Data Backup

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Wanted to get an opinion on what your favorite way of doing off site backup is?

In other words, we would like to detach either a hard drive or something of that nature to take a off site with us every day in case the company burns down. For now we use CD's and USB backup keys, but that only goes so far.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.....

[[AK]Bribo]

Floppies. Lots of them. Preferably 3 1/2".

[[AK]The Beast]

We run tape backups, and one of us always has the full backup tape from 2-3 weeks ago at our house in case of fire, flood, or other server room catastrophe.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Floppies. Lots of them. Preferably 3 1/2".

ROFL.... Well, we are trying to get away from that....

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

We run tape backups, and one of us always has the full backup tape from 2-3 weeks ago at our house in case of fire, flood, or other server room catastrophe.

What do you use as your tape backup?

[[AK]The Beast]

We've got a bunch of different tape drives--a Sony AIT-2 and AIT-3 (these have been nothing but trouble) that we use for incrementals and Exchange server backups, a pair of Dell PowerVault 110T's (repackaged Ultrium LTOs) that we use for weekly backups of full data stores (these have been wonderful), and an internal DDS tape drive that backs up a small data store for an offisite office suite in Wilmington.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

Thanks Beast!!!

[[AK]Nuts]

A big company like mine does things with a lot more bells and whistles:

We have off-site storage that is duplicated between 3 - 4 sites. San Ramon, Houston, London and the commericial provider: Iron Mountain. We have detailed instructions to ensure accountability throughout the movement of all backup tapes.

Process for the Movement of Tapes to the Data Library (Houston / San Ramon) Offsite Storage Locations from US Hub Sites Locations
1. RCT (Regional Case Team) gets the tapes ready to ship to the offsite storage using locked canisters or sealed boxes. Insert list containing tape numbers in each canister or box. Place an extra address label insider canister of box for extra precaution.
2. RCT takes the tapes to the Mailroom where a signature will be required once the canisters are in the Mailroom’s hands. If the tapes are being shipped inter-office mail, request the Mailroom send them “RED POUCH”. The Mailroom will put a barcode label on the cases to keep track of them. They will need to know how many canisters or boxes and what location they are being shipped to. The RCT will keep a signed copy of what was shipped for their records.
3. RCT will notify the Data Library by e-mail on how many canisters or boxes were shipped.
4. Data Library will notify the original sender via e-mail that their tapes were received.
Note: Notification and acknowledgement e-mails will be used to assist in the tracking of shipments. The e-mail should include a detailed description of what is being sent, date sent and the courier being used.
5. The Mailroom will require a signature from the Carrier once the canisters or boxes leave their facility. The Carrier will sign off on how many canisters or boxes and what location they are being shipped to.
6. Once the Carrier delivers the canisters or boxes to the offsite location, a signature will be required by the Mailroom on how many canisters or boxes were received.
7. The Mailroom then logs in how many canisters or boxes were received and from what site.
8. The Mailroom delivers the canisters or boxes to the person who will be receiving them. A signature is required by the Data Librarian on how many canisters or boxes were delivered and from what site location.
9. The Data Librarian will verify the number of canisters or boxes received and open the containers to see if the tapes received matches what’s on the list that was inserted in the canisters or boxes. The tapes are then scanned into a database with a retention period on when to return the tapes to the hub sites. If there are any incorrect or missing tapes contact the sender. The tapes are then put back into the canisters.

Process for the Movement of Tapes from the Data Library (Houston / San Ramon) Offsite Storage Locations to US Hub Sites Locations
1. Data Library gets the tapes ready to ship to the offsite storage using locked canisters or sealed boxes. Insert list containing tape numbers in each canister or box. Place an extra address label insider canister of box for extra precaution.
2. Data Library takes the tapes to the Mailroom where a signature will be required once the canisters are in the Mailroom’s hands. They will need to know how many canisters or boxes and what location they are being shipped to. Data Library will keep a sign copy for their records.
3. Data Library will notify the Hub site on how many canisters are being shipped to them.
4. The RCT will notify the Data Library via e-mail that their tapes were received.
Note: Notification and acknowledgement e-mails will be used to assist in the tracking of shipments. The e-mail should include a detailed description of what is being sent, date sent and the courier being used.
5. The Mailroom will require a signature from the Carrier once the canisters or boxes leave their facility. Sign off on how many canisters or boxes and what location they are being shipped to.
6. Once the Carrier delivers the canisters or boxes to the offsite location, a signature will be required by the Mailroom on how many canisters or boxes were received.
7. The Mailroom then logs in how many canisters or boxes were received and from what site.
8. The Mailroom delivers the canisters or boxes to the person who will be receiving the canisters or boxes. A signature is required on how many canisters or boxes were delivered and from what site location.
9. The RCT will verify the number of canisters or boxes received and open the containers to see if the tapes received matches what’s on the list that was inserted in the canisters or boxes.


We also use our network to conduct legato backups around the world to ensure fast recovery. This consists of server farms in 42 countries which back up to primary continental farms and then each continent backing everything to tape. It's extremely complex but highly efficient.

I guess the best advice I can give is to develop a set of controls to ensure compliance and accountability of any procedure that deals with DR.

[[AK]Devil_Dog]

WOW!!!!
Dude, you are way out of our league!!!!