On 09/10/99 10:50:46 you wrote:
Hi all.
We have several F740's with about 400GB each, and we are reexcamining our backup strategy. I would prefer a centralized, network backup over a dedicated backup network.
I don't understand the difference between the two. I mean you can have both. I suppose by the former you mean doing it over your regular network instead of a new one, which is fine, so long as you have the bandwidth for it.
We've heard rumours that the only reasonable way to backup filers is using a locally attached DLT drive, and that we must buy an expensive ($700) NetApp SCSI controller card before we attempt to do a local backup.
AFAIK, the 740 should have come with a tape backup card that supports something like 2 tape drives. Just make sure you have the right kind of SCSI for it.
Does this make sense to you all? What is the conventional wisdom on the ideal way to backup multiple filers?
Personally, I prefer the local backup, depending on your backup scheme. You can back up everything at once without drive or bandwidth contention and the cost is not outrageous. But if you want to use network backup, I think that is fine too. However I would be wary of using NDMP, which historically has had problems. Then again, if you are using a centralized tape robotic and want all the features and stuff, NDMP may be your only choice.
Bruce