+--- In a previous state of mind, Menachem (Manny) Kaiser <mannyk@msil.sps.mo t.com> wrote: | | What backup software do you use?

I'll answer for what we use and what another site uses.

I use Spectralogic Alexandria. A friend of mine uses Veritas (open backup?).

| What size is your file server and what size are the partitions?

I have 2 filers (f540, f630) each with about 120GB of data. My friend has 4 filers, with 100GB+ each. We both use single volumes.

| Is the tape directly connected to the file server | or do you backup via the network?

We both backupover the network. I have a fddi ring for nfs traffic. The backup box is attached to the ring. My friend has a switched 100Mbps etherernet network. The filers and backup server are attached to the switch.

I use a quantum dtl 4700 stacker. My friend uses an Adic dlt jukebox (4 drives, 40 tapes). I have my 4700 attached to a Sparc5, my friend uses an Ultra1 (2 scsi controllers, 1 per every 2 drives).

| If you backup via the network, how is your file server | interfaced to the network (dedicated backup network(s)? - 10/100 Mb/s?)

See above. I am cutting ove to the following:

- ultra1 with AIT tape library atached directly - gigabit ethernet for the filers and backup server - 100Mbps ethernet for all clients - fddi becomes alternate network transport (perhaps for database traffic).

| Do you use ndmp?

No. Although things have gotten better, directly attaching any device with a robotic arm to a filer is not going to end in a pleasant way. If the stacker hangs (as some do), you need to power-cycle the filer and the stacker. This means downtime. I would rather reboot a dedicated unix box that does backups (and will not interfere with anything).

| How many streams of backup do you use in parallel?

I can only do 1 (only 1 drive). My friend does 4... He also does something called vaulting. After a level0 is done, the software then duplicates the tapes and spits them out. Thus he sends the copies off site and can restore more effectively in case of an emergency (no delay in getting tapes back).

| What speed/rate do you backup (GB/Hr) per drive?

Slow. 3-4GB/hr. My goal is to increase than an order of magnitude. I would like to be able to restore 50GB in less than 1 hour. AIT looks like the quickest (and least expensive) way of accomplishing this.

| Do you utilize more than one tape drive for backups?

See above.

| Have you needed to restore a file system?

Never. We do restores to verify backup integrity. snapshots have been great time savers.

| If so, how long did it take you (GB/Hr) ?

I believe the tree we restored was at about 2GB/hr.

| Were you able to retore in parallel streams?

Not applicable.

| I will even be more than happy to post the | statistical results of those willing to participate.

I think everybody on the list would like to see what others are doing for backups.

There is a book coming out (O'Reilly press) on backups (software, hardware, strategies) which looks to be quite good. There are many backup software solutions, most of which are niche players. It will be nice to read more about what the rest of the world uses.

Hope this was useful.

Alexei