[dba-Tech] Symantec Backup Exec

Hi Max:

When it comes to doing an image backup I personally use DriveImageXML
imbedded in a version of BartsPE distro. Because it is so important to get
the image right and to be able to confidentially know that the image will
create a perfect booting drive, I stick with slightly dated system. 

The one type of drive that can not be imaged correctly is some drive that
has used data compression...but not even Acronis can do that, counter to
their claims.

In most cases when it comes to backing up a clients systems beyond that I
use what ever they have locally which in most cases turns out to be their MS
backup. That is because I have great concerns when it comes to proprietary
systems. In many cases, a custom package ends up costing continuous updates,
which do not get maintained or/and do not end up being used properly by the
local staff and the original media has a habit of getting lost...etc.

Most sites are really very stable, especially when it comes to servers.
Major updates are done in blocks and then a new image. After that the data
is most important and to that I have been working with a friend to implement
a remote backup service... $79.00 a month up to 500GB and this uses the new
LogMeIn backup service... uses a distributive synchronization method. (Only
backing up data changes so it is very fast.)

I tend to wear suspender and a belt when it comes to backups and very
conservative on what software I use... I only use software that I have
watched complete a successful restoration.

Jim



-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Max Wanadoo
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:45 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Symantec Backup Exec

Jim,

What do you use for the image?
What do you use for the incremental backups following the image?

Ta

Max
 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Lawrence
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 9:50 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Symantec Backup Exec

Hi Janet:

A system does not need a full image backup continuously. I traditionally use
an image backup to set a 'Tomb Stone' and then just have the backups app
doing a regular backup. In the event of a major set of updates of system
configuration then an image can be redone. If a full restore is ever
required then the image backup is first used to rebuild a fully bootable
drive and the regular backs are use to restore the current status.

There is something that seems to not be common knowledge: 

First; a fully bootable image of a drive can not be created while a system
is running. The system must be stopped then booted from a DVD/Memory stick
with your favourite Image backup application on it and then the full image
can be created. 

Second; products that claim they can do a full image while the system is
running are not telling the whole truth. There is only one way they can even
start a backup and that is by either having exclusive use of the drives, not
practical on an operation server or do a Shadow backup. Neither of those
methods are complete on an operational drive.

Third; a Shadow backup is a backup created from the system's duplication
method. Those duplicated file tend to be sporadic especially on a very
active server and image does not end up with any of the primary drive info
or boot track information as it can not be duplicated while the system is
running...also having Shadow Copy feature running on an OS drive sucks up
recourses like crazy. For those and other reasons Shadow Copies should never
be used on the boot drive...only on data drives.

HTH
Jim
    

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Janet Erbach
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 9:28 AM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Symantec Backup Exec

Jim -

Like you, we've been backing up to a portable device and taking the disks
off-site using Casper.  But I was told last week that Casper does not
provide a truly bootable image for SBS 2008.

I guess I balk at the standard Windows backup from an ease of recoverability
standpoint in a total server crash.  I like the idea of backups that provide
a bootable image that can be restored onto another machine without having to
re-install every bit of software.  I've never been in that kind of
dead-in-the-water situation (thankfully!) so I'm just going by what I
imagine the recovery process to be like.  Which, of course, is very likely
way off the mark.  Am I putting too much emphasis on the importance of a
bootable image?

Thanks for the info on logmein - I will look into that more.

On your client's SBS 2008 machine...do you happen to know what the base line
day-to-day memory usage is?  Ours is running at around 12gb out of 16
total...and I'm starting to think that 2008 is such a resource pig that it
really does require that much.  I would be curious to know if your client's
machine runs like that as well.

Janet

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