Hi

When installing Backup Exec/Arcserv in the field we always deslect the Verify
option as it takes too long.

Personnaly I would never use the Incremental or Differential system, it looks
ok on paper but in practice it requires more administration. Also restoring
Exchange is difficult enough even with a Full backup!

I think possible options are;
Add another DLT 20/40 GB DLT Drive to create drive pool so you don't have
to change the tape, or run another copy of Backupexec and another DLT off
the other server.

Look at archiving / housekeeping old mail and files.

Hope this helps.

Jason.


"Andy Hickman" wrote:
>
>On all of our servers we're doing FULL backups every weeknight - this makes
>restoring straightforward. We are using a Compaq external 20/40 GB DLT
Drive
>for each server.
>
>Issue 1 - File and Print Server. Over the last 2 years I've added 9 GB
to
>our RAID array twice -- we now have 40 GB total (but less than 9 GB free).
> And now it's taking 2 DLT media cartridges to complete each nightly backup.
>
>Issue 2 - Communication Server. This is our Exchange and
>Intranet server with a 20 GB RAID array. Exchange databases now are about
>6.8 GB and the DocuShare Intranet is about 1.2 GB. It now takes over 12
>hours to complete a backup (& verify) for this server.
>
>So...my 2 questions:
>
>1. Should we change to incremental backups on our Files server so that
a
>second cartridge is needed only once per week?
>
>2. How important is it to do a VERIFY for each server -- that would cut
>out some time?
>
>Or are there better options?
>
>Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

We also have Compaq 4000's and RAID 5 arrays, one of which is an Exchange
Server. I've never run a verify on a DLT since I started using them 12 years
ago under VMS. My understanding is that these devices are quite smart and do
their own CRC checking. At least, that's what the engineers told me, all
those years ago. I've never had a problem with a restore. Perhaps someone
with technical knowledge about DLT's could comment?

We do the same - full backups every night - great for recovery and restore.
Pick up a tape - it's got all Tuesday's, or Wednesday's data - can't beat
it. We also overflowed and went to DIFFERENTIAL, not INCREMENTAL. The
difference? DIFFERENTIAL is since the LAST FULL backup. Tonight's tape
contains today's changes and yesterday's (unless they've been overwritten by
today's). It slowly gets bigger as the week progresses, but there's only one
extra tape for a full recovery. Use the LAST FULL and the LAST DIFFERENTIAL.
Still use a different tape each night and you've still got different tapes
for Tuesday's, and Wednesday's etc. INCREMENTAL is since the LAST BACKUP of
ANY kind. To do a full recovery, you need the LAST FULL and ALL the
INCREMENTAL's and you'd better load them in the right order. Not what you
want when your system's crashed and everyone's on your back to get it up as
soon as possible.

We eventually went to 90 GB's, 3 tapes (we get good compression) and 10
hours, so we're checking out Ultrium devices. We're getting 60GB/Hr from
them.

Ken McNulty


Andy Hickman wrote in message
news:3ad32236$1@hronntp01....
>
> On all of our servers we're doing FULL backups every weeknight - this
makes
> restoring straightforward. We are using a Compaq external 20/40 GB DLT
Drive
> for each server.
>
> Issue 1 - File and Print Server. Over the last 2 years I've added 9 GB to
> our RAID array twice -- we now have 40 GB total (but less than 9 GB free).
> And now it's taking 2 DLT media cartridges to complete each nightly
backup.
>
> Issue 2 - Communication Server. This is our Exchange and
> Intranet server with a 20 GB RAID array. Exchange databases now are about
> 6.8 GB and the DocuShare Intranet is about 1.2 GB. It now takes over 12
> hours to complete a backup (& verify) for this server.
>
> So...my 2 questions:
>
> 1. Should we change to incremental backups on our Files server so that a
> second cartridge is needed only once per week?
>
> 2. How important is it to do a VERIFY for each server -- that would cut
> out some time?
>
> Or are there better options?
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts!