BackupFAQ Tip of the Day

Are online (remote) backup service fees worth it?

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:18:15 GMT

Online backup fees vary widely, as do the services they provide. You need to decide what you want from an online backup service and what you are willing to pay for it.

For example, while price is obviously going to be a consideration, what about reliability? What about encryption of your data? What about the amount of data you can store? Or percentage of backed up data you can download at any one time? (Yes, some companies limit that, but what happens if your system crashes?).

If you want online backup services such as email archiving and real time backups, make sure that the company offering the online backup solution has a powerful backup solution. These features are available but will most likely be more expensive.

Take strong consideration in the cleanup options, as well as the automated cleanup options. Some online backup services have no automated cleanup options, and hence you will be paying for more stored data than you need to.

Also make sure that your online backup software allows incremental block level or byte level backups. A 5 GB account will go a lot further that way in comparison to a 5GB account that does not provide incremental backups at the byte/block level.

What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:09:05 GMT

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a dedicated storage device that connects directly to a server and becomes available through a LAN connection rather than being limited to being accessed through one computer. This allows many users to access the storage device at the same time, generally via its own IP.

NAS devices are very similar to file servers but are generally easier to administer. NAS devices usually have some sort of a control panel to administer the device and access advanced settings.

How is replication different from mirroring?

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:37:14 GMT

Most people, outside of hard-core network techies, use the terms mirroring and replication interchangeably.

The terms are technically different, but they do have a lot of similarities. The purpose of both replication and mirroring is to create a simultaneous or near-simultaneous duplicate copy of a certain data set.

The process of mirroring is to retain a fully synchronized copy of the original data that is being mirrored. Both the ‘working’ data and the ‘backup’ data are constantly and consistently identical. Mirroring is usually accomplished with a hardware solution.

Replication, on the other hand, can utilize asynchronous data transfer. This means that changes to the original copy of the data are buffered or queued before being written to the backup system with a slight, and usually unnoticeable delay. Replication is usually accomplished with a software solution.

What types of online backups are there?

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:27:28 GMT

To most computer users nowadays, online backup means remote backup services, where you pay a company to store your backups on their servers.

However, the term ‘online backups’ also refers to secondary storage systems such as disk arrays, and ‘online’ merely means that the backup system is actively hooked up to be used automatically and could be sitting in the room next to the computers it’s supposed to back up.

In both cases, access to the stored data is convenient and easy. However, remote access gets your data offsite, while secondary storage could be destroyed right along with your computers in the event of a disaster.

What is a snapshot?

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:22:35 GMT

Snapshots are utilized to back up large files, usually databases that are being updated on a continuous basis. Due to the size of larger databases, backup times can become quite lengthy.

Database backups can jeopardize the database's relational integrity if not done through the database API or with a backup software that properly caches the entire folder during backup time. Loosing relational integrity means that you lose the relationship between the actual database files and its log files, which would result in an out of synch or corrupt database.

Snapshot backups close the entire database folder before the actual backup so that a "snapshot" can be taken of the entire folder at a point in time. The backup software would then backup the snapshot instead of the live file, keeping the relational integrity of the database in tact.

Snapshots are also known as "split mirror backups" because, while they don't backup the actual live file, they do mirror the folder while it's running without any noticeable downtime.

While snapshots used to require a SAN (Storage Area Network) configuration, a newer type of snapshot, called copy-on-write, is now available for businesses without a SAN. Basically the copy-on-right he snapshot is created. Once the snapshosoftware chooses a moment in time to freeze the existing files, and moves the new writes to the files elsewhere while tt has been created, the new data is automatically merged into the database so no new data is lost.

When I backup my email, does that automatically backup my Contacts?

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:05:39 GMT

Not necessarily.

For example, backing up your Outlook Express emails requires you to copy your storage folder to another location, while backing up your address book requires you to export a file. Some backup softwares will allow you to specifically select Outlook contacts for backup.

What are some of the primary benefits of replication?

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:58:01 GMT

Replication is the process of automatically creating a copy of a data set (or database), usually on a continuous or near real-time basis.

A primary benefit of replication is that only changes are replicated or copied to the secondary replication server, avoiding system slowdowns.

Because replication provides a real-time (or very close to real-time) copy of your data, data loss is usually very minimal in case of disaster. Unlike backups, replication usually does not rely on a scheduler.

The purpose of replication is to avoid down time if one server goes down, and to handle mass amounts of traffic. Replication is most effective when updates are infrequent, but access is very frequent.

A final and major benefit to replication, is that if configured correctly, replication can act as an automatic failover to your primary systems, guaranteeing your business with a high uptime.

When I backup my email, does that automatically backup my Contacts?

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:43:13 GMT

What is a full backup?

