IP backup solutions?

[bscott at ntisys.com]

On 13 Sep 2003, at 9:09am, lists at karas.net wrote:
> ... optimized for sending lots of data (many gigs) over a slow pipe (T1 in
> this case) ...

  I suspect that is not reasonably possible.

  The maximum theoretical data transfer rate you can get over a single T1 is
192,000 bytes per second (or about 187 Kbyte/sec (1 Kbyte = 1024 bytes)).  
That is without any overhead (i.e., totally unrealistic).

  One gigabyte is 1,073,741,824 bytes.

  1073741824 / 192000 == 5593 seconds == about 1.5 hours.

  Many gigs times 1.5 hours will probably exceed any reasonable backup
window.

  This assumes you can saturate the link full-time for the backup.  That
means you're not using it for Internet access at the same time.  This also
assumes you can sustain 187 Kbyte/sec over the public Internet.  While I
won't say that's impossible, I find it highly unlikely.

  I personally find the whole situation contains far too many unknowns.  I
generally require backups to be dependable.  Taking chances just isn't worth
it.

  Recommendations:

  Obtain a decent tape drive (for small offices, DDS4 is very
cost-effective).  Install in the local server.  (If there is no local
server, either provision one or work out a plan that uses a workstation that
you can depend on.)  Use that for backups.

  Obtain good backup software.  Something that can email you detailed backup
reports is a must.  Veritas Backup Exec is not the only option, but I
suspect you will find good software (of any kind) for MS-Windows is always
expensive.  That's a cost of running MS-Windows.  Live with it or switch
platforms.

  Somebody at the site should be responsible for tape management (making
sure tapes get changed and rotated off-site).  Make it clear that they will
be held personally responsible for tape management.  Get this in writing.  
They don't have to be the ones who actually change tapes, but they do have
to be responsible for seeing that it gets done.  Make sure there is a
contingency plan in place should the responsible person leave or become
incapacitated.  This is critical.  All the hardware and software in the
world won't help if they're not used properly.
  
  Yes, doing it right can be expensive.  But you don't want to be the one to
find out how much it costs to do it wrong.

-- 
Ben Scott <bscott at ntisys.com>
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