[NTLUG:Discuss] Backup recommendations

[Johnie Stafford]

>>> On Tue, 7 May 2002 22:01:48 -0500, Kelledin <kelledin at users.sourceforge.net> said:

 >> Should I wait to select a tape device until I decide which backup
 >> package I want to go with?  I'm thinking of going with an internal tape
 >> drive on this.  Any thoughts on the internal vs external options?

 k> Probably not too much need to wait.  Tape devices in Linux pretty much all 
 k> get treated equally (with a few exceptions like QIC-02 and ftape).  If you 
 k> get a generic SCSI DAT drive (assuming that's all the capacity you need), 
 k> you're golden.

 k> As for internal vs external, I would first try managing with a cheaper 
 k> internal drive.  You can always make it external later with a $90 enclosure.

 >> Which PCI SCSI card would be the best choice?  I intend to hang some
 >> hard drives off this card in the future as well.  Probably external
 >> drives to eliminate the cooling problems associated with internals.

 k> I'd recommend the Adaptec 29160 (*not* the 29160N; the 29160N only has a 
 k> 50-pin external interface).

 >> Which package have people found easiest to deal with for single station
 >> backups of networked machines?

 k> I myself am still tarring straight to DAT tape. ;)  I've heard good things 
 k> about Amanda though.


OK, I guess I missed the beginning of this thread, so I might not
really understand the original question, so this is a FWIW reply. 

Here is what I learned when choosing a backup solution.

We were trying to backup lots of files from windows users and large
data files from our Solaris environment. We went out and found the
best tape technology (IMHO) for what we were doing. That choice was
Sony AIT and a Qualstar (I think?) silo. Then we went looking for
software. NOBODY was supporting AIT at the time. Since it was 8mm form
factor tape, everybody wanted to treat it like it was 8mm. The problem
was AIT and 8mm weren't in the same class speed or capacity-wise. 
Therefore most 8mm solutions were inadequate.

So I would warn anybody that is considering any backup solution, to at
least choose the software at the same time you choose the hardware to
make sure that your entire setup will not just function, but function
efficiently. 

        Johnie