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:22:53 GMT

A full backup does not necessarily mean an entire backup of every file on your hard drive. Instead it just means that for every file backed up, you are backing up all of the data of the files. For example, you might have an incremental backup that only backs up the changes and hence doesn't have all of the content of the original full backup.

Generally, you would perform a full backup once and then perform only incremental or differential backups on those things that have changed. After all, if you’ve backed up your 2000-2005 tax returns once, why would you want to keep backing them up if you haven’t made any changes to them?

A full backup obviously takes the most time, since you’re copying everything. But it’s the place to start it you want to make sure you’ve got everything backed up.

Since incremental backups only make backups of changes, and differential backups make backups of all changes since the last full backup, an occasional full backup might be worthwhile if only to make it easier to restore your system should a crash occur, say, a year after you did the last full backup.

What is a replication backup?

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 03:48:51 GMT

A replication backup is similar to mirroring except that you create policies as to what should or shouldn’t be copied at a specific time as opposed to mirroring which copies everything in real time.

The main benefit of replication is that it allows you to set backup policies according to company’s security and archival regulations which results in reduced storage costs.

Is it possible to backup MS SQL to a UNC path or mapped drive?

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:45:43 GMT

Backing up MS SQL to a UNC path or a mapped drive is possible but requires a little initial setup.

When MS SQL is backing up to a share on a LAN computer, the MS SQL service cannot run as the local system account. The local system account does not have the needed privileges to backup to network locations. You must specify a username and password for the MS SQL service.

This username and password must either be a domain user account, or must have the same username and password as the computer with the share. If the username and password specified are for a domain user account, the computer with the share must be part of the domain.

Are online (remote) backup service fees worth it?

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:43:38 GMT

What is a WAN?

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:33:21 GMT

A Wide Area Network (WAN), is a large geographically dispersed network. Unlike LANs, WANs are not restricted to an office or building and can potentially be spread across the globe. In fact, the Internet itself is a WAN.

WANs are commonly used to link LANs together in larger networks such as Metropolitan-Area Networks, MANs, which are networks put together to offer wireless Internet access across a community or city.

WANs are also used by companies with remote locations. Utilizing WANs with VPNs (‘virtual private networks’) allow the companies to securely share encrypted data between locations enabling the revolution of mobile workers.

What is a disaster recovery plan

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:31:58 GMT

A Disaster recovery plan covers the data, hardware and software critical for a business to restart operations in the event of a natural or human-caused disaster. It should also include plans for coping with the unexpected or sudden loss of key personnel, although this is not covered in this article, the focus of which is data protection.

Is tape backup the best option for my small, but growing business?

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:09:36 GMT

It certainly can be, but it depends on what your business uses computers for and what needs to be backed up. It’s possible that using a CD/DVD backup will be more than sufficient to meet your needs unless, of course, you’re looking for something that will handle your backups automatically without any thought or intervention on your part, regardless of the expense.

To better answer this question, you’ll need to spend time planning your backup needs so that they suit your particular business, rather than depending on a general strategy used or suggested by others.

Tape backups can, indeed, be the best option for your business, but you won’t know unless you determine what your needs are and how you want to handle them. Only then can you decide what backup media will work best for your situation.

Windows cannot read tapes natively as easily as it can CD/DVD/Blu-Ray/HDDVD discs. This makes restore time a lot easier when you are not dealing with a tape.

Note: Don’t forget that you’ll need to take at least one tape offsite on a regular basis or you could risk potentially loosing your data in case of a disaster such as theft, fire or flood.

What are the benefits of tape backup?

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:20:25 GMT

There are several benefits to using tape backups. One of the main reasons businesses use tape is that it is relatively inexpensive to maintain, when compared to replacing the entire infrastructure of a legacy system for a newer backup system.

Businesses also use tapes for the reason that tapes can be used over and over again, by rewriting over them at backup time. This benefit can also be negative as tapes do have an expiration date which could lead to data corruption or un-restorable backups.

Probably the biggest benifits of tape backups, are that the actual tape can store a high capacity, the data is automatically compressed via hardware compression, and the tape can easily be taken offsite. If there is a fire, and if you remembered to take your tape with you, your data will be safe.

For larger companies, tape libraries can also be purchased which automate the process of using tape drives.

Overall though, tape is not ideal because of the very long restore time, and finding the actual tape that you need can be difficult. A large percentage of tape backups fail to restore when the data is needed.

Can I set a backup to happen automatically?

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:17:12 GMT

Sure, although ‘how’ will depend on your operating system and your backup media.

Windows XP and Vista come with a Windows Backup utility that uses a wizard to walk you through the process, or you can use the advanced mode to have more control over the process. You choose what you want backed up, where, and when, although you are limited as to choices.

You can also manually create your own schedules through the windows task scheduler.

