[dba-Tech] Once and for all time: server backups

Good to see that you are working through the 'features'. Does it seem like a
reliable and stable product?

Jim



-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gustav Brock
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 10:13 AM
To: dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Once and for all time: server backups

Hi all

Should any of feel tempted to use Second Copy, here's a small tip:

If you miss the feature that only the log for the current run is e-mailed to
you, one method is to adjust the profile to run this program (the command
file "run_pre.cmd") before the profile is executed.

First, however, adjust the profile.dat file to save the log file as text by
including this line in the section [Options]:

LogFileType=txt

---Begin of File run_pre.cmd
%echo off
rem Command file run_pre.cmd by Cactus Data ApS, CPH.
rem Version 1.1, 2010-02-14.
rem Tested for Windows 2003. May need tweaking for other OS.

rem Specify folder holding the log file.
set logpath="%userprofile%\local settings\application data\centered
systems\second copy"

rem Change directory to that of the log file. 
cd %logpath%

rem First run.
rem The backup log file does not exist. Create it and insert the initial
line. 
rem Adjust n in ~0,n to match the length of your time format.
if not exist log_back.txt echo %date% %time:~0,8%  !  Init: Log file
initialized > log_back.txt

rem First run.
rem If the log file of the last session doesn't exist, exit.
if not exist log.txt goto exit

rem Append the previous log file to the backup log file.
copy /b log_back.txt+log.txt > nul
rem Delete the previous log file so Second Copy will create a new and empty.
del log.txt

:exit
rem Clean up.
set logpath=

rem End of file.
---End of File run_pre.cmd

Save the file in the SecCopy folder.

/gustav


>>> Gustav at cactus.dk 29-01-2010 17:54 >>>
Hi all

Sadly, we had to give up on DeltaCopy and rsync. This is just not a
combo for Windows machines with a WAN in between - to many protocol sync
errors, troubles with security settings on folders, and an installation
and configuration task that takes a top notch techie _days_ for tweaking
and testing. It just doesn't pay off.

HOWever, we found a small gem, Gbridge:

  http://www.gbridge.com/ 

This is a unique combo of VPN connection with authentication via your
Google account, a backup program, a folder sync, a secure web interface
to your file store, remote control (with a little help from VNC), and
extensive logging - at zero cost. The only feature missing is some
method to e-mail a summarized report of the happenings.

You can connect any count of machines both from your intranet and
remote invited machines, you could even build an extranet with this tiny
tool.

This we use for backing up to a remote location (my home).
In addition we backup to a local machine using Second Copy:

  http://www.centered.com/ 

This is not free but cheap and features archiving of previous versions
of files when updated at the main server.
Finally the main server is backed via MySecureBackup to "the cloud" at
Amazon.
Everything is run an controlled from a dedicated backup station
(actually an old laptop with an external drive).

So now we have a setup for backing up the main file server:

1. Server to local backup station via Second Copy
2. Backup station to remote location via Gbridge
3. Server to the cloud via MySecureBackup

This forms a 2½ way backup setup (2. will fail if 1. fails) which is
satisfactory as a 2 way system is minimum in case one system should
fail.
If you change the main server (NetWare at the moment) to a Windows
Server, Gbridge could run on that and you had a 3 way setup. 
Of course, the backup station represents a single point of possible
failure but for operation only, not for storage. If that is a concern,
the operations of this machine could be split onto two machines or even
three.
Further, with a Windows Server you could activate its default shadow
copying backup for a fourth backup system suited for a system recovery
where the above backup setup is for file backup only.

/gustav


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