Backup Solution w/ Replication Between Two Sites
We're currently in the process of integrating a newly acquired company into our WAN/forest/etc. I've run into something I don't have enough knowledge on to quickly provide an answer. I'm hoping I can tap the collective knowledge of the Icrontic community.
The new company has two sites. We're trying to decide the best route to take to perform backups. To minimize user interference (not changing tapes, forgetting to take the tapes offsite), I proposed having a backup device at each site and replicating between the two. They only have about 120GB of data right now. This isn't expected to grow very quickly. Here's the options I see:
1. Configure a server at each site with enough storage to hold all data and replicate between the two servers. I'm at a loss for which software to use to perform this task though. As for server hardware, I'm looking at a couple HP DL160 G6 Entry servers with 1x SAS for OS and 3x SATA in RAID5 for data.
2. Configure a NAS at each site; preferably a model that supports replication out of the box. I have limited experience with SMB/Enterprise class NAS devices, so I'm not sure how to get the data to the NAS in the first place. Would we still need a separate server to perform the backup jobs. Do the NAS devices have native capabilities for this? Can you offer any suggestions for (probably entry level) NAS units? I've been looking at Netgear and Dell, but I'm a bit lost on exactly what I need.
Budget is probably around $8k for the whole project. If we go with servers, we have to stay on Windows. As for backup software, we typically stick with Symantec as well. Not to say we won't stray, but we have a pretty big contract with them. I'm open for other options, though.
Let me know if I'm missing any information.
Thanks!
The new company has two sites. We're trying to decide the best route to take to perform backups. To minimize user interference (not changing tapes, forgetting to take the tapes offsite), I proposed having a backup device at each site and replicating between the two. They only have about 120GB of data right now. This isn't expected to grow very quickly. Here's the options I see:
1. Configure a server at each site with enough storage to hold all data and replicate between the two servers. I'm at a loss for which software to use to perform this task though. As for server hardware, I'm looking at a couple HP DL160 G6 Entry servers with 1x SAS for OS and 3x SATA in RAID5 for data.
2. Configure a NAS at each site; preferably a model that supports replication out of the box. I have limited experience with SMB/Enterprise class NAS devices, so I'm not sure how to get the data to the NAS in the first place. Would we still need a separate server to perform the backup jobs. Do the NAS devices have native capabilities for this? Can you offer any suggestions for (probably entry level) NAS units? I've been looking at Netgear and Dell, but I'm a bit lost on exactly what I need.
Budget is probably around $8k for the whole project. If we go with servers, we have to stay on Windows. As for backup software, we typically stick with Symantec as well. Not to say we won't stray, but we have a pretty big contract with them. I'm open for other options, though.
Let me know if I'm missing any information.
Thanks!
0
Comments
In a simple scenario if all you are backing up is simple file data not sql databases or exchange servers or system files or bare metal etc...
Then you could easily use rsync to backup the data between each servers. But you'll have to make sure you are scheduling enough time to back it up. The initial data dump should be done manually because 120gb of data over the pipe will take days most likely.
As a slightly upgraded alternate. Put a simple nas on each site. Backup the data from the server to the local NAS (much quicker for recovery) then again sync the NAS's up between each other over night.
This is about as cheap and easy as you can get but only really works for backing up file data not live data (ie can't handle anything with a file lock).
Beyond that you'll have to look at specific backup software suite like Symantec or Acronis. Most consumer level NAS's also have backup software with them but I've yet to see any that is good and even fewer that will work with server software.
Really the biggest stumbling block in all of it is your pipe between the two locations. That could kill the deal entirely if you can't realistically move the data back and forth.
I did do a little more reading after posting, and it looks like even if I have a NAS, I'll probably need some sort of server to run some sort of backup application. I'm going to propose either re-purposing some of their current servers as backup servers or purchasing inexpensive new ones.
I found that bang-for-your-buck seems to go to Netgear's ReadyNAS boxes. The 2100 2TB model looks like it would fit perfectly for what I want to do. It supports replication between ReadyNAS devices out of the box, and even offers ReadyNAS vault, a cloud-based backup/storage option.
I figure I'll install Symantec Backup Exec on the Windows servers and the RALUS agent on the ReadyNAS box. Perform backups as normal, and then let the boxes perform the replication.
I definitely agree that the initial sync will take a while over the WAN link (it will be a 3 Mbps pipe between the two sites), so I'm going to have to work out the logistics there. Especially if full backups will be performed weekly. Maybe a continuous data protection option would be viable.
Thanks for your suggestions, guys! If you have anymore to add, I'm all ears!
I don't know how far your locals are apart but the way I've done a similar setup before is do a hardbackup onto a usb drive and physically take it to the other to start the base level backup. Then replication after the fact.
That's another nice thing about the ReadyNAS is that it has USB connectivity to allow you to push data to an external drive.