You need to remember to make sure the backup media is available (and your computer is turned on) when the backup is scheduled to run. Select a backup software that is based on a scheduler that can run backups when you are logged off or your computer is in sleep mode.

Third party backup software, whether standalone or part of a backup media package, allows for a much wider variety of scheduling options than are offered by the Windows Backup utility, and can also do things such as backing up different types of data on different schedules.

How do I schedule a backup in XP?

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:13:40 GMT

The Windows Backup utility can be found by going to Start/AllPrograms/Accessories/System Tools/Backup.

The Backup or Restore Wizard will walk you through the various steps of backing up your data. If you are using the wizard, you would set up a schedule by clicking on the Advanced button, rather than the Finish button. By clicking Next on the next screen, you’ll be taken to the When To Back Up screen. Choose Later, then click Set Up Schedule and follow the instructions.

Alternatively, once you start the Backup program, you can click on the Advanced Mode link, which will take you to the Backup Utility Advanced Mode screen, where you can click the Schedule Jobs button at the top of the screen. Click on any date on the calendar and the Backup Wizard will start.

How long does backup media (like tapes or CDs) last?

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:09:41 GMT

While there have been claims that CD-R/RWs are supposed to last as long as 25 years under ideal conditions (but how many of us store anything under ‘ideal conditions’?) recent reports are that they can be expected to last only 2-5 years. (And DVD-Rs don’t do much better.)

Various studies have shown that writing over a CD-RW will shorten its lifetime and that cheaper disks don’t last as long as more expensive ones.

Tapes, on the other hand, should last 30-100 years. However, that also assumes, as with CD-RWs, that they haven’t been repeatedly written over.

The most important thing to remember is that no media, no matter its cost, will last forever.

When should I use replication?

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:07:45 GMT

What are some of the primary benefits of replication?

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:37:38 GMT

What type(s) of backup are best for a network?

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:09:28 GMT

The nice thing about having a network, particularly one utilizing servers, is that all LAN computers can be backed up to the server as a grouped backup job, eliminating the need to backup each computer individually.

Backing up multiple computers with 1 profile is preferable, and try to stay away from a backup software that cannot accomplish this task.
Some backup software will allow you to specify a set of UNC path(s) to backup, and others will allow you to simply select your choices via a file tree.

A UNC path is in the form of: \\computername\c$. This path can be typed into explorer and you can access the resources on a remote machine on your LAN or VPN.

c$ is just the name of the share, if you are using Windows XP Home or Vista Home, you will have to manually create a share. If you are using Windows XP Pro, 2000, 2003 or Vista, you will have an administrative share labeled X$ for each of your local drives X.

Data retention rules or archival rules are also important when performing network backups as they allow the IT administrator to maximize storage capacity and to stay compliant with new data retention laws.

As always, what is best for someone else’s backup strategy may not be right for yours, so make sure to fully investigate all options before making a decision as there are many backup medias including tape, disk arrays and remote storage services to name some of the many available. At a minimum, at least backup all LAN computers to another computer on the LAN.

How do I keep my backups safe?

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:45:22 GMT

One way to keep backups safe is to manually take them offsite and store them in a safe environment, such as a fireproof container or safety deposit box. Even if you don’t choose to keep your backups in a secured container, taking them offsite at least assures that your backups won't be lost to an on site disaster. (Note: if you’re backing up to CD or DVD, keeping them stored in a cool, dark, dry area will prolong their life.)

Another way to keep backups safe is to use media that can’t be accidentally overwritten. While tape libraries and disk arrays assume that the backup media will be overwritten, accidental overwrites can be avoided. Even something as simple as opening the write/access hole on a floppy or using CD-Rs, rather than CD-RWs, can help you protect your data from accidents.

A third way to help protect your backups is to have a backup of the backup. This doesn't mean that you should necessarily copy all existing backups but instead means, that you should consider running second monthly or weekly backups in parallel to your existing ones.

What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:12:02 GMT

What are the benefits of online (remote) backup services?

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:30:09 GMT

Perhaps the primary benefit is related to backup security. You don’t have to remember to take your backups (or at least a copy) offsite. For example if you backup your home computer to an external hard drive and there’s a fire in your home, your data would be lost, as the external drive is attached directly to your computer. If your computer is destroyed, you can bet the external drive will be too. This could prove to be deadly for your important personal and business files. So much for having a backup.

Another benefit is that you can easily access your data remotely without having to set up any sort of remote access to your home or work computer which can be a confusing task.

And the best part of backing up offsite... it works automatically once you have installed the software, which rarely takes more than a few minutes. Offsite backup services give you and your business piece of mind in knowing that your data is safe in case of disaster.

What is direct attached storage (DAS)?

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:32:16 GMT

Direct Attached Storage (DAS) is a device that connects directly to the server or computer that you are backing up from. If you are backing up from a different computer from the DAS attached computer, you cannot access the DAS. In this case both computers would need their own DAS.

A common misconception is that you cannot backup LAN computers when using a DAS device. This is possible and very common. You can backup any LAN computer just as long as the data is being pulled onto the computer where the backup client is running from.

A DAS device cannot be accessed from LAN computers, so the backup client on the local machine must be pulling the data (as opposed to the data being pushed by the LAN computers).

DAS is different from network attached storage (NAS) and storage area networks (SAN).

DAS can be a tape backup device, a USB external drive that is not mapped, or any other device that is not accessible on the network.

Should I backup my registry on a regular basis?

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:02:04 GMT

While the registry can be part of your regularly scheduled backups, the ‘regular basis’ for which you should always backup your registry should be very frequent.

Before you make any kind of change to your registry, you should make sure you have a backup. The reason why it's so important is because even small changes to your registry can make your entire operating system corrupted.

If need be, you can use the Windows System Restore Utility to undo most damage, but fiddling with your registry is not recommended. System Restore has been proven to be unreliable at times.

You can always use a system state backup available in many backup software which will include the needed registry state for a successful recovery.

What is direct attached storage (DAS)?

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:05:30 GMT

DAS can be a tape backup device, a USB external drive that is not mapped, or any other device that is not accessible on the network.

Which should I choose - replace or append backups?

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:10:59 GMT

Replacing backups means just that you replace a previous backup with a new backup. Appending a backup means that you add a new version of a files to an existing backup.

For home and most small business situations, you don’t need to keep more than a few week’s worth of backups (with an occasional ‘master’ backup to save longer term). As a result, you can probably replace backups after a couple of weeks.

While you might feel safer adding to your store of backups, you could easily run out of space by creating an ever-growing backup file.

The best strategy is to create a appended backups with archived snapshots at different periods. Make sure that your backup software allows you to keep only a certain number of appended versions before cleaning up old versions.

What is an autoloader?

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:09:00 GMT

An autoloader is a multiple tape storage device that automatically changes tape cartridges using a robotic mechanism. Autoloaders provide a streamlined and uninterrupted backup using tape. Cartridges can be loaded sequentially or in any order that you specify.

Autoloaders save IT professionals time by eliminating the hassle of having to manually remember to load, eject or monitor free space of a tape at backup time.

Autoloaders are usually expensive and generally contain one tape drive, a ‘robot arm’ (to change tapes), and up to 10 tape cartridge slots.

What are the downsides of online (remote) backup services?

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:38:22 GMT

One of the most common problems in online backup is the time it takes for the data to transfer over the Internet. Even for a PC with a dedicated DSL or Cable line, it can take a day or more if you’re running a full backup. This means you need to be connected and using your bandwidth for a long period of time. Some offsite software might not be prepared for the common occurence of internet connection drop-outs.

Luckily there are several ways to get past this downfall.

When looking for an offsite backup service, you should make sure that it employs either byte level or block level incremental backups.

Other important features that many remote backup services are missing is common file elimination (CFE). With CFE, the same file is never backed up twice. For example, a file may be backed up on every computer across your network. You'd want to use only 1 * the file size instead of [num computers] * the file size.

A third important feature that might be right for you if you are a business user is the ability to span backups over multiple days, and the ability to export data that can be sent to your offsite backup provider who can later import it.

What's the difference between a locked file and an exclusively opened file?

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:14:58 GMT

Files can either be locked or exclusively opened. An exclusively opened file cannot be backed up at all. When the backup software tries to open the file to back it up, they will get a permission denied error. A locked file however, means that a byte range in the file cannot be accessed. For example the middle of the file may only be locked. The backup software by default can backup the start and the end, but not the middle in this case. It's possible for a file to be both exclusively opened and locked at the same time.

What is direct attached storage (DAS)?

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:16:58 GMT

DAS can be a tape backup device, a USB external drive that is not mapped, or any other device that is not accessible on the network.

What are the benefits of online (remote) backup services?

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:10:13 GMT

What are the benefits of online (remote) backup services?

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:03:07 GMT

Is tape backup the best option for my small, but growing business?

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:06:18 GMT

What is a tape library?

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:39:24 GMT

In reality, a tape library is a set of multiple autoloaders put together with software to act as one unified backup system. A tape library generally contains multiple tape drives, multiple cartridge storage slots, and multiple ‘robots’ which are used to automatically load/eject tapes.

Tape libraries are generally very large and come at a high price. They can be found in large disaster recovery centers and data warehouses and are typically used by enterprise sized clients.

What is data mirroring?

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:38:01 GMT

Data mirroring is the process of copying data in real time to another server/location for failover purposes. As a result, the data stored on the mirrored machine is exactly the same as the data on the original system. Data mirroring is used as a failover for a system that holds critical data that needs to be accessed immediately in case of disaster.

