Topic: Reliable backup ?

[xware]

Hello folks,
For some time now, I've been experiencing all the possible issues with flexbackup, so I'm asking you all :

Is there a RELIABLE software package to backup and restore on a tape and that has been integrated to sme server (6.01-01) in a contrib for instance ? I haven't found any yet..

I really need one..(no cd,dvd or rsync, only tape -LTO- )

Thanks in advance for your help.
Cheers,
Phil.

[KelvinLee]

Hi Phil,

I've always used Shad Lord's Arkeia backup contrib. Except for the occasional hiccup when Arkeia insists on a particular tape instead of using the one currently in the tape drive or when it does not recognise certain settings and thus refuse to run (usually only happens after a server reboot - easily fixed via server manager), it works quite well.

For a commercial backup app, I have used Tapeware before and it's been fine as well (but only at one site).

Kelvin

[xware]

Hi kelvin,

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it asap.

btw, do U know if there is a trial version of tapeware to see if it works well too ?

tnx,

Phil.

[NickR]

I also vote for Tapeware - very easy to install & monitor.  Been using it for a couple of years with no problems.


30 day eval here:

http://www.yosemitetech.com/products/master_server.htm

[BoZz]

Count me in on that one    I have tapeware with e-smith / contribs on a few sites and it works well

 

[Denbert]

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=23175.msg92201#msg92201

[KelvinLee]

Hi,

Be aware that any backup method which sends the data to a disk based file must allow for spanning / breaking up to multiple files / chunks like Darrell May's backup2ws. This has nothing to do with limitations of NTFS (search the forums for the size limits, this has been discussed at length) but is instead a limitation of smbfs and a few other modules used by SME.

There was a howto before on converting the flexbackup script of SME to send the backup to a file across the network to a network share instead of to tape. This accomplishes much the same as Denbert's method with of course the same problem with backing up large amounts of data.

So far, Darrell's backup2ws is still the most efficient method of non-tape based backup that I have seen. There is also the option of backing up to removable drives or cartridge drives installed locally on the SME server itself.

Kelvin

[edform]

Is there a RELIABLE software package to backup and restore on a tape and that has been integrated to sme server (6.01-01) in a contrib for instance ? I haven't found any yet..

Try Microlite BackupEdge; it's a commercial product, but very sensibly priced. It's by far the easiest and most reliable backup product on the market for use in a non-GUI environment. I have it installed on both my own and client servers and it works with boring reliability. It also gives full control over autochangers and can do CDs, DVDs, and detects them automatically and remarkably accurately. At the price it's good value as well.

The link to the 60-day trial version is...

http://www.microlite.com/dlpages/123713719987346378261681.html

Ed Form

[Brave Dave]

If you can keep it below 4gb, dvd is very reliable

has the advantage that any user can check it on a workstation

i tar and gzip, then blank and burn to dvd evry night, never misses