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backup solution

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doox00

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Aug 28, 2005
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We are in search of backup software for our windows environment. What are some alternatives to backup exec? We need ms sql server 2k and able to do 2005 eventually as well, plus open file options. This will be backing up 3 servers, just shares though from the other 2 boxes, not os.

thanks for any input
 
Veritas is pretty much the standard IMO. Just hit google and look for back solutions. I can only really comment on Veritas as that is all I have used over the last 6 years.

Why dont you want to do veritas, Price? or you just dont need everything it has to offer?
 
There is Arkeia , there is Computer Associates. Those are two I can think of off the top of my head.

We switched to Veritas three years ago, and it works really well for us.
 
Were using ARCserve BrightStor from Computer Associates. Works pretty good for us.
 
thanks for the replies all, I like backup exec, been using it for years as well.. just curious as to other backup solutions out there that can do what backup exec can do, at hopefully a reduced price. its about a grand for backup exec with sql plugin and open file option.
 
ComVault has products to integrate with most MS products. I've used it a little bit and it works pretty well.

For example: When used to backup an Active Directory server, you can do a restore of an AD object with out the need to boot into DS repair mode. And, it marks it as authoritative. I have yet to find aything else that will do that.

I am currently trying to get this purchased for our environment.
 
While on the subject...I've never liked CAs ArcServe/Brightstore, always been Veritas Backup Exec. But somewhere between version 9 and on up...I've started having issues with it at a few clients. Then..with Symantec buying them up...I'm definitely on the hunt for something else as Symantec crams it even more full of bloat and problems.

Been wanting to check out Acronis True Image server edition...anyone been using that imaging method for backup of their servers? Hot backup!
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
While on the subject...I've never liked CAs ArcServe/Brightstore, always been Veritas Backup Exec. But somewhere between version 9 and on up...I've started having issues with it at a few clients. Then..with Symantec buying them up...I'm definitely on the hunt for something else as Symantec crams it even more full of bloat and problems.

Been wanting to check out Acronis True Image server edition...anyone been using that imaging method for backup of their servers? Hot backup!
Click to expand...

I've used the Acronis AND the Symantec System State products. Did not have great success with either. We did a test restore on blank hardware and it wouldn't even load the image. Company wasn't much help, and this is unfortunate because we built a smaller part of the infrastructure around it. Oh well, that's my couple pennies.
 
To the OP, anything that has SQL or Exchange options to purchase are typically going to be higher cost, close to Veritas. Is it 2k3 or 2000? The built in backup does pretty good for a lot of my clients although I do prefer the Veritas. You also have the built in option in SQL to do a file backup and just backup that file (not sure if that's an option).
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Interesting...thx for the input.
Click to expand...

Sure. The issue we had was we had a full completed image stored on a NAS, booted to their CD and connected to the NAS, and when we tried to load the image to restore we go a generic error (0x0000000) and no good assistance from Acronis. I wouldn't have left my backups to this software with a generic error like that.

Also, the backups were iffy over a network. They would stall and mess up in the middle. To get consistent good ones we had to image to the server itself, and then copy over the NAS. What a pain. But YMMV, and this was about a year ago.
 
ccarrigan said:
Also, the backups were iffy over a network. They would stall and mess up in the middle. To get consistent good ones we had to image to the server itself, and then copy over the NAS. What a pain. But YMMV, and this was about a year ago.
Click to expand...

If I could elaborate within the scope of the OP...in my case, what I'm looking for is a solution for smaller server setups, not necessarily including Exchange...but perhaps just file servers/DCs, etc. For smaller servers...yet with moderate hard drive capacity..tape drive solutions are getting so danged expensive. Not to mention adding the software backup package.

One solution I've come to find is very affordable, and easy, for basic server setups, is using the somewhat new Iomega REV drives. 35/90 gigs. Under 500 bucks..a heck of a lot more affordable than comparable (sizewise) DAT drives. Fast. Come in ATAPI/SCSI/SATA/USB2.

Decent backup software for smaller setups though..I'm not fond of the including Iomega branded software, nor the Tapeware they also include with it. Been using native Windows backup software, or Cobian. But for DCs....gotta find something a bit more robust.

Bummer about the Acronis...I was sort of looking forward to getting into it...esp because of the speed of recovery..of say a totally downed server. Seems darned near OBDR...but faster.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
If I could elaborate within the scope of the OP...in my case, what I'm looking for is a solution for smaller server setups, not necessarily including Exchange...but perhaps just file servers/DCs, etc. For smaller servers...yet with moderate hard drive capacity..tape drive solutions are getting so danged expensive. Not to mention adding the software backup package.

One solution I've come to find is very affordable, and easy, for basic server setups, is using the somewhat new Iomega REV drives. 35/90 gigs. Under 500 bucks..a heck of a lot more affordable than comparable (sizewise) DAT drives. Fast. Come in ATAPI/SCSI/SATA/USB2.

Decent backup software for smaller setups though..I'm not fond of the including Iomega branded software, nor the Tapeware they also include with it. Been using native Windows backup software, or Cobian. But for DCs....gotta find something a bit more robust.

Bummer about the Acronis...I was sort of looking forward to getting into it...esp because of the speed of recovery..of say a totally downed server. Seems darned near OBDR...but faster.
Click to expand...

You know, a good DAT drive isn't TOO much more and (in my opinion) more reliable. I had some firmware issues with the Iomega drives but maybe that's bunk. Also, the built in backup software in 2k3 is quite impressive (as opposed to 2000) and will do Exchange, etc...

