Re: backups - virtual tapes vs. real tapes

I was compressing the archives onto CD, but I discovered that at times the
compressed file-save would not uncompress (the zip file would have some sort
of problem with it, as reported by PkZip.). This happened whether the file
had been copied from a different server, or read from a CD. Really wierd.
Given how cheap DVD media has become, I just bagged compressing the file.


"Frank Winans" <fwinans@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:YgcCe.4107$Ih7.2055@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Brian Bond wrote
>> We currently do a D3 backup each night at 3:00AM to a virtual tape file,
>> then the file is verified. We ultimately end up with a file named
> "FILE-SAVE
>> YYYY-MM-DD.d3p". Saves going back several weeks are kept available
> on-line
>> (dailies are kept for two weeks, weeklies longer). About once a month, I
>> will also take a weekly file-save and burn it to a DVD so I have a
> permanent
>> archive.
>>
>> Each morning, the D3 (Windows) server is backed up to a DLT tape using
>> the
>> lame Windows backup utility. The backup tape is verified, moved offsite,
>> stored vertically, kept away from nuclear reactors, and saved for several
>> weeks before reuse. So, I have several weeks of duplicate verified
>> backups
>> spread across many tapes.
>>
>> Are there any issues with this backup strategy, vs. doing the D3 backup
>> directly to tape? Thanks.
> No, they work pretty much the same. Suggestions;
> 1) Embellish your backup media with a handwritten admin log of the clues
> you'll need to use them in future years; a) DM account password,
> b) what version of D3/NT you've got running, c) frame size
> c) D3 system id {you have to go to the console and grab a mouse to
> read
> this, unlike d3/linux releases -- grrr!!! } Oh, and go make an 'ark'
> file in
> dm today -- copy your mds account qpointers into it, or write them in
> your paper log.
> 2) compress those backup files on disk; expect about 4:1 resulting size
> 3) If they compress enough, to fit on a single cdrom, prefer that to dvd;
> the media is cheaper and you can go steal the drive out of Timmie's
> PC
> if your server drive packs up the day you need to do a restore.
> 4) use the LAN to make a gratuitous copy of the most recent backup to
> whatever pc will contain it. We have about a 1 gig database, and
> get
> 5:1 compression, so it takes less than a minute to copy the backup
> to
> my PC each day. I launch the batch file for this from an icon on my
> desktop.
>
>


.

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