Hi,
We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We are using
20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out of space.
I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are there any?
If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a full
backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental backups). I'd
prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better solutions out
there, I am open to suggestions.

Thanks,
Nic

Re: OT: backup options by Steve

Steve
Thu Jun 30 13:13:38 CDT 2005

nic wrote:

>Hi,
>We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We are using
>20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out of
>space.
> I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are there any?
>If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a full
>backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental backups). I'd
>prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better solutions out
>there, I am open to suggestions.

DDS4 tapes are 20Gb. You need a "bigger" tape drive.

What is your usable disk capacity? And are there any plans to increase
this? How long is the backup "window" (ie can it take all night, no more
than N hours or X minutes, what?)

We can't give good advice on your tape choices without knowing how much
capacity you need.

--
Steve Foster [SBS MVP]
---------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft. Please reply only to the newsgroups.

Re: backup options by Kevin

Kevin
Thu Jun 30 18:07:32 CDT 2005

A 20GB (uncompressed) tape should be able to accomodate maybe 30GB in
compressed mode, from my experience -- and not the 40gb that they claim in
advertisements.

So, how much data do you actually backup 20gb or 30gb?

--
Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]
"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"


"nic" <nic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3D550B78-7840-4B00-A431-0E48C821B81A@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We are using
> 20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out of
> space.
> I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are there any?
> If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a full
> backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental backups). I'd
> prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better solutions out
> there, I am open to suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
> Nic



Re: OT: backup options by nic

nic
Fri Jul 01 10:45:03 CDT 2005

Thanks for the help. Our company is at the outer limit of the tape
(~25-30gb) limit, since our backup has a number of times ejected early saying
it needs another tape. I have since removed some unnecessary items, buying
us a little time. Our company is in the process of expanding so we will run
into the same problem again (in the near future).

We currently have 3 servers (database/web,storage,SBS). The backup is set
to only backup certain items on each server.
Storage ~15GB
Database/web ~10GB
SBS(systemState/exchange) ~ 5GB
We obviously could backup more, this is just the necessary items. Doubling
this storage amount would be the optimal solution (60GB).

The backup process can take all night (start at 9pm end at 7am)

"Steve Foster [SBS MVP]" wrote:

> nic wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We are using
> >20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out of
> >space.
> > I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are there any?
> >If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a full
> >backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental backups). I'd
> >prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better solutions out
> >there, I am open to suggestions.
>
> DDS4 tapes are 20Gb. You need a "bigger" tape drive.
>
> What is your usable disk capacity? And are there any plans to increase
> this? How long is the backup "window" (ie can it take all night, no more
> than N hours or X minutes, what?)
>
> We can't give good advice on your tape choices without knowing how much
> capacity you need.
>
> --
> Steve Foster [SBS MVP]
> ---------------------------------------
> MVPs do not work for Microsoft. Please reply only to the newsgroups.
>

Re: backup options by Rick

Rick
Fri Jul 01 15:39:39 CDT 2005

nic,

I have made this suggestion before to others in the NG.

I have taken an older desktop(Pentium II/128MB RAM) and gutted it .

I installed (3) 80GB IDE hard drives.
loaded W2K onto the boot drive and mirrored it to a partiton on the 2nd
drive.
I use the balance of the 2nd drive and the whole 3rd drive as a Veritas
BackupExec disk-disk backup.

I do this in addition to tape backup(10 tape cycle with off-site storage) of
essentials
I do incremental of all user folders on the SBS server(yes all their docs
forever) to D2D

this scenario works well for me, I have saved many a user's butt by going
into the D2D for a lost or corrupted document or XLS.

I can keep 3-4 days of FULL BACKUP of SBS in the D2D as well.

Maybe this can work for you too!

Word of caution....I tried using maxtor 200GB/240Gb drives and lost
everyting at least once. so I am staying withn smaller 80GB drives.

