Tips

Tips

• Big-time data protection for small potatoes

  Need storage that won't quit, on a barely-there budget? Look close to home.  Continue Reading

• Preparing for the worst: Effective DR in five steps

  The following steps can help your organization prepare for recovering from a disaster.  Continue Reading

• The ABCs of CDP

  CDP is a relatively new genre of backup technology, and like all new technologies, it still fosters questions about its merits and pitfalls.  Continue Reading

• Product Roundup: Backup software

  In this product roundup, we discuss how backup software is used, how it is evolving and what the competitive landscape looks like.  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of disk-to-disk backup

  Some of the characteristics of disk-to-disk can make it a poor choice for your only form of backup.  Continue Reading

• How to architect tiered backup with D2D2T

  Find out how e-mail ASP Silverpop used disk-to-disk-to-tape for reliable data protection.  Continue Reading

• Three ways to secure backups

  There are three major areas you need to be concerned with when designing a secure backup system.  Continue Reading

• Cheap SATA spurs D2D

  New disk-to-disk (D2D) backup appliances complement -- and in some cases replace -- traditional tape backup.  Continue Reading

• Tape prices are going up: What will it mean to you?

  Maxell Corp. has recently announced that it will be increasing its prices, and most other tape vendors are doing the same.  Continue Reading

• Straight talk about D2D2T

  To understand the benefits and the drawbacks of D2D2T, you need to first understand how an application will use the topology.  Continue Reading

• Seven ways to minimize tape failure

  Just like any technology, tape drives, backup tapes and tape backup software can fail. But there are ways to minimize the chances of failure.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for laptop backup

  Companies rarely plan for laptop backup beyond the usual pleas to employees to back up their data to the corporate servers.  Continue Reading

• How to maximize your mirrored tape controller

  Mirrored tape controllers can do a whole lot more than just make mirrored copies of tapes during the backup process.  Continue Reading

• Intro to backup audits

  This tip outlines the purpose and scope of backup audits, and what you can expect to get for your money.  Continue Reading

• Backup budgets have it MAID with cheap disk

  Do you need to take a MAID approach to backup? Massive Array of Idle Disks is a cheap alternative to tape, but there is a downside in terms of retrieval time.  Continue Reading

• How long does tape last, really?

  Fear of tape degradation has led many storage professionals to rewrite their critical tapes every year to keep data fresh.  Continue Reading

• Be wary of Shadow Copy limitations

  If you're dealing with shared folders, Shadow Copy can make your life easier. But it's not a complete backup solution.  Continue Reading

• The dirt on WORM tape

  In light of new compliance concerns, tape-based WORM can be an inexpensive alternative optical WORMs. This tip has more on this tape option.  Continue Reading

• FAQ: Serverless backup

  Our site experts define serverless backup, explain the difference between LAN-free backups and serverless backups, and tell how to design a server-free backup architecture.  Continue Reading

• Domino backups getting easier but still challenging

  Backing up Lotus Domino is a lot easier with the versions R5 and R6. However, there are still a number of challenges to making effective backups of Domino servers, listed here.  Continue Reading

• Think small to avert big disasters

  Jon Toigo says there are several approaches to dealing with the prospect of the loss of a single critical file, and outlines three of them here.  Continue Reading

• All-in-one backup suite right for you?

  With the promise of "LAN-free" backups, improved restore times and an affordable price tag, a backup bundle might just be the way for you to go.  Continue Reading

• Is replication worth it?

  Data replication is a good way of solving backup problems and quick restores. However without some careful forethought, replication can actually cause more problems than it solves.  Continue Reading

• Is switching from NetBackup to BrightStor worth it?

