[lug] Backup media and programs opinions?

[Ferdinand Schmid]

Since I need to take backups off site I like tapes.  DAT tapes are certainly cheap and all 
present.  I haven't evaluated small backup solutions recently - but I did evaluate larger 
type systems (1 .. 2 TB).  Our choice was an 11 tape Ultra-LTO changer with IBM drive.  I 
initially found lots of problems with the LTO drives that had to do with firmware quirks 
(on HP, Seagate, IBM, ... drives - I tested several brands).
DAT is an end of life-cycle product.  I am not aware of any DDS-V products in the works so 
I would encourage you to also look around for prodoucts that may be improved in the close 
future.  On the other hand every software/hardware seems to have been tested with DAT 
systems and 6 tape DDS-4 changers are fairly cheap right now.

As far as software goes - I ulitemately ended up with brupro, a BRU (Tolisgroup) product. 
  The price for tape library licensess can be significant depending on the software and 
bru offers a very reliable solution at a good price.  The choice of software depends on 
the different architecture of your backup clients...  Things are a lot simpler if you only 
backup Linux rather than a mix of Solaris, Win32, OS-X, ...
The next release of BRU (BRUserver) is expected late this year and should get Arkeia type 
tape database features to BRU without the price tag and with higher reliability.  BRU is 
the only system that I am aware of that lets you skip past bad blocks on a tape. 
Encrypted and compressed client backups are very easy to set up in BRU.

Ferdinand

Crawford Rainwater wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> I am researching different forms of backup methods,
> both media and utilities (e.g., Amanda for one) out
> there for Linux.  I am looking for some $0.02 from
> others, more practical oriented if possible.
> 
> For reference, this will be used for backing up 20GB 
> to 40GB drives at this time.  DATs and DLTs come to
> mind.  SCSI interface most likely too for those who
> are curious.
> 
> Thanks in advance for the comments.
> 
> --- Crawford
> 
> The I.T.E.C. Company
> P.M.B. 146
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> 
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-- 
Ferdinand Schmid
Architectural Energy Corporation
Celebrating 20 Years of Improving Building Energy Performance
http://www.archenergy.com