NT4 Server Backup

GoneShootin

Ive been charged with coming up with a backup solution for an NT4 File Server, which is used amazingly enough, to store ALL of the companys data (email & docs). Im only here part time and will be gone in the summer, so it needs to be something that can be used my non-tech people.

Any advantage of going down the DVD route, or are Tape Drives still the best option? This system only has 64Mb RAM, and has about 8 gigs of data to backup.

Ideally Id like to make a mirror image of the entire system so that it could be backed up onto a nother HD if worst came to worst. I have used the Maxtor One-Touch USB systems before and find them excellent, but they do not support NT4.

comments?

Capt'n Midnight

NTBackup in NT ONLY supports tape - all your data will fit on one tape so you don't need all the complications that third party sw gives you.

NT as you point out doesn't know what USB is, so it would be messy getting a one step restore since many of those apps depend on 2K / XP features - many TBU's come with SW - check the options it claims will work on NT4

If there are no applications running on the server then NTBackup running from a scheduled batch file should be file (you can use BLAT to email the log file when finished) - use this to backup the OS files.

Also run RDISK -S - to up date the files in the REPAIR folder.

You can also use NTBACKUP on a windows 2000 / XP machine to copy over files to another pc for faster restores - depends on how confidential the info is but you could map to \\server\C$ etc. - should get all data files

for faster recoveries you could use ghost or partimage to take a snapshot of the system drive so to recover you play back the image and then restore the tape

Another option would to setup 2K or Xp on the server as dual boot - and use it to backup the server -every so ofter - also makes recovery easier too.

GoneShootin

Thanks for that Midnight. I see they have BackExec on CD here (dusty box by the looks of things), but no media to use it to backup to. Ill see what Tape Drive options are out there - ghost style!

tom-thebox

Hey Gone

www.handybackup.net might be worth a look, its very low end however but might dig you out of a hole.

We offer an automated remote off site backup solution called filesecure check our site for info if you are interested.

GoneShootin

So following from this then anyone recommend places to purchase a Tape Drive? - besides ebay ofc....

JDxtra

Do companies not realise NT4 is now end of life?

Personally I'd question a commercial organisation which is storing all it's data on a server (probably 5+ years old) which is running a now unsupported operating system and has no backups!

...I know you are only there till the summer and it's not your problem really after that. Best of luck with it anyways, I wouldn't touch it personally...

Capt'n Midnight

jdempsey wrote:

Do companies not realise NT4 is now end of life?

Personally I'd question a commercial organisation which is storing all it's data on a server (probably 5+ years old) which is running a now unsupported operating system and has no backups!

...I know you are only there till the summer and it's not your problem really after that. Best of luck with it anyways, I wouldn't touch it personally...

you can setup NT4 without IE , you can remove TCP/IP too. So lots of holes in say 2003 for example just don't apply ! There is a lot to be said for the if it isn't broken don't fix it school. Also the cost of upgrading to a later version of windows if you don't want any of the new features can be more than the cost of the hardware depending on the CAL's

TBU's - you need to be able to get a spare one of the same make and model as tapes can be a pain to restore on different HW later on.

As for the HDD's I'd be worried if they weren't in a RAID array , software mirrored at the very least , and that's because moving parts wear out and lubricating oil evaporates..


Is SAMBA an option ? - Also if less than 10 users then you could share files from a workstation using 2k//xp it would have better backup/restore options - you could still use the nt server for authentication - if it dies the a local admin could take ownership of the files on the workstation

zAbbo

Get a full backup of this asap, either using drive imaging software (acronis etc.) but with nt4 you may be limited to what you can do.

Im sure you can pickup a dss2/3 tape drive cheap enough and tapes are readily available.

But id try and get a full base image of it asap, just in case, from there setup a son/father backup roster. Everything automated using ntbackup, double check it make sure it works, and just get the staff to change/rotate the tapes.

Get a log entry book to help them.

GoneShootin

Thats my plan alrite bazh - but tbh i was hired as a web developer, not their ****in IT Admin, so my worries are more concerned with my masters thesis But yes, I will look after it. Btw the file server is not connected to the Internet ,although PC's connecting to it are. These machines are well patched XP machines with current antivirus and spyware solutions. Theres only so much you can do two days a week !