While data mirroring can be done both locally and offsite, it makes far more sense to use offsite data mirroring for the simple fact that it protects you against a disaster that would effect your host location.

Indeed, with data mirroring, should the system crash, the backup system could come online either automatically or with a few quick steps, protecting your business from interruptions.

When should I use replication?

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:26:20 GMT

What type(s) of backup are best for a network?

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:57:26 GMT

What are some of the primary benefits of replication?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:41:49 GMT

What type of encryption should I look for in backup software?

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:00:22 GMT

If you’re simply backing up your home computer and those backups consist of your favorites, photos, and that half-finished novel, encryption might not be all that important.

On the other hand, if you have bank passwords, tax returns, and other things you wouldn't want falling into anyone else’s hands, then 128 bit (or higher) encryption should be used for your backup plan. AES, Blowfish, Triple DES, Twofish, and many others are great choices.

The two most important things to remember when using encryption is one, don’t forget the password you chose and two, make it hard enough that it's not easy enough to guess!

What is a disk-to-disk backup?

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:58:17 GMT

In backup terms, 'disk' represents a physical hard drive. Disk to disk backups refer to the process of copying files from one hard drive to another for storage/backup purposes.

Compared to other types of backups, disk-to-disk backups are often the fastest and most cost efficient way to backup, store and restore sensitive data.

Disk-to-disk backup is most effective when backing up to a disk on another computer such as a mapped drive or a UNC path on your LAN.

For example, to backup to a computer named server1 in the c:\ of server1, you could simply instruct your backup application to backup to: \\server1\c$\myBackup
The above path is a UNC path and it represents the folder myBackup in the c: drive on the computer with the name server1.

Server1 may be located on your LAN or perhaps via a VPN.

c$ is known as an administrative share. Administrative shares exist on all computers by default (With the exception of Windows XP/Vista Home).

What is brick level email backup?

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:24:49 GMT

If you have ever used Microsoft Exchange, you might have heard of a ‘brick-level’ backup.

Brick-level mailbox backup is a method in which the backup program logs into each Exchange mailbox using MAPI, in order to backup each individual mailbox seperately to a specified storage device.

Since each mailbox is backed up individually, restoring a specific mailbox in case of disaster or accidental deletion can be done quickly and easily.

What is a VPN?

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:29:46 GMT

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secured extension of a regular private network, such as a LAN which enables remote users to securely access the local LAN via an Internet connection.

A VPN also allows for data to be transmitted securely over the Internet between different locations using an encryption key system.

If your backup software supports backing up computers on your LAN, then you will also be able to backup all comptuers on your VPN's LAN. Once you are connected to a VPN, your computer will act like it is part of the VPN's LAN, include all UNC paths.

What is a LAN?

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:05:26 GMT

Local Area Networks (LAN), refers to the grouping of computers and other devices such as printers, for the main goals of either sharing files, printers or an Internet connection.

A LAN can be connected in many ways including hard wired ethernet cables, a wireless connection, a combination of both, or many other methods.

LANs can be made up of thousands of computers, or simply consist of two computers that are wired together. A LAN only works in a small geographic area and at most in the same office building or complex.

Larger, geographically spread networks are called Wide Area Networks or WANs for short. LANs can be connected together via VPNs.

How do I keep my backups safe?

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:15:55 GMT

Are online (remote) backup service fees worth it?

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:02:20 GMT

How long should I keep a backup?

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:22:16 GMT

In part this will depend on external issues. The IRS says you should keep tax returns for 3 years, so in reality you should keep a backup of tax returns for a minimum of 3 years. If your business must follow federal regulations that say you have keep client records for 7 years, then keep backed up client records for at least 7 years. Obviously this assumes you have been backing files up based on specific criteria, rather than just anything and everything.

As far as ‘generic’ backups, you probably should keep more than just the last backup around because you never know when a particular backup will fail, as verification is not always fool proof.

What is open file backup?

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:43:30 GMT

Many files cannot be backed up while a program that uses these files are running. Normal backup software does not allow the backup of these files. Open file backup allows you to backup these in use and locked files.

What type(s) of backup are best for a network?

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:26:26 GMT

What are the benefits of online (remote) backup services?

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:23:34 GMT

Are online (remote) backup service fees worth it?

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:30:44 GMT

Do I have a LAN in my house?

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:12:00 GMT

If you have two computers in your home with one shared printer and both computers can print to it, or if you have more than one computer in your home and you can read and write files from one computer to the other, then you have a LAN.

A LAN is very handy when it comes to backing up as it allows you to transfer local data to a remote machine within your LAN. In other words, you can back up important files from one computer to the other and vice versa.

