On Apr 12, 2:02 am, "GlowingBlueMist" <nob...@invalid.com> wrote:
> <gcaldwel...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1176273436.844777.10150@l77g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>
> >I have been dabbling in the offsite tape storage game for a few
> > months...and I have been increasingly interested in the online data
> > backup scenario.
>
> > One of the questions i would like to throw at this forum is......Why
> > are Web hosters NOT really promoting any data hosting solutions AS
> > there is some technical viability in this?
>
> The first thing that comes to mind is that the web companies would have to
> hire and maintain a staff of qualified technicians who know more than just
> how to connect a PC to the internet.
>
> With the broad range of PC/Server combinations, operating systems on the
> market there can be no real ready to sell cookie cutter solution. Every
> solution for more than the smallest company would require quite a bit of
> advanced research and support on a continuing basis in order to maintain a
> viable remote backup system.
>
> > If a company does manage to organize an online backup procedure -
> > what is the upload cost AND what suitable programs are out there
> > that
> > can really compress the data in such a way as to allow a more
> > affordable transfer of data???
>
> Again, the programs and hardware needed to support a remote backup system
> are totally dependent on what the customer is using for it's primary system.
>
> > AND
>
> > What do you do about getting a snapshot of your server in the first
> > place so that you can do a server rebuild in the even of a
> > disaster....?....AND where do you keep a copy of this snapshot....On
> > a
> > USB on the IT managers keychain???
>
> > Any thoughts...cheers
>
> > Glenn
>
> I used to work in an IT department for a company that provided network
> support for other companies. Out data center and staff had to be available
> on a 7/24 basis. To provide that kind support on a contracted basis we
> built and maintained a backup operations center in another city that was
> ready to staff and activate in around 8 hours or less. There was a backup
> power system with a onsite 30 day fuel supply the generator. Enough food
> and other supplies to keep the facility operating for a couple of weeks were
> stored there as well. The food supply was kept updated (expiration dates
> were checked). Food close to it's expiration date was donated to a charity
> and replaced. A dedicated T1 connection between the host site and the
> recovery site for transferring server data and other remote testing of the
> restoral site. We also had Telco connections to multiple phone/data
> carriers for redundancy with pre-scripted and tested rerouting of phone
> numbers by the Telco's from our primary site to the backup. Most companies
> would find this to be major overkill but I have seen other backup sites that
> were much larger than ours and a few stored in semi trailers, complete with
> Generators, PC's equipped for wireless and wired network, wireless routers,
> and boxes of Ethernet cable and switches for a total mobile restoral
> service.
>
> The first 1 day test activation of our dedicated restoral site identified we
> had coffee, equipment to make coffee, but no coffee cups... and I don't want
> to think about a vital paper product that was found to be missing... ;)
> Subsequent testing ironed out the rest of the bugs, especially after the
> boss authorized moving all operations to the backup facility for a complete
> week, later done annually. We had many visitors during our annual
> activation, some of them by other company managers wanting to build a site
> similar to ours.
>
> While working for a smaller outfit (prior to network solutions available
> now) we were able to get by with making encrypted backups of the servers to
> tape. These tapes were then sent to a secure warehouse by courier every
> morning. The same currier would return a set of old tapes that were more
> than 30 days old which would be erased and used at a later time. A second
> set of encrypted tapes were sent home with an employee who was paid to store
> them in a large gun locker, provided by the company.
>
> Do not plan on keeping your only copies of the server information in the
> same building, or even the same business park. A tornado or major fire
> could wipe out your site along with the backup copies. It all depends on
> how long a company can get by with out the use of the servers. As for the
> servers themselves, I won't tell you how many companies have stored backup
> copies of their data off site only to find out that it could take weeks, if
> ever, to locate, purchase, and activate server hardware capable of loading
> and using backed up data. Having a software backup it pretty much useless
> unless you invest in the hardware needed to actually load and run the backup
> data in advance of something like a computer room fire or major roof leak.
>
> For smaller companies using one of the existing network backup services
> might be a viable idea. You still need to identify and locate, purchase, or
> lease the hardware needed to use the stored data should your original
> hardware become unusable. Make sure it is not stored in the same facility
> as the existing servers, and it is tested at lease once with live data.
> Remotely stored data is useless unless you have something able to read it.
> Backup software if great as long as someone remembers to install the same
> version on the backup server. Finding out the wrong memory was installed or
> a wrong server array setup is not something you want to run into when your
> boss is looking over your shoulder asking when YOU can get the company can
> get back in business.
>
> Oh well, returning to the background clutter...

MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope the company made money..

I still think that yes...test run the System on a server that is set
up for your backup data...Keep the lot off site with a provider that
can securely store the stuff...make sure you can rebuild in a hurry
and can rig it up to be have users.

I hope coffe wasn't just instant

Thanks for the feedback