HTH

RickD



"nic" <nic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3D550B78-7840-4B00-A431-0E48C821B81A@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We are using
> 20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out of
space.
> I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are there any?
> If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a full
> backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental backups). I'd
> prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better solutions out
> there, I am open to suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
> Nic



Re: OT: backup options by Cris

Cris
Fri Jul 01 18:05:07 CDT 2005

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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Look at =
http://www.exabyte.com/products/products/get_products.cfm?prod_id=3D400&p=
roduct=3DVXA%2D2%20Packet%20Tape%20Drive

This is available in IDE or SCSI, Internal or External
Tape Drive can store UP TO 160 GB...you can get tapes in many different =
sizes depending on your needs

--=20
Cris Hanna [SBS-MVP]
-------------------------------------------------
Please do not email me directly for assistance. Reply only in the =
Newsgroups for the benefit of everyone
"nic" <nic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message =
news:AEA60A55-39C5-4703-AE4A-68659D5E54B7@microsoft.com...
Thanks for the help. Our company is at the outer limit of the tape=20
(~25-30gb) limit, since our backup has a number of times ejected early =
saying=20
it needs another tape. I have since removed some unnecessary items, =
buying=20
us a little time. Our company is in the process of expanding so we =
will run=20
into the same problem again (in the near future).

We currently have 3 servers (database/web,storage,SBS). The backup is =
set=20
to only backup certain items on each server. =20
Storage ~15GB
Database/web ~10GB
SBS(systemState/exchange) ~ 5GB
We obviously could backup more, this is just the necessary items. =
Doubling=20
this storage amount would be the optimal solution (60GB).

The backup process can take all night (start at 9pm end at 7am)

"Steve Foster [SBS MVP]" wrote:

> nic wrote:
>=20
> >Hi,
> >We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We =
are using
> >20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out =
of=20
> >space.
> > I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are =
there any?
> >If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a =
full
> >backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental =
backups). I'd
> >prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better =
solutions out
> >there, I am open to suggestions.
>=20
> DDS4 tapes are 20Gb. You need a "bigger" tape drive.
>=20
> What is your usable disk capacity? And are there any plans to =
increase=20
> this? How long is the backup "window" (ie can it take all night, no =
more=20
> than N hours or X minutes, what?)
>=20
> We can't give good advice on your tape choices without knowing how =
much=20
> capacity you need.
>=20
> --=20
> Steve Foster [SBS MVP]
> ---------------------------------------
> MVPs do not work for Microsoft. Please reply only to the newsgroups.
>
------=_NextPart_000_0057_01C57E67.6A5258C0
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Look at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.exabyte.com/products/products/get_products.cfm?prod_id=
=3D400&amp;product=3DVXA%2D2%20Packet%20Tape%20Drive">http://www.exabyte.=
com/products/products/get_products.cfm?prod_id=3D400&amp;product=3DVXA%2D=
2%20Packet%20Tape%20Drive</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This is available in IDE or SCSI, =
Internal or=20
External</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tape Drive can store UP TO 160 GB...you =
can get=20
tapes in many different sizes depending on your needs</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>-- <BR>Cris Hanna=20
[SBS-MVP]<BR>-------------------------------------------------<BR>Please =
do not=20
email me directly for assistance.&nbsp; Reply only in the Newsgroups for =
the=20
benefit of everyone</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
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<DIV>"nic" &lt;<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:nic@discussions.microsoft.com">nic@discussions.microsoft.c=
om</A>&gt;=20
wrote in message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:AEA60A55-39C5-4703-AE4A-68659D5E54B7@microsoft.com">news:AEA=
60A55-39C5-4703-AE4A-68659D5E54B7@microsoft.com</A>...</DIV>Thanks=20
for the help.&nbsp; Our company is at the outer limit of the tape=20
<BR>(~25-30gb) limit, since our backup has a number of times ejected =
early=20
saying <BR>it needs another tape.&nbsp; I have since removed some =
unnecessary=20
items, buying <BR>us a little time.&nbsp; Our company is in the =
process of=20
expanding so we will run <BR>into the same problem again (in the near=20
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(database/web,storage,SBS).&nbsp;=20
The backup is set <BR>to only backup certain items on each =
server.&nbsp;=20
<BR>Storage ~15GB<BR>Database/web ~10GB<BR>SBS(systemState/exchange) ~ =