Please remember that although you can backup a computer to another LAN computer, it’s still wise to backup your computers offsite, via the Internet, or to a CD/DVD so that your data can be stored securely offsite for optimal protection.

What are some of the primary benefits of replication?

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:14:06 GMT

Is one type of backup sufficient?

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:37:38 GMT

In the sense of ‘do I need to be using different types of media for the same backup’, one type is sufficient as long as the backup isn’t kept with the computer that it is protecting.

In the sense of backing up different types of files on different schedules, then it’s perfectly OK to consider different types of backup media.

For example, monthly backups could be done for email while daily backups could be done of business database changes. It depends on how critical the data is and how often it’s updated.

Try to put yourself in the perspective of your data being lost. Suddenly this thought will pop into mind "I hope my backup worked". More is always better, but one is better than none.

What is a tape library?

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:39:04 GMT

How long should I keep a backup?

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:48:07 GMT

How do online (remote) backup services work?

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:04:51 GMT

Basically, you are renting space on a server and can upload anything you want as long as it’s not in violation of the company’s terms of service.

The online backup company gives you software for you to install on the computer(s) you want backed up. Using this software, you can choose the files you want it to store, create a schedule and so forth. Once you’ve set it up , the software automatcally takes care of managing the uploads, including doing the encryption and compression of the data.

Your data is then transferred across the Internet to another location where it is saved. Using this software, you can also view the remote data as well as get it back in case you have a crash or other problem that requires you to actually use your backed up data.

What type(s) of backups are best for a home computer?

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:05:45 GMT

The goal for home backup is to protect your data with the least amount of work possible. Backing up your home computer on a regular basis, is a very important task, especially if you're running a home business.

Computer hardware has greatly come down in price these days, so replacing a fried hard drive doesn't require a second mortgage anymore, but losing important data could. CDs, DVDs, and external hard drives – and, possibly, remote online backups – are the backup methods of choice for most home users as they are the simplest to acquire and use.

The truly hardest part of backing up is actually remembering to do so. This is why automated, scheduled remote online backup services have gotten a lot more popular these days. After software set up, backups run automatically. All you need to make sure of, is that your computer is turned on with a live Internet connection.

Still a bit weary of online backups? Not a problem, there are many excellent programs out there that will perform backups for you automatically with little human intervention, meaning making sure there’s a CD/DVD in the slot or that the external hard drive and computer itself is turned on at backup time.

Backup up over the LAN by mapping a drive from one computer to another is always a good option, but does not protect you against things like fire and theft.

What is data mirroring?

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:22:47 GMT

What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:12:06 GMT

How do I keep my backups safe?

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:06:56 GMT

What is open file backup?

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:34:26 GMT

Should I take my backups offsite?

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:42:29 GMT

Absolutely. While there are no guarantees that the disaster you will have to recover from won’t be area-wide, rather than local to your home or office, your disaster recovery plan should definitely cover situations like a fire or water damage. Leaving your backup in the same location as your computers/servers ignores the basic backup strategy of not keeping your backup at the same location that it was made from.

Of course, there is an easier way to move backups offsite which includes using an offsite backup provider or setting up a remote backup server at a different location than your home of office.

What is a LAN?

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:30:58 GMT

How do I backup data remotely?

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:02:22 GMT

There are several ways to backup data remotely. The most popular method in this day and age is backing up offsite via an Internet connection to an offsite backup provider for a monthly fee. Backing up offsite is predicted to soon overcome backing up to DVD/CD which requires human intervention to manually store the backup in a secure offsite location.

Another less popular method of backing up offsite is backing up via a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN allows a user to backup data to a remote workstation or server through a secure, encrypted tunnel. Setting up a VPN is usually done by an IT technician as it requires a higher level of technological knowledge than simply using an offsite backup service.

What is a partition copy?

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:01:26 GMT

Partitions divide computer hard drives into independent sections. For example, you could literally have entirely different operating systems on separate partitions on the same computer because the partitions are independent of each other.

Certain computer manufacturers sell their computers with recovery partitions already created. Look under My Computer/Hard Disk Drives on your computer and you might find separate listings for Local Disk (C:) and RECOVERY (D:) – those would be separate partitions.

Copying a partition means that you have completely copied the entire contents of one of those independent sections to another hard drive. That means you’ve not only copied the files, but the partition tables and file system settings. Yes, even if you have more than one partition on your hard drive, you can copy just one of them if you want.

Partition copying is often used when you are upgrading to a new hard drive or when your old hard drive is about to crash. Indeed, if you had created a partition copy and that hard drive did crash unexpectedly, you’d be able to take the copy, install it in your computer, and be up and running in practically no time.

What are the benefits of online (remote) backup services?

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:16:16 GMT

What type(s) of backup are best for a network?

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:55:00 GMT

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous replication?

