SBS2003 /Server 2003 Best Backup Procedure

[unifydan]

First Post this, hope its in the right place !! Some advise please on the cheapest way to backup the following scenario.

1 x SBS Server 2003 (File server, SQL, Exchange, IIS)
1 x WIndows 2003 Server (File Server, SQL, CRM4, IIS)

There is a DAT72 attached to the SBS Server, any ideas, chepest method preferred. NTBackup ? Backupexec ?

 

[mofusjtf]

A couple of quetions to ask

1. How much data?
2. What version of SQL? (2000, MSDE, etc).
3. Do you want to stick with Tape or move to disk?
4. Both servers are in the same network?
5. Do you want centralized backup managment?

I think Backup Exec may be your best bet from a managment perspective. It can centralize your backup solution on one of the server and allows you to properly backup Exchange and SQL as long as you have the proper agents. This unfortunatley, is the more expensive method.

NT Backup will backup Exchange but not SQL. You will need to schedule (and monitor) SQL's built in backup procedures and then backup the SQL backup files with NT Backup. So your restore time is much longer. But NT Backup is cheaper.

Just some food for thought.

 

[unifydan]

Hi In answer to your questions

1. How much data?

up to 72GB more in future

2. What version of SQL? (2000, MSDE, etc).

SQL 2005 and MSDE

3. Do you want to stick with Tape or move to disk?

Tape preferred

4. Both servers are in the same network?

Yes same network, same domain

5. Do you want centralized backup managment?

ideally but It'll come down to cost.

Thanks for your help

 

[LWComputingMVP]

You might find some useful information on my web page -

http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp

You can use NTBackup to backup to a file on the non-tape drive server and in turn, backup that file to tape on the SBS system. Since you already have the tape system, probably better to stick with it - UNTIL you outgrow it.