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

Steve:

If the client went on the cheap or the drives are huge, the RAID array
and/or controller (A good RAID Dell controller can cost up to 6K)
re-stripping a set of drives can take days... definitely a weekend project.

Jim
 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Steve Erbach
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 10:32 AM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Once and for all time: server backups

John,

>> It's fairly obvious that
1. the company they hired to supply the hardware and install the system this
system
Or <<

Doesn't look like you finished your thought, there, pardner!

>> If their server has a quality RAID system... <<

That appears to be debatable.  What I was confused by was that the guys who
installed the server (which took a HELL of a long time to do...formatting
the RAID array took something like 12 hours on-site.  They didn't have the
smarts to do that at their shop!) speced out such a small RAID array...I
believe it's only 70 GB.  The 500 GB data drive doesn't have its own RAID
array.  Why they couldn't have made a RAID array to provide 500 GB is beyond
me.  I can't believe that they RECOMMENDED it.  How is the business owner
supposed to know?

They also speced out only 4 GB of RAM.  My old network admin had Janet's
boss buy another 8 GB right away and that fixed some of the performance
issues.

I think that Janet has tried to get reliable image backups with so many
different versions of Casper and Acronis now, that she's run into the
problem of the VSS being hosed because of Acronis and not being able to
completely uninstall it.

This all makes Janet very crabby at times.

I simply fail to see why such a small server should have so many backup
problems.  There's something going on here that the various software support
folks just aren't touching.  That is, Casper and Acronis.

Steve Erbach
Neenah, WI

On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 12:05 PM, John Bartow <john at winhaven.net> wrote:

> Steve,
> My comments:
> A server of this magnitude should be comprised of a RAID system that is
> capable of recovering from on HD failure without hassle.
>
> Acronis has a version specifically for SBS. SBS has a lot of things going
> on
> that workstations and regular server does not.
>
> While I agree that having a bootable image backup is a great idea, I also
> think that if the imaging idea is not working out then move on and depend
> on
> the RAID to be your HD disaster recovery method. Regular backups are
mostly
> for file recovery and, in lieu of an image backup, should probably only be
> considered useful for that. Most backup apps include a disaster recovery
> option where they can be booted from removal media and rebuild the system
> from the backups.
>
> <soapbox>
> I realize this is post mortem but the planning for a server/client/network
> is the number one most important part. It's fairly obvious that
> 1. the company they hired to supply the hardware and install the system
> this
> system
> Or
> 2. if they did, the person who made the decision to not follow their
> recommendations
> did not do their job well.
>
> I feel Janet's (and your vicarious) pain on this :o(
> <off soapbox>
>
> So in conclusion:
> If there the server has a quality RAID system and you can't get Acronis
SBS
> version to operate effectively - give up on the imaging and move to a more
> simple file backup system. SBS has one built in. I wish I could stop in
and
> make it all better for Janet! Best of luck my friend!
>
>
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