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:29:04 GMT

Synchronous replication which is also known as real-time replication, is the process of immediately duplicating (replicating) any change on a system to a secondary system for backup recovery purposes. With synchronous replication, both systems are always in sync.

Asynchronous replication on the other hand, doesn't have to wait on any input/updates being made on the primary server in order to begin copying the data.

Choosing between Synchronous or Asynchronous replication will depend on your tolerance to downtime and data loss.

What is an autoloader?

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:23:56 GMT

When should I use replication?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:55:13 GMT

What type(s) of backups are best for a small business?

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:27:58 GMT

Small businesses may not always have the money to invest in high-level backup services to protect their mission critical data, and they usually do not need to. This doesn't mean that small business data isn’t just as important, but just that a simpler solution is all that is needed for a small set of computers.

Small businesses can range from 1-500 employees, and choosing a backup software and backup method will depend on the amount of data that needs to be protected and specific backup needs of the business.

For most businesses, the home computing ‘burn it to a CD’ option won't work due to speed and storage limitations. This is why most businesses choose tape, or perferably a secondary storage as their backup media. Tape backups are commonly used because they can backup large amounts of data relatively inexpensively. Tape backups also gives you better protection by allowing you to store archival tapes offsite in the case of theft, fire or some other disaster.

Secondary storage backups (such as a NAS drive or RAID array) are preferable because it makes restore time a lot faster and reliable in comparison to tape. Offsite backups, and backups to FTP are also great choices.

What is a WAN?

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:18:20 GMT

What is replication?

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:28:53 GMT

Replication is the process of duplicating data and storing that data in more than one location for several purposes. Replication is often done multiple times a day or in near real-time.

In practice, the use of replication most often applies to duplicating the data records in one database to one or more other databases for disaster recovery purposes; however, replication can also apply to files and other data items.

There are several different types of replication, including: snapshot replication, merge replication and transactional replication.

Replication is used for many reasons, and depending on what your needs are, you will want to chose a replication strategy that works for you. Your choice will also be affected by your ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) needs.

Snapshot replication just means that a snapshot is copied to the set of replicated servers. All changes to the database are only done on one main server. This replication type should be used if you are concerned with data loss.

Merge replication means that updates can be made to any replication server. The changes are merged into the other replicated servers. This solution should be used if you need to insert and update on multiple servers.

Transactional replication means that all transactions will be atomically replicated.

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous replication?

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:36:02 GMT

What exactly should I back up?

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:09:57 GMT

Backups are really about protecting whatever you feel you would need to replace should you experience a computer crash or worse.

If you have installation disks, you won’t necessarily need to back up already installed programs but you should backup the program's data. Another important item to backup are your emails and pictures as they are quite important to most users.

Some ask, can't I simply backup everything? The answer is yes! Storage media is relatively inexpensive, so making a full computer backup is not out of the question. It's ideal to backup only the data you need though, since more data backed up means more data to manage.

What is a LAN?

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:42:18 GMT

Can I set a backup to happen automatically?

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:37:24 GMT

Can replication be used for something other than databases?

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:44:03 GMT

Yes. You’ve probably come across the use of the term ‘mirror site’ when trying to download files from the web. A mirrored site is merely a secondary server, where a specific file(s) is also available to avoid interruptions in case of the primary server being down, too busy or to share bandwidth.

Another common use for replication is for load balancing purposes. A load balance is done between at least two servers in order to share a specific work load to avoid slowdowns or unavailability of certain files or web sites.

What are the benefits of online (remote) backup services?

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:05:29 GMT

What are the best types of backup media for a home computer?

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:09:23 GMT

CDs (both CD-R and CD-RW), DVDs, and external hard drives are probably the best backup media to use.

CDs and DVDs offer small size, low price, and ease of use, making storing them offsite extremely easy. One important word of advise is that CDs and DVDs won’t last forever as they do expire with time. The best way to protect yourself from CD/DVD corruption is to not always use the same CD/DVD at backup time. Keep multiple backup copies so that for example: if your 1 week old backup does not restore, at least you have your 2 week old backup.

External drives may seem intimidating to the inexperienced user, but they’re really easy to use and offer more storage space than either CDs or DVDs. The downside of external drives is that you don’t store them offsite.

Is tape backup the best option for my small, but growing business?

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:28:16 GMT

How do I keep my backups safe?

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:10:08 GMT

What is a snapshot?

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:25:26 GMT

Snapshots are utilized to back up large files, usually databases that are being updated on a continuous basis. Due to the size of larger databases, backup times can become quite lengthy.

How do I schedule a backup in XP?

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:07:12 GMT

Will open file backup work on Exchange?

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:00:02 GMT

While Microsoft has said ‘no’ in the past, if you are using the right backup software, the answer is yes. This is because Microsoft Exchange Server locks its database files so any program that cannot handle open file backups will not work.

