ISP backup solution

[erictheintern]

Hi guys,

Currently I'm doing an internship at a Hostingprovider. I have to build a backup solution to back up all their own servers and their client servers. The solution should support the following:

- Should be able to backup multiple OS (Windows, NT, 2000, 2003, Unix free- en openBSD, Linux, Redhat, Fedora)

- open file backup to backup these db's(Oracle, MS SQL, MYSQL, MS Exchange)

- Be able to do a Bare Metal Restore within a couple of hours

- centralized management

To store all the backups I've figured out we can use a multiple NAS'es, but I have a problem to find backup software solutions. I've been looking at Commvault, veritas and Arceserve, but these are to expensive for the company I'm working for. Í'm looking for software that supports the functionalities i've mentioned above. That doesn't cost as much as the solutions form the "big" brands. Price should be between $200-$300

I need to come up with a solution soon. Can you guys here help me out or have any tips or suggestions for me?

 

[birky]

You will be lucky to find a good solution to cover all the applications/functions that you state for $300.

You could save money by just getting a disk array and a lower end tape library instead of multiple NAS boxes....then you could use disk as the primary backup storage location and copy it off to tape for longer retention.

The cash you save on the NAS boxes you could then put towards some decent backup software

A lot of people try not to spend money on their backup solution as they don't think it's a priority.....until you need an important restore ;-)

 

[mrn]

Take a look at amanda

http://www.amanda.org

also see

http://www.amanda.org/docs/using.html#id2539712

Mike

"A foolproof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble, then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant."

http://www.airport-parking-site.co.uk/

 

[erictheintern]

What software would you guys here recommend that covers the options mentioned above of what you guys would consider a reasinable price. I'm looking for a solution that can do it all. Not a combination of software. There must be any right?

- Should be able to backup multiple OS (Windows, NT, 2000, 2003, Unix free- en openBSD, Linux, Redhat, Fedora)

- open file backup to backup these db's(Oracle, MS SQL, MYSQL, MS Exchange)

- Be able to do a Bare Metal Restore within a couple of hours

- centralized management
if

 

[birky]

You wont get a solution that covers all of these with centralized management.

Numbers 1,2 and 4 are fine but, BMR will be a seperate product, unless you dont mean BMR and you mean a full system restore (they are 2 different things).

 

[erictheintern]

A bare metal restore is a restore in case a system for example burns down and the system be restored to new hardware right?

And a full system restore is a restore in case a system crashes due to hardware failure right?

I might be wrong cause I'm kind of new in this field.

But do I need a seperate software package for bare metal restore / full system restore? For what I've seen on products like Bakbone and Acronis they offer bare metal restore / disaster recovery option in their software. Is this good or do I need particular softwar? if so can u guys recommend some?

 

[mrn]

There are many solutions (Veritas Netbackup/backup exec) that would do the job; but not for the money your talking. $200-$300 would buy you only a couple of licenses. We paid £8000 for the SAP online backup option of Veritas not long back.

See

http://www.texas.gs.shi.com/Contracts/Veritas/ContractInformation.asp

For prices

Mike

"A foolproof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble, then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant."

http://www.airport-parking-site.co.uk/

 

[birky]

From the budget indication that you specified I don't think the ISP is going to go much higher...are they?

Your best bet is probably to stick with BakBone but, you still need a bigger budget.

 

[erictheintern]

My main task is to find a good solution, a package that covers all the aspects. The board told me that it should be cheap about 200 - 300, but I don't think it's gonna work.

I'm gonna do it differently now. I'll just try to find the right solution and without looking at prices. Once I found a couple of solutions I'll tell the board what the options are and if the price of those solutions doesn't fit the bugdet, too bad then right?

It's like telling someone to go look for a a SUV with 22 inch rims for $10.000. I don't think there are any within that price range.

Thanks guys! I'll take a look at the software you guys allready mentioned. Any other suggestions would still be welcome.

 

[birky]

think you are taking the right approach mate...going to be impossible for the kind of budget they've specified, they need to be realistic.

 

[Backup3xpert]

Possibly they are simply trying to get you to tell them outright that the solution they want at the price restrictions you are under, is an impossible task. Depending on the amount of data you need to store/backup I would guess a long-term solution alone would cost you anywhere between $7-11k. There is a an option however .. tell me this...

What type device are they currently backing up data to?
Is it direct attach?
What software do they currently use for backup?
Most important, whats the budget?

 

[dkediger]

Your approach to research the options regardless of cost and present is the correct one. The animal they're seeking for the budget they want doesn't exist.

Since this is an internship for you, take careful note of things:
[ul]
[li]This supposedly "tech" company doesn't really seem to have a "tech" minded leadership. Their focus on an unrealistic budget indicates they are purely investors.[/li]
[li]Along the same lines of absent tech leadership, they're attempting to address a backup/recovery solution after the fact, rather than as a part of the "whole."[/li]
[/ul]

 

[Vela]

Take that 200-300 buck's and reserve the moving company. If they can't recover, somebody's going to have to move them out of the offices!

 

[mrn]

Dkediger

I agree; if I were a customer I'd very be worried.

Mike

"A foolproof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble, then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant."

http://www.airport-parking-site.co.uk/

 

[Vela]

2-300 bucks is rediculous. The backup reporting software we are testing(tektools profiler) run's 15-20k