  If you want to switch your backup software to cut costs, Pierre Dorion suggests you consider new costs such as training for new skills since this can overshadow any savings.  Continue Reading

• 30 AS/400 backup tips in 30 minutes

  SearchStorage.com's sister site Search400.com posted these 30 AS/400 backup tips that should take you about 30 minutes to digest.  Continue Reading

• Unlock the benefits of e-mail archiving

  This tip details the many benefits of adding an e-mail archive application to your data center. Some of the instant pluses: faster backups and recovery.  Continue Reading

• Bargain hunting for NetBackup

  In this interview, GlassHouse Technologies storage consultant Jeff Harbert offers some tips on how to swing a better price for your NetBackup software.  Continue Reading

• Cut costs with tiered backups

  For some companies, the time to restore a database is extremely critical. This tip shows how the team at online yellow pages company YP.Net gets their 'down' database back up ASAP.  Continue Reading

• Distance benchmarks for data replication

  In this tip, Brendan Reilly outlines the benefits of using asynchronous data replication over traditional synchronous solutions.  Continue Reading

• Maximizing backup performance with SQL Server 2000

  In this tip, author Rick Cook shares with you some Microsoft tricks of the trade designed to help you maximize performance and minimize your backup times.  Continue Reading

• Backup software: What to consider when upgrading

  If you're planning to upgrade your backup software, this tip outlines the things you should consider before upgrading, including how well defined your overall backup strategy is.  Continue Reading

• Don't fight your DBA

  Jon Toigo feels DBAs get a bad rap and the "root of the problem" with backing up large-scale databases has alot to do with poor communication between DBAs & data protection folks.  Continue Reading

• The problems backing up big databases

  This tip discusses some issues of database backup and offers insight into what one company plans to do about it through reference data segregation and a pre-staging methodology.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting remote backups for Microsoft Exchange Server

  Rick Cook shows us how to avoid certain problems when backing up Windows Exchange 2000 when remotely using the Ntbackup utility in Windows 2000.  Continue Reading

• Reliably reading bar code labels on tapes

  There are a variety of steps you can take to avoid frustration and prevent a tape library from failing to read a bar code label. Those steps are outlined in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Resource guide to disk-based backup

  Resource guide to disk-based backup  Continue Reading

• Speed up slow IDE backup

  Why it's slow, and what to do.  Continue Reading

• Understand your scheduled backups

  What you can do with them, and what not.  Continue Reading

• What do tape and the VW Beetle have in common?

  What do tape and the VW Beetle have in common? Well, each has seen the last of a dying breed roll off their product charts. But, that doesn't mean tape -- or the Beetle -- is dead.  Continue Reading

• How to ship your tapes off-site

  How to ship your tapes off-site  Continue Reading

• Backup basics: Three backup plans -- three tape backup

  Backup basics: Three backup plans -- three tape backup  Continue Reading

• Secure remote backups

  Considerations to secure your data.  Continue Reading

• SD2003: Creating RFPs for Tape Libraries

  What are the key elements to developing effective requests for proposal for tape-related technologies? Dianne McAdam, senior analyst and partner of Data Mobility Group explains.  Continue Reading

• SD2003: Integrating disk into backup for faster restores

  Tape has its challenges, but in his Storage Decisions session on disk versus tape in backup, Curtis Preston maintained that archiving your data to tape is still a great solution.  Continue Reading

• How to deal with water-damaged tapes

  A flood, fire, or simply a broken pipe can cause serious water damage to your tapes -- and possibly your data. Find out what to do with water-damaged tapes.  Continue Reading

• Fireproof your files

  Pick the right safe for backup tape storage.  Continue Reading

• Find those missing LTO drives

  Where did they go?  Continue Reading

• Upgrading backup media? Avoid conversion pitfalls

  This tip offers considerations for changing tape formats or backup media, and how best to avoid problems when converting your data to new formats.  Continue Reading

• Use snapshot for open files

  How to work around files that are open when you backup.  Continue Reading

• Be careful with tape labels

  Bar code labels on tape cartridges can cause more trouble than you may think. Get the do's and don'ts of using bar code labels in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Backing up remote offices without tape

  Bits & Bytes: Protecting remote office data is becoming a major challenge for storage managers. Here are a few tips on how to facilitate the process.  Continue Reading

• Choose the right tape library

  Some considerations for choosing the right tape library.  Continue Reading

• Unique archival system helps lab weather data storm

  NCAR archives the environment -- one petabyte at a time.  Continue Reading

• No one-size-fits-all data protection solution

  Bits & Bytes: When considering data protection alternatives, don't count on finding a one-size-fits-all solution.  Continue Reading

• Do you want server-free or LAN-free backup?

