Should I purchase Disaster Recovery Option? 1

[upplepop]

I am already using Brightstor 9 to backup my two Windows 2000 servers (Web and SQL 2000). Now I'm considering whether to purchase the additional disaster recovery option. Do you guys find this to be a much faster & easier recovery method than that provided by the standard version?
Also, I have the main program installed on one server with an agent installed on the other. Will I have to purchase two licenses of DR or just one?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SjrH]

DR is good for quickly recovering a failed system but there are some considerations to be aware of!

For your local Win2k server, no probs. With a successful backup, it should be back online with 1-2 hours of a failure (assuming the hardware is compatible and available!)

For the remote SQL server, its a two phase process. Firstly the DR will rebuild the underlying Win2K. Then you must apply the relevent OS patches and install and patch the SQL agent. Then you will be able to restore your SQL DB's, not so fast unfortunately.

You will only need the one DR license (for your local server) as you will be backing up the SQL server through your already purchased SQL agent.

For some more guidelines, check this page out-

http://support.ca.com/techbases/as2000/as2k-18163.html

Rgds



SjrH - Data Security Storage & Availability Specialist

http://www.sjrh.co.uk

 

[upplepop]

That's helpful info SjrH, you get a star!

However, in what senarios would the Disaster Recovery Option need to be used? I would imagine that most situations where the OS became corrupted, a Registry & System State recovery would be sufficient. If there was a natural disaster (fire, earthquake, etc.) I probably wouldn't be able to recover on the same hardware, so DR would be ineffective. What were the circumstances in which you guys have used it?

 

[SjrH]

Upplepop,

In my experience, your right, often such a simple restore is sufficient to bring a system back online. However, I have performed many restore operations with, and without, the DR option.

On the whole, for local system, and online applications (SQL, Exchange, Notes etc....), DR is far faster than the conventinal route of rebuild, restore, and reinstate.

In most scenarios, the hardware on which a DR restore will be performed will inevitably, be different. This, within reason, isnt a problem. As i'm sure you know, the DR process allows for certain changes in the hardware on a system where the DR is in effect. These changes include components such as the scsi controllers, nic's, and basic IO devices. This should allow a well planned and implemented DR strategy to enable a working system to be restored within a minimal timeframe.

At the end of day, DR is another useful tool to ensure your data and systems are kept in, at very least, a near-line status. I have known clients to perform a DR restore to identical servers that are kept offsite, every day!

Overprotective? maybe. But only if you feel you have something to lose!

Rgds

SjrH - Data Security Storage & Availability Specialist

http://www.sjrh.co.uk