Also, the tapes on the REV were expensive so if you do a monthly archive the price argument goes out the window.
 
With the price of some of those tape drives, almost build a cheap unit and backup over the network... lol

One thing a few of my customers like, external USB 2.0, quick offsite backup.
 
ccarrigan said:
You know, a good DAT drive isn't TOO much more and (in my opinion) more reliable. I had some firmware issues with the Iomega drives but maybe that's bunk. Also, the built in backup software in 2k3 is quite impressive (as opposed to 2000) and will do Exchange, etc...

Also, the tapes on the REV were expensive so if you do a monthly archive the price argument goes out the window.
Click to expand...

Right around when DAT drives started with 20/40 capacity...I've started having reliability issues with them. It's like they started getting pushed too hard with capacity. Even training clients to keep up like crazy with those cleaning tapes.

I've found the Ultrium tape setups very reliable...but it's an expensive setup..you're usually talking 2200 - 2500 for the unit itself.

USB external drives....I've not yet tried that anywhere. One point that I'm uncomfortable with...is a daily hot swap on the USB port of a server. I know...USB ports are designed to be hot swap...but even under the ideal conditions where a few people remember to power down the device with the "Safely Remove Hardware" USB/PCMCIA utility in the systray...I just don't think doing that daily is a good idea...especially on a server. Once in a blue moon someone will give that port a little static shock going to pull the cord...just..that thought scares me on a server having a client perform that every day.

Plus...how portable are those drives? Are they that reliable to be bounced around constantly? (Talking about the once a week or once a month offsite). Although usually the tape cartridge would face certain death with the way most people handle them too...often an office manager will toss that tape cart right into her purse....yup....right next to the cell phone. Goodbye hoping to read any data off of that tape now. :rolleyes:

What I've noticed with USB thumb drives....if you plug one into your laptop...it'll pick up a certain drive letter...and keep that drive letter each time you plug it in. But...often, if you get several thumb drives....and plug in a different one...it may obtain a higher drive letter...like the BIOS knows it's a different drive. That being the case...with a constantly moving "target"...how to you keep the backup software tracking it?
 
I'm trying to get us out of Veritas Hell as well. 9.1 Backup Exec refuses to play nicely with the new SAN/NAS system we rolled out, so my D2D2T strategy is hosed right now. The site has gone to absolute crap since Symantec took over.
I've heard nothing but great stuff about ComVault. I'm looking into a trial of it, since Veritas wants like 15k to roll to version 10, which still probably won't do what i need it to.
 
Sorry, 2.5 USB, 40+ GB.

Plug the drive up, go to disk management, assign a drive letter, plug the next drive up, assign the same letter, etc...

This is a second or third backup for each customer, once a week or whenever, plugged into a desktop, not server, backing up server shares over the network.

Its kinda tough to have too many backups.
 
0ldman said:
Sorry, 2.5 USB, 40+ GB.

Plug the drive up, go to disk management, assign a drive letter, plug the next drive up, assign the same letter, etc...

This is a second or third backup for each customer, once a week or whenever, plugged into a desktop, not server, backing up server shares over the network.

Its kinda tough to have too many backups.
Click to expand...

Ahh OK...gotcha on the permanent drive letter assignments.

Have you deployed this setup as a full time primary server backup solution though?
 
typhoon43 said:
I'm trying to get us out of Veritas Hell as well. 9.1 Backup Exec refuses to play nicely with the new SAN/NAS system we rolled out, so my D2D2T strategy is hosed right now. The site has gone to absolute crap since Symantec took over.
I've heard nothing but great stuff about ComVault. I'm looking into a trial of it, since Veritas wants like 15k to roll to version 10, which still probably won't do what i need it to.
Click to expand...

What were you trying to do with Veritas? I've found their Backup to Disk feature works pretty well, but we've used it only on a limited basis.
 
ccarrigan said:
What were you trying to do with Veritas? I've found their Backup to Disk feature works pretty well, but we've used it only on a limited basis.
Click to expand...


Yes but Disk to Disk to TAPE is a whole different ball of yarn with Backup Exec.
Currently I have around 35 servers to backup to our SAN/NAS array. That part, works "ok". But then I have to estimate the tinme of the backup, and then create a separate disk to tape job that writes the contents of the folder for each server to tape. So my Job Monitor panel is like 3 pages long. It's gross.
 
typhoon43 said:
Yes but Disk to Disk to TAPE is a whole different ball of yarn with Backup Exec.
Currently I have around 35 servers to backup to our SAN/NAS array. That part, works "ok". But then I have to estimate the tinme of the backup, and then create a separate disk to tape job that writes the contents of the folder for each server to tape. So my Job Monitor panel is like 3 pages long. It's gross.
Click to expand...

Have you tried using backup policies? You can define things like run job Y only after X is complete, etc.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Ahh OK...gotcha on the permanent drive letter assignments.


Have you deployed this setup as a full time primary server backup solution though?
Click to expand...
No, although I'm not counting it out.

Like you, I'm not too keen on a customer dinking with a server on a daily basis, and sharing a USB drive doesn't work so well.

If the desktop runs the backup, seems to work fine, but on occasion people do dumb things with the desktop, which breaks the backup, which is why I don't like users messing with the USB on the server. Boils down to needing a techie type person dealing with backups, which is rare around here.
 
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