multiple schedules w/ calendar-based, spanning days?

[dmorgens]

Hello All,

We're running NBU 5, MP4 w/ a Windows 2003 master server and have an issue with some scheduling of backups in situation where policies have 2 schedules and at least one is calendar-based (I've read up on some of the issues with calendar-based scheduling but I'm hoping somebody will have a resolution that's cleaner than what I've come up with).

Here's the scenario: a client has a backup window from 10pm until 12:30am. Once a week (Thurs/Friday), one of these backups is done for offsiting purposes (using inline copy which sends one copy to the regular pool and one to one of our offsite tape). (no Vault.)

So far, this has been accomplished by using 2 schedules: 1) frequency-based to run daily to the regular retention pool; and 2) calendar-based to run every Friday w/ multiple copies (1 copy to the reglar pool and a 2nd copy to the offsite pool).

On most of our systems using this strategy, it works well b/c the backup window does not span 2 days (across a midnight). However, for the clients with the 10pm-12:30am backup window mentioned above, this doesn't work well since the window crosses days from or onto a non-scheduled day.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to do this properly? The offsite backup must be done at the same time every week and must occur in that backup window.

Thanks for any help on this,

Dan

 

[Stumpr]

The backup window is only a "starting window of opportunity". The timeframe given is only for a start time for the backup. It is not for the duration of the backup. This is a common mis-conception. Since it is only the starting timeframe for backups, you could have the window that is from 10PM to 12:30 changed to a shorter window of starting opportunity. Perhaps 10PM to 11:30 PM.
The purpose of having a larger "starting window of opportunity" is for enabling restarts of failed jobs.

Bob Stump
Incorrigible punster -- Do not incorrige

 

[dmorgens]

Thanks for clearing that up, Bob. What's worse is that I think I knew that and it fell out of my head.

I ended up adjusting my scheduling and eliminated calendar-based schedules in favor of frequency-based for these jobs.

 

[Stumpr]

Strange, We have argued for a calendar based scheduler all the way back with OpenVision 2.1 At least that is as far back as I go. When it got here most people decided to stick with frequency based scheduling. I dunno but I may have converted if VERITAS had taken into account that most customers, even the 24x7 shops have heavy backup trafic between 18:00 and 06:00. I don't like the midnight changeover. Too many bugs.

Bob Stump
Incorrigible punster -- Do not incorrige