Topic: Automated Backup (Tape or DVD)

[Chris]

Once again this topic comes up, but sifting through contribs.org for the last two hours has left me with a few questions.

I am looking for an automated back up solution for two SME 6 servers. The server needs to back itself up to Tape or DVD nightly or weekly. The user should only have to take out the previous tape or dvd and put in the new one. No backing up to network machines, or other dives. No intermediate step.

What I have found on the forums. Tape: Travan 40 is a cost effective tape drive, but there seems to be an even split of those who like it and those who don't. What is required to have a tape system work right from the SME 6 box.
DVD: There has been a lot of post about this subject, but not many have been updated in months. Is anyone doing this. This would be the most effective for our needs. A DVD-R drive in the server, and all the user has to do is daily put in a new blank DVD-R disk.

Is there any definitive answer to this. What hardware really works with the least problems.

[Boris]

Travan combined with Tapeware works great. If your user forget to change the tape it overwrites the same tape.
Administrator receives the e-mail with log and checks if backup has completed or failed.
We use this for years with great success and backup multiple servers to the few tape drives.

[Chris]

How does Tapeware interface/work with the SME server. Which of their products works best. I have also read in these forums of problems and complaints with support issues...

[klauseckert]

on my SME 5.6 i have arkeia-backup running every night.
it very flexible, so you can backup whatever you want.
if the user doesn't change the tape it will be overwritten.

arkeia has a contrib for SME with many options.

i use this for many month now and it works well.

cheers klaus

[Serge]

Is anybody using DVD-RAM drive for backups?

[ClaudioG]

We are using DVD-RW on 5.6 (no problem to 6, i think)

I can write little how-to if you are interesting.

Regards,

ClaudioG

[Peter]

ClaudioG A little how to may be of great help to many

Peter

[Chris]

ClaudioG,
Goodness yes. I think a how to is what is missing from the forums. I can imagine with the time I spent reading posts and searching for the answers, there are plenty of others who would benefit from a solid how to.

Thanks you all for the input. It would be great if we could get solid information on how you have done this and with what hardware/software. If I can get this working with your help, I will be glad to write a formal how-to and document getting this setup. DVD would be the best option for these particular deployments, so good details would be great.

[pkidd]

Just for info, approaching automation on SME 6 (I work slowly) with backup by DVD.  Using backup2ws (amongst other benefits to my limited knowledge, it manages file sizes), then cron for running dvd+rw tools to write to DVD.  With old equipment, I haven't tried direct to disc so to speak.

[Serge]

Claudio, TIA. It would be great. Actually I plant to buy Panasonic LF-M621E for this purposes. I think room of 9Gb pretty enough for my purposes... and definitely contribute to you how-to after my experiments finish.

Kind regards,
Serge

[ClaudioG]

Ok.

In a few day I will write how-to...

I nedd, at last, help with my broken english...

Regards,
ClaudioG

[Chris]

I am about to build test and deploy 2 of these if I can get the DVD backup working. I would be more than happy to you compile this thing.

[ChrisB]

ClaudioG,
Any chance of some of that info on how you are doing. I have one server sitting here, and have spent the last two days working on getting backup to work to the DVD +-R... I am stuck...
Thanks

[oregonbob]

Try adding this to your modules.conf
--------------------
# Adding ide-scsi for CD-ROM
# If CD/DVD on Secondary Master, then it would be "hdc"
# Add to /etc/modules.conf
options ide-cd ignore=hde
pre-install sg modprobe ide-scsi
pre-install sr_mod modprobe ide-scsi
pre-install ide-scsi modprobe ide-cd
-----------------------
I use the above with BackupEdge from Microlite. BackupEdge is a "super-tar". You can download a 60-day full version demo at www.microlite.com.

[ChrisB]

Backup Edge looks ok, but $300 is a ridiculous price for a single server backup solution. At least for what this is bing used for. I just want to have weekly backups burned onto a blank DVD. Nothing spectacular, except it need to happen with the only user interaction being to place a blank disk in once a week. They have a $90 version, but it is for non comercial use, and technicaly my use is in a small family business. This just is not acceptable.