5GB<BR>We obviously could backup more, this is just the necessary =
items.&nbsp;=20
Doubling <BR>this storage amount would be the optimal solution=20
(60GB).<BR><BR>The backup process can take all night (start at 9pm end =
at=20
7am)<BR><BR>"Steve Foster [SBS MVP]" wrote:<BR><BR>&gt; nic =
wrote:<BR>&gt;=20
<BR>&gt; &gt;Hi,<BR>&gt; &gt;We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 =
Tape=20
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are on the threshold of running out of <BR>&gt; &gt;space.<BR>&gt; =
&gt;&nbsp;=20
I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes.&nbsp; Are =
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am=20
hesitant to do incremental backups).&nbsp; I'd<BR>&gt; &gt;prefer to =
keep the=20
tape drive but if there are much better solutions out<BR>&gt; =
&gt;there, I am=20
open to suggestions.<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; DDS4 tapes are 20Gb. You need a =
"bigger"=20
tape drive.<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; What is your usable disk capacity? And =
are there=20
any plans to increase <BR>&gt; this? How long is the backup "window" =
(ie can=20
it take all night, no more <BR>&gt; than N hours or X minutes, =
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<BR>&gt; We can't give good advice on your tape choices without =
knowing how=20
much <BR>&gt; capacity you need.<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; -- <BR>&gt; Steve =
Foster=20
[SBS MVP]<BR>&gt; ---------------------------------------<BR>&gt; MVPs =
do not=20
work for Microsoft. Please reply only to the=20
newsgroups.<BR>&gt;</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_0057_01C57E67.6A5258C0--


Re: OT: backup options by Steve

Steve
Sun Jul 10 08:46:06 CDT 2005

nic wrote:

>Thanks for the help. Our company is at the outer limit of the tape
>(~25-30gb) limit, since our backup has a number of times ejected early
>saying
>it needs another tape. I have since removed some unnecessary items, buying
>us a little time. Our company is in the process of expanding so we will
>run
>into the same problem again (in the near future).
>
>We currently have 3 servers (database/web,storage,SBS). The backup is set
>to only backup certain items on each server.
>Storage ~15GB
>Database/web ~10GB
>SBS(systemState/exchange) ~ 5GB
>We obviously could backup more, this is just the necessary items. Doubling
>this storage amount would be the optimal solution (60GB).

If your native capacity is around 60Gb, there are several alternatives
open to you.

There's VXA as Cris has mentioned (which is supposed to be one of the most
robust cartridge mechanisms available), DLT, AIT and more.

Personally, I quite like AIT - Sony are a good manufacturer, and the tapes
are almost as compact as DAT. Plus, there's a good range of drive options
- internal ATAPI and SCSI, external USB, SCSI or Firewire.

--
Steve Foster [SBS MVP]
---------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft. Please reply only to the newsgroups.

RE: OT: backup options by MikeG

MikeG
Thu Jul 14 17:49:03 CDT 2005

We have a similar situation. We are running Backup Exec using DDS-4 20/40GB
tapes. I would like to move away from tape due to long recovery and restore
times.

I am looking for a Disk to Disk External Back-up solution via a USB
connection. I am looking at Arcronis True Image for Windows Server. I don't
know much about it . . . only what they say about it. Any thoughts or
suggestions will be appreciated.

"nic" wrote:

> Hi,
> We currently have a Dell PowerVault DDS 4 Tape backup drive. We are using
> 20GB naitive capacity tapes but are on the threshold of running out of space.
> I have looked on-line and haven't found any larger tapes. Are there any?
> If not, any suggestions on what to do? (we are currently doing a full
> backup, which works well. I am hesitant to do incremental backups). I'd
> prefer to keep the tape drive but if there are much better solutions out
> there, I am open to suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
> Nic