Software needed for backup of Server and NAS to tape

[onetech4all]

I am currently looking for a software solution that will allow me to backup a server and NAS unit to tape, for the customer to take the tape(s) offsite.
I was wondering if StorageCraft could handle that. Any other software solutions you guys know of or recommend that will do the job?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

StorageCraft goes directly to a drive...via drive letter, or UNC path. It is typically used to backup to removable media or a folder share like on a NAS. And then the NAS would be backed up offsite through various means.

Why not use external USB drives like WD Passport drives...if your client wants to do a "sneaker net shuffle" of offsite devices? I wouldn't spend a dime on a tape drive.

 

[TazUk]

I would use StorageCraft ShadowProtect with an RDX drive.

 

[pceinc]

If you must use tape I would use Arcserve from CA. Otherwise, do what others have recommended and switch to USB drives and Shadowprotect. The benefits over tape are numerous. Restore to VM, mount images for file level restore, faster, longer media life, I could go on...

Now that I think of it, I do have a Seagate Dat72 auto loader external sitting on the shelf if you need a drive. Works great and I will even throw in a SCSI card

 

[onetech4all]

Re:

I looked at StorageCraft and it will not do the job. The price for StorageCraft is very expensive for the features that it has. I can do what it does with a cheaper tool. I am sure StorageCraft does the job in some cases, but I was not impressed with it. It seemed like a basic backup tool.
I think the Veritas Backup Exec will backup servers and NASes to tape(s).
I will check the Arcserve and see if I can use it.
Thanks guys!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

StorageCraft is cheaper than Veritas...so if you're complaining StorageCraft is expensive (~995 bucks street), I'm wondering why you'd look at SymantSuck Bloatup Exec (~1,162.99 bucks street)..it's more expensive. ArcServer is about 100 dollars more than BE..so it's even more expensive.

Symantsuck Bloatup Exec..don't forget to factor in the cost of massive amounts of your time trying to support it, patch it, fix it, and forbid the day you have to restore from it.

 

[TazUk]

I looked at StorageCraft and it will not do the job......I think the Veritas Backup Exec will backup servers and NASes to tape(s).

Your right in that Shadow Protect wont backup to tape but the RDX drive is disk based and will work. RDX cartridges appear and act like a tape in that you can eject them without needing to anything on the PC/Server, unlike a normal USB hard drive. Plus they have the performance benefits of a hard drive.

ShadowProtect makes image backups so restoring a whole PC/Server is as easy as booting off a CD and pointing it at the image. The image can be converted to a VHD or VMDK to boot the machine in a virtual environment. Of course you can restore individual files as well.

It may look like a simple program but it's way more powerful than things like Backup Exec.

 

[onetech4all]

@Tazuk - they are currently using this Dell RD1000 tape drive (http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/powervault-rd1000/pd).
Of course, I know better than to use a normal USB external hard drive to backup the company's assets to. Thanks for making sure

@Stonecat - man I hope StorageCraft is paying you a fee for putting their software on a pedestal . Nonetheless, the server is already being backed up, so I am not worried about that. Now, I need to find a way to backup the NAS (maybe through a folder (s)) like you suggested, if that can be done, to tape.

Thanks guys.

 

[onetech4all]

Re:

Forgot to mention, I will either use the software they are currently using which is the Barracudaware Yosemite backup Software or go with the StorageCraft.
I got a quote from Veritas, and because of the NDMP option the price would surge to $2,500. The annual renewal fee would be around $800.

 

[onetech4all]

Re:

@Stonecat - about Backup Exec - I manage the Backup Exec at work and it is sometimes a pain, I admit it, but when it works, it works. I have never had an issue restoring from tape and keeping my users happy. It really depends on the situation and the IT person that has to handle it. I will use whatever software, as long as it does the job.

 

[onetech4all]

Re:

Alright, so as a feedback to this thread I started, I am currently able to backup the QNAP NAS, the client is using by using the Microsoft iSCSI software from the server and "carved" about 2 TB of hard space on the NAS. The server now sees the QNAP as a local hard drive, which allows the Yosemite Backup Software to backup the QNAP. Since the NAS has dual NICs built-in, the next time I am in their office, I will configure the 2nd port also, to work with the software and setup it up with the round-robin option.
So, I ended up not having to purchase the Backup Exec or StorageCraft, which saved the client at least 1k in the short run and a lot more in the long run and I now might have swayed the customer to go with my maintenance plan for at least 10 computers and 1 server+QNAP.

Thanks anyone for your sound advice. Your expertise helped in the decision-making process of this project.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yosemite backup...wow, hadn't seen that software in ages. HP used to give a CD of that with their DAT drives back in the NT 4 days...and after a while they renamed it "Stac" or something like that.

Doing a little Google-Fu....I see Barracuda seemed to buy Yosemite up a while ago, looks like they integrated that into their new BDR product.....trying to jump into the business continuity market.

 

[onetech4all]

Re:

It has been a solid application for the customer and it did does not cost them too much. I called Yosemite tech support in the past, and I was happy with the service they provided.
After looking at similarities/differences, and managed to get the iSCSI to work, moved about 300 GB of data to the newly carved LUN, the Yosemite application was all that they would ever need. I should say that iSCSI saved the day, did not cost the customer too much money, and I continued to made the customer happy for another project.
In addition, I noticed that QNAP has a free backup utility for their NAS devices, which I really considered using for a while, but iSCSI saved the day.