I am looking for a backup solution to consolidate my various backup jobs into one backup server.
I currently have 3 servers, each with its own backup system (2 are using Veritas BackupExec and 1 using a proprietary backup software. All are using DDS3 tapes). 3 sets of backup tapes are made for each server, 1 set per week. So now, I have 15 tapes per week to rotate. This backup system is getting too cumbersome. I am planning to move to a single-server solution with a couple of high capacity hard drives and a high capacity tape drive. The new system will run Veritas BackupExec 9.0 and will back up the other servers over the current 10/100 LAN. The nighttime jobs will backup data from the various servers to disk while the daytime job will dump the data from disk to tape.
Advantages:
1) Quick restores from last backup
2) Still able to keep a 3-week off-site archive via tape
3) Cut down on the amount of tapes in rotation
4) Central (thus more manageable) storage system
Disadvantages:
1) Cost
2) Backups done over 10/100 switched network will increase backup window and may interferre with nighttime operations.
My question is: Is this plan feasible? Is it a good plan? Which HD should I use? Which tape drive should I use? Should I use RAID 0(temporary storage)?
Please provide your comments and/or alternate solutions.
