Im wanting to replace (Arcserve) currently in use for our ~20 windows servers. With something more up-to-date and better value.

Servers O/Ss Windows NT / 2000 / 2003

The software needs to save to LTO tapes and copy open files across the network.

check out backup assist. Im evaluating for our business at the minute to replace backup exec and the testing so far has been awesome!


Its also stupidly cheap...

Tapes are teh ghey.
As John Cleese will explain

Quote from: soopahflyTapes are teh ghey.
As John Cleese will explain

You Sir, are preaching to the converted! Sadly my job requires I perform the old and tired tricks of an ageing circus animal and jump through the business hoops arranged before me. Therefore my task is not to find the best-practice solution, rather the best price/least impact solution for the exisiting server suit. Since we already have LTOs a plenty and Arcserve - I am limited to software solutions, especially since we STILL use NT!

Quote from: Rivkidcheck out backup assist. Im evaluating for our business at the minute to replace backup exec and the testing so far has been awesome!


Its also stupidly cheap...

How does it compare to BEx?

Quote from: Pete

Quote from: Rivkidcheck out backup assist. Im evaluating for our business at the minute to replace backup exec and the testing so far has been awesome!


Its also stupidly cheap...

How does it compare to BEx?

Well Im slightly biased in that I HATE BEx but Ill try to be constructive....

Its very basic, and very simple. No creating virtual media or any of that kind of thing - it just uses shares for backup destinations. Its actually mainly aimed at 2008 servers where it uses VHD imaging combined with the ability to mount the VHD like you would an ISO for recovery. Set this to incremental every hour and the backups are bulletproof.  Pre Server 2008 it just acts as a front end for NT backup which isnt great, although its nice and slick doing so. Were upgrading all our servers anyway so this wasnt an issue for us anyway.

The software runs on each server seperately so no central server needed and each job is individual which is great because now 1 small issue doesnt cock up the entire companies backups like BEx used to. You can centrally monitor though so works out well. Its also crazy cheap which has gone down well with the board!

The imaging is what were interested in though and so far its been really useful. That said well keep using BEx for exchange as nothing can touch it for that TBF.

Quote from: dogbert

Quote from: soopahflyTapes are teh ghey.
As John Cleese will explain

You Sir, are preaching to the converted! Sadly my job requires I perform the old and tired tricks of an ageing circus animal and jump through the business hoops arranged before me. Therefore my task is not to find the best-practice solution, rather the best price/least impact solution for the exisiting server suit. Since we already have LTOs a plenty and Arcserve - I am limited to software solutions, especially since we STILL use NT!

If the tapes are old then they have to figure in the potential cost of a breakdown and the back-ups not working. What would the cost be if there was a fire and the backups destroyed along with the computers? A lot of companies would not be able to weather that easily. Many companies end up bankrupt in that situation.

Best to at least have daily backups on site and weekly ones off site in a secure location.

Quote from: SeriousIf the tapes are old then they have to figure in the potential cost of a breakdown and the back-ups not working. What would the cost be if there was a fire and the backups destroyed along with the computers? A lot of companies would not be able to weather that easily. Many companies end up bankrupt in that situation.

Best to at least have daily backups on site and weekly ones off site in a secure location.

Thats all in place. We use a company (Iron Mountain) who collect and store our tapes offsite in their vault.
Collections and returns are prescheduled, we simlpy give them a case of tapes.

Our current solution operates over 7 LTO drives : Using a total of 12 400/800GB tapes for a full backup, the tapes where only upgrade last year from 200/400 LTOs.

backup assist is a GUI for windows backup more or less.

For tapes:

Mon-Thu
Friday 1,2,3,4,5
Monthly x 12
Yearly x whatever

Backup to SAN to replicated SAN to tape.

Acronis trueimage will back up o tape.

Quote from: Markbackup assist is a GUI for windows backup more or less.

Yeah just a frontend but not for 2008 / Vista / Win 7. Completely different at that point and really good.