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any good backup software out there???

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by justmakingit

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Anyone have any good suggestions on backup sofyware for a network. Currently I am using Veritas 5 and it takes 2 days to backup 27 gig to a hard drive.

As you can tell this just isn't good.

Any suggestions would be great.

There are some directories being backed up that are on shared computers, but not really that much. There has to be a faster way. It should also be able to be set up for scheduled tasks, i.e. full backups and incremental backups (some people don't like incrementals, I know, but the boss insists on it)

Thanks

4 replies

by stress junkie

I've used Veritas for years. It has to be considered the best, with Arcserve running a close second. I'll need more infiormation to provide any real assistance. Here are a few example questions to answer, but the more information the better.

Which Veritas product are you using? ( Backup Exec, Backup Datacenter, ... )

What platforms are you using for the server and for the client? ( hardware, software )

Are there any other clients being backed up at the same time? What platforms? Are their backups running fast enough?

What are you running for a network? ( Protocols, hardware such as hubs, routers, DNS servers, cable type ... )

Check the DNS entry for the client. Check the network configuration for the client. For example if you are using TCP/IP then check the subnet mask and the broadcast mask.

Is the client running other programs all of the time such as a busy database server? You have to perform a special kind of backup for databases or for Exchange Server.

So, more information is required in order for anyone else to begin to understand your situation. :-)

by justmakingit

Which Veritas product are you using?
Backup Exec Pro

What platforms are you using for the server and for the client?

The file server being backed up is running Xandros linux. The client (which the backup software is running on) is XP, 2.4 ghz, 516 256 ram. The other backup shares would be various versions of windows ie 98 and XP, but all at least PIII 600 with 128 ram, these ones would just have their MS Outlook pst files backed up.

Are there any other clients being backed up at the same time? What platforms? Are their backups running fast enough?

No other backups are being run, that is why this one is so important.

What are you running for a network?

This may be a problem, the network is p2p. It has a Cisco router, no DNS server.

Is the client running other programs all of the time such as a busy database server? You have to perform a special kind of backup for databases or for Exchange Server.

The backup is the only thing running and this takes place after 8:00 pm when there is no one in the building. Any databases running are just small MS Access databases and Exchange Server is not in use.

If there are any more questions, please ask, I need all of the help that I can get.

by stress junkie

Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been collecting my thoughts. I have a few questions left about your configuration.
I'm just going to ask what you meant in a few cases. It has nothing to do with your accuracy, just what you meant.

You said that your file server is running Xandros Linux.

The backup machine has the following configuration: "XP, 2.4 ghz, 516 256 ram". I read that as follows: AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 2.4 GHz, 516 ?????, 256 MB RAM. Is this a correct understanding of what you wrote?

You also said that no other backups were being performed but you also said that .pst files are being backed up from other clients. I read that as meaning that .pst files are being backed up from desktop machines. Is that correct?

You say that your network protocol is p2p. Do you mean Microsnot Windows networking in workgroup mode?

You refer to the backup server as a client of the Xandros file server. Do you mean that the Xandros file server is running Samba and the backup machine mounts a share to perform the backups? Is this also true about backup up the pst files from the desktop machines?

You said that you are using Veritas Backup Exec V5.0. Do you mean that you are using the Backup Exec that comes free with some DVD-RW drives such as Sony DVD-RW drives?

My overall impression of your configuration is as follows:

Xandros Linux file server using Samba to share files in Microsnot Network running in workgroup mode.

File server running ? operating system and Backup Exec for workstations/personal/home use.

Several desktop computers sharing the disk/folder containing their Outlook pst files.

Is this correct?

Are you running TCP/IP protocol? If you are and you have no DNS then either you are running WINS or you have a complete hosts file on each machine. Is this correct? If so which/both?

Your p2p networking isn't something like Kazaa is it?

Again, I'm sorry that I kept you waiting. I'm just trying to understand the problem.

Cheers. :-)

by mshultz

We are using eVault software which is an off machine backup. So far, it's been great, it's been fast. This is only an option if you have an extra machine to hold the backed up data. We backup over an internet connection to a remote machine. It does incremental backups nightly and fullies weekly. It uses block analysis to see if a file is changed then backs up and transmits ONLY the changed data and not the entire file which makes backup pretty fast and allows you to keep the backup machine off site regardless of the connection.

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