Data Backup

[Tau]

Well, i have a slight dellema (spelled wrong sorry), i need a secure, and very safe backup solution for a large ammount of data. Right now there is about 1.4-2TB of data stored on a centralised data server, as well as a client workstation. The server has single drives in it, (at the moment 3 500GB drives, though this will be growing relativly soon.)

I have been maintaining basic very critical data by DVD, but this is just becoming to much of a hastle, as well as the stack of dvd's is getting to big.

I would like some kind of setup that is easily expandable, as well as cost effective. Will probobly need to grow to the 5TB range here within 2 years, and after that possiably more.

I know that Raid exists, though its kind of a hastle to setup and maintain, I have been reading into Raid-Z sounds promising though im not sure if it is the best solution for me.

Anyways Im mostly looking for opinions, i would like to keep it on the cheep side...

I mean right now there is ~1TB of unbacked up data, and burning all that to DVD's is simply out of the question.

 

[Deleted member 3]

First of all, with such data amounts I'd use a RAID 5 array, both for performance and data safety. However, RAID is NOT a backup.

External TB drives I'd say. They're quite cheap nowadays.

 

[lemonadesoda]

RAID is so often misunderstood. It offers only the following:

1./ Faster disk system, and/or
2./ Additional "redundant" HDDs, so if one HDD fails, a copy of the data is still there. The RAID system automatically recovers.

As Dan said, that is a live copy, NOT BACKUP. If you delete or overwrite a file it's GONE! If the server catches fire, has a brown out, or is stolen, the data is GONE!

You need a physically seperate backup system.

The simplest system is a NAS (basically a cut down server that only does filesharing). You then run a backup overnight when the network isnt busy.

Alternatively, use a USB or Firewire 1TB HDD and connect it to the server and run a backup of key folders.

**NOTE**
Do read up on good backup practice. It is a good idea to use grandfathering techniques, and for most people, NOT to backup every night, but once or week. Reason: your *new* backup overwrites an old backup. But only after the backup, you realise you need to recover from the old backup. Data lost, unless you grandfather.

It is more likely that a user error will mean that you need to go back to the archive to recover files, than due to hardware failure. Therefore, plan your backup strategy accordingly.

 

[Tau]

First of all, with such data amounts I'd use a RAID 5 array, both for performance and data safety. However, RAID is NOT a backup.

External TB drives I'd say. They're quite cheap nowadays.

That is kind of what i have been thinking, every time i stuff another drive in the server clone it onto an external drive, and keep that one somewere safe.

Raid on the server is not really an issue right now, as its mostly just data being stuffed onto it from work stations, and than 1, maybe two users at once so performance is not an issue (at this time, and i dont forsee it being an issue in the near future as well)


Also i know that Raid would be a live solution, and would prevent (to an extent) data loss on the server.

Seems like backing up to another drive is the best solution sofar.

Any other votes?

 

[kenkickr]

What about Norton Ghost 12 with some external drives. With that amount of data to backup that could be alot of 1TB external drives!!

 

[Deleted member 3]

What about Norton Ghost 12 with some external drives. With that amount of data to backup that could be alot of 1TB external drives!!

Ehm? 1.4-2 TB is roughly 2 drives. I'm guessing much of the data is compressed already (video, audio, installers) so the gain from compression is minimal. No matter how you put it, something with equal storage space is required.

 

[kenkickr]

I was just saying that cause if there is an issue with Norton Ghost not wanting to create a backup, say out of space or a configuration change(happens alot after a live update), then I would go for 3-4 1TB drives. We use this software alot for businesses @ work. I do still feel Norton Ghost is about the best backup utility besides those file server backups that like Seagate or Squirrel offer.

 

[Deleted member 3]

I was just saying that cause if there is an issue with Norton Ghost not wanting to create a backup, say out of space or a configuration change(happens alot after a live update), then I would go for 3-4 1TB drives. We use this software alot for businesses @ work. I do still feel Norton Ghost is about the best backup utility besides those file server backups that like Seagate or Squirrel offer.

Why 4TB of storage when there is only 2TB of data, and it's not that important data, so grandfathering and the likes won't serve much purpose.

I wasn't commenting on Ghost, I use it myself at work as well. Doesn't make it suitable in all cases though. (in his it would work)
I don't see the point in a diskimage of a huge data disk though. It just makes it harder to access, and corruption on the disk could do far more damage. Copying the files over and keeping them in sync would probably be the easiest solution.

 

[Tau]

Yeah I think that I will start duping harddrives

I have used norton ghost in the past and was not happy with it, acronis trueimage is much nicer wto work with

But yes, right now 500GB drives are the best bang for buck so I think those will fit the bill.

Thanks for the ansears fellas.