backup data storage

[MikeWaters]

what are your opinions on best way to backup data?

Anyone have experience with data tapes? pros and cons?

I know I should google this, but I trust you guys more than mr. google.

[BigFatMeanie]

The best way to back up data depends upon the purposes of the backup.

Is the backup for disaster recovery purposes, for archival only, or for quick recovery of deleted files?
Do you need it to be offsite?
How much data are you planning to back up?
How frequent will restores be?
Are there minimal restore times that you're trying to meet?
Does the data change frequently?
What form is the data in? (e.g. SQL Server database, NT filesystem, optical platters, whatever)

The answers to those questions affect what the best solution is. If you could give more info on what you want to back up and why, the techies on the board can make better recommendations about backup techniques and media.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by BigFatMeanie

The best way to back up data depends upon the purposes of the backup.

Is the backup for disaster recovery purposes, for archival only, or for quick recovery of deleted files?
Do you need it to be offsite?
How much data are you planning to back up?
How frequent will restores be?
Are there minimal restore times that you're trying to meet?
Does the data change frequently?
What form is the data in? (e.g. SQL Server database, NT filesystem, optical platters, whatever)

The answers to those questions affect what the best solution is. If you could give more info on what you want to back up and why, the techies on the board can make better recommendations about backup techniques and media.

1. Mainly for archival/recovery
2. I don't need it to be offsite, but it would be nice if I could keep a backup offsite (i.e. one onsite for convenience, one offsite for security (theft, fire).
3. Amount of data--not sure. I'm sort of at the beginning of my career, but things will only multiply from here. A terrabyte would probably be fine for me for a couple more years.
4. frequency of restores--infrequent
5. restore times--not very important
6. no the data does not change frequently.
7. data is in large text and SAS files for the most part.

I probably need backup for my backup as well. In other words, I need to be able to store data, but I need to be sure that the stored data is also backed up elsewhere. (in other words, data that is not on my workstation).

So I would not want to have a data tape fail, and be screwed. I would need two data tapes of the same thing. Or external drive + tape.

[BigFatMeanie]

You can buy 1TB external hard drives for < $300. Tapes are a pain in the rear. They are typically slower than an external hard drive and LTO4 can only store 800GB data (uncompressed) so I don't think tape adds a whole lot of value in your situation.

If you're just backing up your own information and don't need an IT department type of solution then I would just go with 2 external drives.

Of course, you could always go with one of these puppies:



The EMC DiskLibrary 6300 can write 3.2GB per second with 1.8 PB of total capacity.