Data Backup and Migration
Backup is the activity of copying files or databases so that they will be preserved in case of equipment failure or other catastrophe and Migration Services help you to control costs, improve operational excellence, and mitigate risk during device, network, and software refreshes. With a systematic, holistic, efficient approach to upgrading the network infrastructure.
Local Backup
These are some options, with the least expensive approach listed first.
Backing up critical files to diskettes. This approach is commonly used by people who keep their checkbooks and personal finance data on the computer. Programs like Quicken and Managing Your Money always remind users when they quit the program to backup their data. If your hard disk crashes, you’ll be able to reconstruct your checkbook balances. if you have other files (for example, chapters of a book you’re working on), you’ll want to backup every single day’s work.
Copying it to a diskette is quick and economical. Backing up to a Zip drive, Jaz, Syquest, or similar hard disks. Once a week or so, you should back up your files (at least your own data files and perhaps the entire contents of your hard drive) to an alternative storage device, such as a Zip drive. These devices hold at least one million bytes on a special hard disk. Backing up usually takes a while (about 45 minutes for the contents of a 500 megabyte hard disk).
There are also easily removable drives that you can back up to, especially if you have other reasons to use these (for example, for large graphic images that you store offline).
Internet Backup
You can also consider sending your files to another site for safekeeping. In case your hard disk crashes, you’ll be able to download them from the safe keeping site. These are some products and services that are offered:
Atrieva provides the user with a client program that allows the user to send files being backed up to an Atrieva-designated backup site. One monthly charge entitles you to back up up to 25 megabytes.
BackupNet sells both a server and a client and is aimed at helping you set up your own intranet.
QuickBackup is a client program from McAfee Associates. They have a modest charge for the client and a relatively low monthly charge for storing 30 MB. QuickBackup lets you save by folder or file types.
Full Backup
Full backup is a method of backup where all the files and folders selected for the backup will be backed up. It is commonly used as an initial or first backup followed with subsequent incremental or differential backups. After several incremental or differential backups, it is common to start over with a fresh full backup again.
Some also like to do full backups for all backup runs typically for smaller folders or projects that do not occupy too much storage space.
You setup a full backup job or task to be done every night from Monday to Friday. Assume you do your initial backup on Monday, this first backup will contain your entire list of files and folders in your backup job. On Tuesday, at the next backup run, the entire list of files and folders will be copied again. On Wednesday, the entire list of files and folders will be copied again and the cycle continues like this. At each backup run, all files designated in the backup job will be backed up again. This includes files and folders that have not changed.
- Restores are fast and easy to manage as the entire list of files and folders are in one backup set.
- Easy to maintain and restore different versions.
- Backups can take very long as each file is backed up again every time the full backup is run.
- Consumes the most storage space compared to incremental and differential backups. The exact same files are be stored repeatedly resulting in inefficient use of storage.
Mirror Backup
Mirror backups are as the name suggests a mirror of the source being backed up. With mirror backups, when a file in the source is deleted, that file is eventually also deleted in the mirror backup. Because of this, mirror backups should be used with caution as a file that is deleted by accident, sabotage or through a virus may also cause that same file in mirror to be deleted as well. Some do not consider a mirror to be a backup.
Many online backup services offer a mirror backup with a 30 day delete. This means that when you delete a file on your source, that file is kept on the storage server for at least 30 days before it is eventually deleted. This helps strike a balance offering a level of safety while not allowing the backups to keep growing since online storage can be relatively expensive.
Many backup software utilities do provide support for mirror backups.
- The backup is clean and does not contain old and obsolete files
- There is a chance that files in the source deleted accidentally, by sabotage or through a virus may also be deleted from the backup mirror.
Remote Backup
Remote backups are a form of offsite backup with a difference being that you can access, restore or administer the backups while located at your source location or other physical location. The term “remote” refers to the ability to control or administer the backups from another location. You do not need to be physically present at the backup storage facility to access the backups.
Putting your backup hard drive at your bank safe deposit box would not be considered a remote backup. You cannot administer or access it without making a trip to the bank. The term “remote backup” is often used loosely and interchangeably with “online backup” and “cloud backup”.
- Subscription backup services provided by commercial data centers.
- Backup to an offsite FTP Server.
- Much better protection from natural disasters than local backups.
- Easier administration as it does not need a physical trip to the offsite backup location.
- More expensive then local backups
- Can take longer to backup and restore than local backups
Cloud Backup
Cloud backup is a term often used loosely and interchangeably with Online Backup and Remote Backup. This is a type of backup where data is backed up to a storage server or facility connected to the source via the Internet. With the proper login credentials, that backup can then be accessed securely from any other computer with an Internet connection. The term “cloud” refers to the backup storage facility being accessible from the Internet.
- Subscription backup services provided by commercial data centers.
- Backup to an offsite FTP Server over the Internet
- Since this is an offsite backup, it offers protection from fire, floods, earth quakes and other natural disasters.
- Able to easily connect and access the backup with just an Internet connection.
- Data is replicated across several storage devices and usually serviced by multiple internet connections so the system is not at the mercy of a single point of failure.
- When the service is provided by a good commercial data center, service is managed and protection is un-paralleled.
- More expensive then local backups
- Can take longer to backup and restore
