I'm looking for a solution for daily backups of almost 1TB of data. This data includes SQL databases, server system states, an Exchange Store, company files on the file server, and virtual machines. I'm overwhelmed with the amount of data I need to backup here. I'm currently using crap software called Backit up NOW to a USB 2.0 enclosure with a SATA hard drive. The scheduler and compression is bad on Backit UP NOW. I have to do to much manually work with this software. I want to automate this process with a good piece of software and recommended hard drive system. Unless there is an obvious reason to use tape. This backup is a backup of a backup, because all the servers are running RAID5 with hot spares in place. I also want to look into Online backup, but with 1TB of data that isn't going to be fun. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks. [URL="http://bux.to/?r=lemm87"]Make Money Online![/URL]

Are we talking solaris or windows? Windows has ntbackup. rsync is a good idea for solaris. I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you peanut.

The advantages of tape are a high GB to price ratio, and their durability. With the right tape, you shouldn't need to worry about the compression ratio. I'd be interested in what you find; my experience has been Window's NTBackup and Veritas' NetBackup, with nothing in between. Actually, the advantage of both programs is their ability to be evoked from the command line, which allows you to use them in scripts. If you can do the backups cold, and you really need good compression, you could use something like WinRAR or 7z to compress and backup the DB to the external drive. Then again, if you need compression that badly, I suggest you rethink your backup medium.

Are you talking about Full Backups? Daily? Why not just incremental backups daily and a full backup weekly or monthly? Life's more painless for the brainless.

Jennifer has the right idea. I will add, even with a RAID 5 with hotspares in place, your data still isn't protected against natual (and unnatural) disasters. You'll want to take the backups offsite in case of fire/flood etc.

Google disk to disk backups. You haven't realized it yet but the biggest factor is backup time. You don't want to interfer with live usage of the system when its being backed up. Disk to disk backups are the solution. "This backup is a backup of a backup, because all the servers are running RAID5 with hot spares in place." Sorry to mention it but this statement underlies a misunderstanding between backup and fault tolerance. They are NOT the same. You do NOT have a backup of a backup. Raid5 and hot spares [very good] protects you from downtime and complete drive loss. This does not protect you if data becomes corrupt or someone overwrites a 100 page financial document with a blank one of the same name. Backup does protect you from this. Backup stored off site also gives you the ability to restore the data system in case of site destruction. Raid can't protect you from this occurance. Imagine the power of knowing how to internet search http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

wanderer, Very well put. Just to mention, shadow copy service on a Windows 2003 server can help in some of the situations you mentioned. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. [URL="http://bux.to/?r=lemm87"]Make Money Online![/URL]