Server backup - LTO tape or external USB hard disks

[tricky]

We are looking at options at server backup. There is around 1TB or so of data.

We are comparing LTO tape drives (which we have been using for a few years, but are looking at replacing/upgrading) or simple, external 2TB USB drives that we can schedule to run full backups, say, every Monday, and the rest of the week can backup changed data only.

An LTO solution will cost in the region of £3-4000 installed.

External hard disks cost around £100-150 each, and we would probably have 2 of these in rotation.

I am trying hard to find justification for the LTO setup costing over 10x more than an external USB solution. Obviously, LTO drives are the industry standard, and quite robust, but as long as a good procedure and simple backup software (Allway Sync for instance) is used, the external USB drive option seems appealing. If money were no object, the LTO would no doubt win hands down, but money IS the argument these days!

Care to share your thoughts?

[glorybound]

have you thought about cloud storage? I use Carbonite,

We are looking at options at server backup. There is around 1TB or so of data.

We are comparing LTO tape drives (which we have been using for a few years, but are looking at replacing/upgrading) or simple, external 2TB USB drives that we can schedule to run full backups, say, every Monday, and the rest of the week can backup changed data only.

An LTO solution will cost in the region of £3-4000 installed.

External hard disks cost around £100-150 each, and we would probably have 2 of these in rotation.

I am trying hard to find justification for the LTO setup costing over 10x more than an external USB solution. Obviously, LTO drives are the industry standard, and quite robust, but as long as a good procedure and simple backup software (Allway Sync for instance) is used, the external USB drive option seems appealing. If money were no object, the LTO would no doubt win hands down, but money IS the argument these days!

Care to share your thoughts?

[flino2004]

why don't use RAID instead, So you have mirrror copies in realtime, if the disk fails you don't lose any information and one of the raids could take the position of the fail drive in seconds.

Fernando

[tricky]

why don't use RAID instead, So you have mirrror copies in realtime, if the disk fails you don't lose any information and one of the raids could take the position of the fail drive in seconds.

Fernando

Our server runs a multiple RAID setup (mirrored for the OS and multiple RAID 5 for data). The backup solution needs to work for archived projects (so that we can offload them from the server) and it needs to allow for off-site backups in the event of fire/theft etc. A realtime mirror solution is only a part solution.

[tricky]

have you thought about cloud storage? I use Carbonite,

Cloud storage sounds great, but the amount of data that would need backing up daily is far far far greater than data connections can cope with. For example, a full backup might be 600GB, and daily backups (so changed/new data) can easily reach 20-40GB on a normal day.

[super gnu]

i use a drive caddy like this:



http://www.cclonline.com/product/275...-Dock/HDD9055/


and buy cheap bare-bones 1tb drives.

i have raid_0 for my work drive, but when it gets full, or a job is critical, i also copy to the caddy. when its full, it goes in a cupboard in a different part of the flat and i plug a new £40 drive (although they are costy atm, due to supply issues)

.. if you want to be even more sure, keep em at a mates house. youre protected from fire and theft then too.


cloud storage is another good option, but i think id prefer to have a hard copy too, if i used it...

[ior=0]

Something like a QNAP NAS that can either remote cloud backup or remote backup to another NAS that is off-site.

Fernando - RAID is not a backup, only redundancy... if your server gets stolen or hit by an asteroid, the RAID isn't going to save you. Still good to have in the first place though

[Morne]

How about another NAS? Maybe Seagate's BlackArmor 440?

Maybe get 2 of them, and alternate between backups always keeping 1 off site?