Backup media choices for FreeBSD servers

[Daniel Marsh]

On 4/24/07, L Goodwin <xrayv19 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I need to implement an automated backup facility on the FreeBSD file
> server I'm setting up for a client. It will have a software RAID 1
> Mirror/Duplex that is made available to Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista
> Home Premium users as a Samba share.  I also plan to create system recovery
> disks (disk images) for the server and each Windows client.
>
> This leaves backing up user data on some schedule. I've read "Backup
> Basics", but have some questions:
>
> Which is best backup media for a FreeBSD file server, based on known
> issues (or lack of) with each format? I need to decide between the following
> formats:
> a) CD-R (or CD-RW?)
> b) DVD-R (or CD-RW?)
> c) Streaming tape (which format/standard?)
>
> Which is the best method for backing up data files on a Samba sharer
> FreeBSD?
> Handbook says dump is the only way to go.
>
> Is it possible to have a Windows client perform the backup files on the
> Samba share to a local Re-Writable CD or DVD drive? If the answer is YES,
> what are the pros and cons of a UNIX-based (data-file only) backup vs. a
> Windows-based one?
> Please add to my list of pros and cons:
>
> Windows Backup:
> PRO: Backup can be restored to a Windows drive while server is being
> fixed?
> CON: Users might forget to replace backup disk after using optical drive.
>
> FreeBSD Backup:
> PRO: Out of sight from users (server is in a storeroom).
> CON: Cannot restore backup to a Windows disk while server is being fixed?
>
> These are some of my other considerations:
>
> 1) Cost is a primary concern. Budget does not allow for a multi-drive
> solution. Best if client does not handle backups (change discs/tapes), so a
> solution that permits storing several backups to same disc/tape preferred.
>
> 2) I only want to back up user data (not the OS). Current user data
> occupies less than 1GB of drive space, and is expected to grow at a modest
> rate.
>
> 3) I do NOT have a writable CD or DVD drive (but can buy one if not too
> spendy).
>
> 4) I have an external SCSI connection, but very little "shelf" space.
>
> 5) The server does not have room for another internal device (except if
> swapping out the existing ATAPI CD-ROM drive).
>
> 6) I have an Ecrix Corporation Model VXI-1A SCSI internal tape drive that
> I assume is obsolete (comments appreciated). Anyway, I don't have room for
> it.
>
> 7) Have not yet settled on a backup schedule. May be weekly or monthly or
> ad-hoc, but daily is probably out of the question. The RAID 1 array is
> expected to provide some degree of protection in leieu of daily backups.
> Plan to back up all documents each time, rather than implement a two-tiered
> backup process.
>
> Thanks!
>

Hey,

We had a similar issue trying to figure out what type of media to backup
to...
Tapes are great when they work. You need to store them properly, make sure
the tapes aren't old and worn either.
I'd only do once off, for archiving purposes, backups to DVD.

We tried to try a 16 tape LTO2 autoloader, but after three dead on arrivals
we scrapped that idea.

We use Bacula (it's open source and in the ports) to backup to hard drive
mirrors, I think it's bloody wonderful in comparison to some of the windows
based tape software thats out there.

I'd use bacula to either do a backup to hard drive and use "virtual media"
that gets rotated, or buy a new set of tapes and maybe a new tape drive and
have bacula manage that...