Hi All, We are currently looking into replacing our current obsolete backup solution and just seeking advice. We have 6 servers in our network, (1 PDC, 1 SDC, 1 Exchange, 1 SQL, 1 File Server and 1 Web Server). If I purchase a dedicated backup server (with tape drive) is it possible to have a centralized backup solution? Meaning, being able to backup all servers into one tape. What software is required? I've read that Backup Exec will allow me to manage the backups from one server. Now will this also backup the system state, registry, active directory? If someone could provide suggestions or more info that would be great. Thanks!

PDC??? Are you using NT4.0? PDC does not apply in an Active Directory domain....there are only DC's. To answer your question. You don't really need a dedicated backup server. Depending on what type of backup device you're planning on going with you can likely use an existing server to perform the backups for all servers in your network. If you have a server that is fairly idle during off hours I would use that instead of purchasing a new server just for backups. There are many backup solutions available. Myself, I have a strong preference and liking for Computer Associates Brightstore ArcServ. If you'd rather not spend a pile of money you could also use the native ntbackup. Configure individual backups on each server (including system state backups - NOTE: research those on MS's web site as there is at least one folder that has to be included in the backup set in order for a restore of the system state to work properly) to be backed up to a file on that server. Then you could use a batchfile wired to a scheduled task to copy the backup file to your main backup server and have them all incorporated into one big backup on that server. This method is a little bulky but does work at no extra expense. To backup network drives most backup software will require an additional module. The same is true for backing up an SQL server...so that's two extra module$ you would have to purcha$e. Backups for an SQL server can be created within SQL that will automatically shut SQL down and then restart it after the backup is performed. Just include the SQL's backup folder in your SQL server backup set.

I use a centralized backup server with a 100gig per tape LTO autoloader running backup exec v10. I have remote agents on the other servers which allows them to be backed up over the network. I have the sql agent which backs up sql and the open file module which allows me to backup open files [both user and system]. All of this is automated by backup exec. Your first concern though is your Global catalog needs to be on at least two servers as also should DNS server. If not, you lose the one server containing those, you lost your domain. Golly gee wilerkers everyone. Learn to Internet Search

"Your first concern though is your Global catalog needs to be on at least two servers as also should DNS server. If not, you lose the one server containing those, you lost your domain." Be aware that you should not have a Global Catalog on a DC that is the infrastructure master FMSO role holder unless ALL DC's are Global Catalog servers. Otherwise, you're gonna have replication issues. In your case, both DC's should be global catalog servers due to Exchange presence in your environment. The faster DC should be the RID and PDC FSMO role holder, while the secondary should be the Infrastructure, Schema, and Domain Naming Master. Keep in mind that Veritas made NTBackup. It's the little brother of Backup Exec, so Backup Exec does everything NTBackup can do, including backing up the system state, Active Directory, and the registry. Finally, don't forget to have multiple tapes in at least two different physical site locations. (In case the business burns down, you still have the data!) Please help survivors of Hurricane Katrina! www.redcross.org

Data Backup Program In order to avoid data loss, having a concerted data backup plan is essential for all companies, as well as home users. There are a variety of different solutions available, from high end automatic offsite backup to simple on-system backup programs to something as easy as a file compression utility. Your Company's Backup Plan Being prepared for the eventual failure of computers within your company is a superb way to conserve resources in the future, and save data which could be damaged in a disaster situation. This program should evolve as your company's systems, computers and networks expand. If your IT resources are quite expansive, do not be afraid to consult outside data backup experts for help. The data storage industry is expanding both its reach and solutions, and will likely be able to ensure you have the best application for your needs. Alternatively, you can always consider software or an in-house solution, which may be the best scenario for high end systems all the way down to single PCs. RAID And Server Data Backups For high-end applications, such as with RAID arrays, enterprise servers and web servers, offsite storage centers are a good choice. Typically, these companies use a technique called "Server Mirroring", which keeps a real-time copy of your server data at a remote facility. Using direct connections, a backup server essentially writes data to its hard drives whenever your main server is updated. In this way, if your company's main mission critical server goes down, the backup can be quickly started without any delays or user issues. Individual PC Backup For individual PCs, backup programs can usually be purchased for anywhere between $10 and $5,000, with the degree of complexity and feature sets depending on the expense. For PCs which contain important data (which is usually most of them), having an automatic solution is obviously a benefit, as the "human backup" always has the potential for human error. A good data backup program with automatic features will usually run you between $50 to about $250. There are many which provide excellent features which are easy to use. Backup On The Cheap To back up your hard disk drive cheaply (not recommended for Business computers!), consider using WinZip, or some other file compression-oriented program. In most cases, it is probably not necessary to completely backup your hard drive, as many of the programs can always be reinstalled if a physical hard drive crash occurs. To make this strategy work, all you must do is ensure that you do this regularly (once or twice weekly), and make sure to save all of your files to one directory (for Windows machines, your "My Documents" folder works well. Then, just make sure to compress and backup your important folders, and then save them to portable media, such as CD-RW or DVD-RW. This is a good way to ensure your data is backed up and is easy on the pocketbook. see more: backup program