In a home network environment, the requirements for a backup process are quite simple. It is not uncommon to use a Simple Copy/Paste process from a computer to an external hard drive. In a business network environment however, the requirements are much higher due to the technology utilized by Windows Server. There are a variety of backup software titles in the marketplace but the great majority are not designed for a Windows Server environment. For example, Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server and other Server-based components require a Windows Agent in order to perform a contextual backup. The majority of backup solutions in the marketplace often overlook this basic requirement. Therefore, Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server and other Server-based components are not backed up - therefore this critical data would be lost. This is only one example of why it is important to have a full understanding of Windows Server and the requirements involved in a professional backup solution.
Imaging
The imaging or ghosting of a computer is the recommended backup solution. Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery makes a complete image of the Server. Prior to the development of this technology, a network engineer would be required to reload Windows Server and all related applications in the event of a disaster. They would then perform a restore of the Server using tape. This is the most common method of performing a backup and restore which can take 9 to 12 hours or more to complete. This method however has become outmoded due to the benefits found in Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery. Now, the full restoration of a Server can often be achieved within 1 hour. It is important to note that Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery does not support the use of more than one external hard drive. This is because (a) the newly swapped drive is not recognized within Backup Exec System Recovery as a Backup Destination and (b) the Restore Point found on the original drive has now been lost. To address the issue of off-site storage, Backup Exec System Recovery provides a method of copying the Image to another File Server on the network or transferring the Image to a Secure Website via FTP.
Tape Backup
For the past 40 years, the use of tape media (Magnetic Tape, Travan, DAT, Ultrium) has been the most commonly used backup media in business network environments due to the following six requirements:
Third-Party Online Backup Services have absolutely no place in business network environments. Not only is the backup and restore process incredibly slow, online backup software is not designed for use with Server-based components such as Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft SQL Server. Additionally, you would be storing confidential business information from your company on a server owned by a third-party corporation. In most business environments, this would be very suspect.
Imaging
The imaging or ghosting of a computer is the recommended backup solution. Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery makes a complete image of the Server. Prior to the development of this technology, a network engineer would be required to reload Windows Server and all related applications in the event of a disaster. They would then perform a restore of the Server using tape. This is the most common method of performing a backup and restore which can take 9 to 12 hours or more to complete. This method however has become outmoded due to the benefits found in Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery. Now, the full restoration of a Server can often be achieved within 1 hour. It is important to note that Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery does not support the use of more than one external hard drive. This is because (a) the newly swapped drive is not recognized within Backup Exec System Recovery as a Backup Destination and (b) the Restore Point found on the original drive has now been lost. To address the issue of off-site storage, Backup Exec System Recovery provides a method of copying the Image to another File Server on the network or transferring the Image to a Secure Website via FTP.
Tape Backup
For the past 40 years, the use of tape media (Magnetic Tape, Travan, DAT, Ultrium) has been the most commonly used backup media in business network environments due to the following six requirements:
- Compatibility With Business Backup Software. Symantec Backup Exec formerly called Veritas Backup Exec is the gold standard for professional backup software in a business network environment. Symantec Backup Exec includes the required Windows Agents for performing a Server backup and is certified for use with an extremely large number of tape devices.
- Off-Site Storage. A tape is highly portable so it can be easily stored off-site on a daily basis. This is an important element if your building burns down and your backup media has been destroyed.
- Storage Capacity. Unlike CD, DVD and other media, tape has the capacity to store all of the data stored on a Server. A small business server may be storing 30 GB or more of data. With the exception of an external hard drive, tape would be the only media with the capacity to store this amount of information on a single tape.
- Storage Media Resistance to Damage. Unlike a CD or DVD, tape is highly resistant to accidental damage.
- Cost. Unlike a hard drive, a tape is very low in cost.
- Ease of Restoration. Although Symantec Backup Exec does provide a Backup-To-Disk method which can utilize an external hard drive, this process is ineffective due to the egregious steps that must be performed in order to restore data from the external hard drive. Symantec Backup Exec is only efficient when using tape media.
Third-Party Online Backup Services have absolutely no place in business network environments. Not only is the backup and restore process incredibly slow, online backup software is not designed for use with Server-based components such as Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft SQL Server. Additionally, you would be storing confidential business information from your company on a server owned by a third-party corporation. In most business environments, this would be very suspect.
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