A backup program that can handle Exchange open files will allow emails to continue to be sent and received while still backing up Exchange and keeping its log file and database in sync to avoid corruption.

There are 3 ways to backup Exchange while it is running:
1) Use a program that makes use of the ESE API.
2) Use a program that makes use of MAPI.
3) Perform a flat file backup while using an open file manager such as File Access Manager. For more on open file backup, see File Access Manager from VisionWorks: http://www.vwsolutions.com/FAM

All 3 of these methods will work for open file Exchange backup. The first 2 methods are talking to exchange through an API, so there is no question. The third method uses a special mechanisms to backup all files in an inactive period of time. All files that are backed up can be put in a batch and synchronized atomically.

How do I schedule a backup in XP?

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:48:53 GMT

What is a disk-to-disk backup?

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:46:02 GMT

What is a differential backup?

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:21:00 GMT

Differential backups are the happy medium between full and incremental backups.

Differential backups backup everything since the last full backup. Yes, this means that you will be duplicating backups of things you’ve already backed up. But restoring your system is much easier because you’ll only have to restore the last full backup plus the most recent good differential backup.

Differential backups are made even better if you run an occasional full backup to reduce the size of what needs to be backed up regularly. Otherwise the amount of data might be too large to allow this method to be effective.

How can I tell if a backup isn’t corrupted?

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 05:28:21 GMT

Part of your disaster recovery planning should include periodic testing of backups.

Several backup software packages include a verification stage when a backup is complete. Some backup software will even provide the ability to verify your backups at any time in the future.

Even if your backup software doesn't allow you to verify your data, it’s pretty simple to do. Simply restore your backup to a test computer/server and see how everything goes.

A great (and free) utility you can use to compare your restored data to your backed up data is windiff. Simply type: "download windiff" in google and you can begin using it.

When should I use replication?

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:04:23 GMT

Can I set a backup to happen automatically?

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:22:30 GMT

What does System Restore do?

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:02:39 GMT

Windows' System Restore is a utility built into Windows XP and above that allows a user to restore their system from a previous point in time without having the risk of loosing any data that they've created since then.

The System Restore utility only tracks and reverses actual changes to the system's registry, which could include a new driver or software being installed. Again, rest assured that the System Restore utility won't delete any new data that you created such as a new word document or excel file.

Windows' System Restore utility does not automatically create a system restore point any time there is a change to the registry. Creating one for any change, is however very important as it allows Windows' users to restore their system back to a point in time when it was working correctly. For example, should your computer start acting up after you've installed a new game from the Internet, if the application created a system restore point, you can simply use the System Restore utility to go back to the point in time where the game was not installed, giving you back your system's stability.

In practice, several users report limited success in actually restoring a system restore point.

Should I backup my registry on a regular basis?

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:07:18 GMT

What is a full backup?

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:10:08 GMT

What type(s) of backup are best for a network?

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:22:03 GMT

How do I keep my backups safe?

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:02:09 GMT

What's the difference between a locked file and an exclusively opened file?

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:50:16 GMT

How do online (remote) backup services work?

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:31:12 GMT

Can I set a backup to happen automatically?

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:15:09 GMT

Will open file backup work on Exchange?

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:38:56 GMT

What are the benefits of tape backup?

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:49:40 GMT

How is replication different from mirroring?

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:20:32 GMT

Most people, outside of hard-core network techies, use the terms mirroring and replication interchangeably.

What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:27:40 GMT

How long does backup media (like tapes or CDs) last?

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:18:55 GMT

What type of encryption should I look for in backup software?

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:01:41 GMT

What is a SAN (Storage Area Network)?

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:24:02 GMT

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is an architecture to attach storage devices (e.g. disk arrays, tape libraries) to servers. The storage devices would appear to users of the network as local drives.

In contrast to network attached storage (NAS), SAN's will appear as a local device, and NAS' will appear clearly as if they are attached to the network (i.e. accessible via a UNC path or mapped drive).

SAN's are mostly found in large scale operations that have the need to protect multiple gigabytes and even petabytes of data. SAN's are not very common in comparison to NAS'.

What is data mirroring with reverse incrementals?

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:00:55 GMT

Data mirroring with reverse incrementals is used to optimize the backup and restore process for larger backups.

Unlike typical incremental backups, which requires the user to store an older full backup and then multiple single incremental backups after that, this system works in reverse. After creating a full backup, every subsequent incremental backup is appended to that full backup and saved as a seperate restoreable backup. Therefore, at restore time, all you have to do is go backwards, restoring one backup at a time, until you get your data back to a specific point in time.

Unfortunately, backups to CDs and other removable media won’t work for this type of backup as each incremental backup has to add to the previous backup.