  Characteristics, pros and cons.  Continue Reading

• Think before you invest in disk-to-disk backup

  Bites & Bytes: Jon Toigo explores moving from tape to disk-to-disk. Is the "old jalopy" better than the "shiny new porsche"? Find out what Jon Toigo thinks.  Continue Reading

• Availability, part 8: Avoid data corruption with hard mounts in NFS

  Soft mounts in NFS.  Continue Reading

• Happy 'Backup' New Year 2003

  Jon Toigo describes five good reasons why 2003 should be a year to focus on getting your backups in order.  Continue Reading

• Decide if you need speed, or sophistication

  Raw device, or streaming backups, leave a bit to be desired.  Continue Reading

• Disk, tape and the search for the Holy Grail...of backup/restore

  Toigo shares how the current posturing in tape backup/restore would go over if transported to medieval times of King Arthur.  Continue Reading

• Separate SCSI controller for library robot?

  Or can you piggyback on a drive controller?  Continue Reading

• Check the life of 4-mm tapes in backup

  They don't last as long as you might think.  Continue Reading

• Is electronic vaulting feasible?

  Is electronic vaulting feasible?  Continue Reading

• Managing metadata under Veritas File System

  Improving performance under Veritas File System.  Continue Reading

• Building user-proof backup

  Find out why Snyder Drugs chose Tandberg's SLR7 tape drives and how they implemented them throughout their drug store chain.  Continue Reading

• Backing up multiple terabytes of data

  Achieving 1 TB/hour backup speed.  Continue Reading

• Eliminate unused space in datasets

  Clean up mainframe files to speed backups.  Continue Reading

• Selecting a data-vaulting vendor

  Some advice on selecting a vaulting vendor.  Continue Reading

• Time-tested TAN tip

  Ensuring high disk and tape performance via separate HBAs.  Continue Reading

• Tape is dead: Long live tape!

  The Storage Group's W. Curtis Preston looks at emerging backup trends that he believes may relegate tape to off-site storage.  Continue Reading

• Deciding on electronic vaulting

  Pros and cons of electronic vaulting.  Continue Reading

• Online backup saves the day

  Marketing firm Blade lost 2G bytes of data when a backup went wrong, but a software update solved the problem.  Continue Reading

• LTO/problem cleaning tapes

  Important note for users of LTO drives.  Continue Reading

• Harris consolidates backup process

  With volume of data doubling yearly, administrators at Harris Corp. needed a fast fix for a troublesome tape backup routine.  Continue Reading

• Improving backup and restore capabilities

  Here are some of the advantages of RAID technology over traditional backup tapes.  Continue Reading

• Sizing tape libraries

  Looking for a simple, practical way to estimate your tape needs? Here's a great user-submitted tip.  Continue Reading

• Encrypting backups for additional security

  Good backup techniques can lead to shoddy security. Encrypt backup data for added security.  Continue Reading

• Secure your storage servers

  Security considerations for servers from the workgroup to the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Sizing a tape library for unattended operation

  Sizing tape libraries can help an administrator save time and energy when organizing backup operations.  Continue Reading

• Putting storage on the WAN

  What's out there for enterprises looking to move their storage solutions to a local- or wide-area network?  Continue Reading

• Beyond backup - protecting data through replication

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• Considerations in choosing a backup tape drive

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• Product Tip -- Limit descriptors for Legato NetWorker on AIX

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• Tower of Hanoi backups

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• Upgrading tape drive firmware: Avoiding the pitfalls

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• Mobile computers: Regular backups prevent disaster

  If you are not backing up your mobile PCs, you're flirting with disaster  Continue Reading

• Backup at a terabyte per hour

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• Expanding the shrinking backup window

  Mirror or hot backup: which method is better? This tip gives some insights.  Continue Reading

• Match your backup to your needs

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• New tape technologies: LTO

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• Super DLT Tape

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• Serverless backup solutions -- testing the waters

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