying to get back data that's already been lost, then you're already behind the 8-ball! Disaster recovery is about safeguarding your organization's data so that it can be safely restored in event of a crippling disaster. And having an industry-standard file backup strategy is undoubtedly the most important part of disaster recovery.
What you have to do is ensure that all files on the server are backed up to another storage medium -- tape, removable hard disk, NAS device, and so on. Most businesses choose to use tape. Let's look at how you can set up a tape backup strategy for your own business.
1. Tape -- the perfect backup medium
Isn't tape an anachronism in the age of optical disks, removable hard drives and a plethora of whiz-bang, random-access storage media? Tape is indeed a dinosaur in relative terms, but it's ideal for backup. Tape is slow, but can store a lot of data... one mid-range tape should be enough to backup your entire server. Plus, tape is extremely cheap -- mid-range tapes cost around $20 each.
2. When should you backup?
Typically, tape backup is performed at the end of each day. Just put in the tape and let the backup process run overnight. If your server ever suffers a catastrophic disaster, you have at least saved all your files from the previous day.
3. Tape Rotation
The ideal tape backup solution would involve using a new tape for each backup. This means purchasing a new tape for every day of your business's operations. This is hardly cost-effective for your business. Tape is cheap, but not that cheap!
This is why we speak of tape rotation. Tape rotation means to reuse tapes from previous backups. The simplest tape rotation scheme is to have one tape for each day of the working week. Tapes are labelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
You can restore data from any one of the tapes in your library, or in this case, any day in the past the week. This strategy requires only five tapes, but only provides one week's data backup history.
4. Grandfather-Father-Son -- A Case Study
The grandfather-father-son schedule is the most widely used method, and involves backing up data in the following way:
* daily -- on the "son tapes"
* weekly ?- on the "father tapes"
* monthly -? on the "grandfather tapes"
This system is far more powerful than the five-tape rotation, but requires more tapes.
This strategy provides you with the ability to restore data from the last week, plus any Monday over the last month, plus any month for as many monthly tapes as you have. Variations on this scheme are available, and provide a trade-off between the number of tapes required, and the number of monthly tapes available.
5. Different types of backup
Different types of backups are available in backup software.
* Full -- all files, system data
* Differential -- all files added or changed since the last full backup
* Incremental -- all files added or changed since the last full, differential or incremental backup
* Daily -- all files added or changed on the day of the backup
A Full backup will copy all files and system data to the backup media. It allows for the complete restore of all data from one single tape.
Differential, Incremental and Daily are partial backups are designed to reduce amount of data backed-up to the media, resulting in faster backups. To restore data using one of these backups, the last Full backup tape will also be required, along with any other partial backups since the last Full backup.
6. Tape backup software
At this point you may be thinking that performing tape backup is a complex task. Tape rotations, incremental backups... sure, you can try to do this manually, but this would make the backup process hiddeously difficult and prone to human error! The solution is to invest in a good piece of server backup software that will manage and schedule your tape backups for you.
What should you look for in tape backup software? For many small business owners, the price is crucial. Many brands of backup software are just too expensive -- in the $1000+ range -- and contain features that you'll never need. Look for a backup utility that's designed specially for small business instead. It should be simple-to-use, reliable and affordable. Choose a good tape backup software and you'll be well on your way to safeguarding your files and data.
Linus Chang is a backup expert and the lead developer of BackupAssist-- backup software that is simple and affordable, and perfect for small and medium businesses. Protect your Windows servers, including SQL Server and Exchange Server, to tape, REV drive, hard drive, NAS and more, at a fraction of the cost of other backup programs. Designed as a fix for NTBackup bugs and issues.
The other day my son said to me, what else... Read More
The Pocket DVD Wizard allows you to make backup copies... Read More
We have finally advanced to a time when technology can... Read More
Laser toner is the ink for laser printers. It is... Read More
In the first two installments of this series of Tech... Read More
A couple of the recent Tech Tips from www.geeks.com have... Read More
All in one printers, also known as multifunction printers (MFPs),... Read More
A surge protector [AKA surge suppressor] is an electrical plug-in... Read More
So you know a little bit about tape backup, but... Read More
HP refurbished laptops can be found on their website hpshopping.com.... Read More
Inkjet printers were born in the 1980s, replacing the popular... Read More
The number of different formats available in DVD drives can... Read More
Crystal are use to keep the frequency of the clock... Read More
The following is a list of tips to help safeguard... Read More
It's easy to be intimidated by all the laptop models... Read More
You really enjoy those dvd movies and games and the... Read More
When purchasing a flat panel TV, there are a few... Read More
If you're a bargain shopper looking to get the most... Read More
To Wire or Not to Wire Wireless networks... Read More
Toshiba offers a few of their refurbished laptops in the... Read More
Small Can Be BeautifulWhen purchasing a new computer, you may... Read More
Soon the human brain will be completely interfaced with the... Read More
What is Video Encryption?Video Encryption is an extremely useful method... Read More
Rear Projection Television - An Affordable OptionA great deal of... Read More
Laptop computers have found usefulness as portable media devices.Even refurbished... Read More
Tools needed:1 - 10cc Injector1 - 4" - 5" of... Read More
What is so important about cables anyway?One of the most... Read More
Our corporate intranet is a non-framed environment with both Lotus... Read More
IMO, these sd work 'like a VCR' as far as... Read More
You just poured hours upon hours into a lengthy research... Read More
A Good Notebook BagForget those that are bundled with your... Read More
Whereas 2D bar codes offer more security and safety for... Read More
Samsung laser toner is just as popular as its Hewlett-Packard... Read More
After twelve years of owning desktop computers, I finally opted... Read More
The other day my son said to me, what else... Read More
Personal asset preventive maintenance software exists to help people manage... Read More
The Power Supply convert's your regular household current into low... Read More
Laser toner is the ink for laser printers. It is... Read More
All in one printers, also known as multifunction printers (MFPs),... Read More
Do you feel overwhelmed when buying a computer or a... Read More
OK I confess I've bought at least 10 inkjet printers... Read More
If you are running out of space on your computer... Read More
There is a great need for preventive maintenance in correctional... Read More
A laptop computer certainly provides you with an unprecedented level... Read More
It's most peoples worst computing nightmare. You wake up in... Read More
Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out... Read More
When it comes to computer speaker systems, you have a... Read More
If you are like most student's, money isn't exactly growing... Read More
Soon the human brain will be completely interfaced with the... Read More
The first installment in this two-part series of Tech Tips... Read More
What to do once your PC is infected with spyware,... Read More
Computers often break down at the worst of all times.... Read More
TiVo will change your life... for the better. Plain and... Read More
High definition DVD, also known as HD-DVD (which actually stands... Read More
We all know what it is like when that message... Read More
Notebook computers are becoming very popular. They seem to be... Read More
The Pocket DVD Wizard allows you to make backup copies... Read More
The proliferation of portable DVD players has dramatically changed the... Read More
How To Choose the Best Student Laptop?Merchants are singing those... Read More
Rear Projection Television - An Affordable OptionA great deal of... Read More
PC cooling systems are one of the hottest - and... Read More
Hewlett-Packard is, along with Brother and Samsung, one of the... Read More
A fuse is a very thin wire, which either melts... Read More
Nowadays, more and more monitor comes in with flyback transformers... Read More
Bluetooth BasicsBluetooth technology is nothing new, but in many respects... Read More
Wow- if you do it first time and have some... Read More
Computer Hardware |