From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Apr 24 00:20:58 2007 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 284D616A40D for ; Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:20:58 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from derek@computinginnovations.com) Received: from betty.computinginnovations.com (mail.computinginnovations.com [64.81.227.250]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1499413C480 for ; Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:20:54 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from derek@computinginnovations.com) Received: from p28.computinginnovations.com (dhcp-10-20-30-100.computinginnovations.com [10.20.30.100]) (authenticated bits=0) by betty.computinginnovations.com (8.13.8/8.12.11) with ESMTP id l3O0K88F034992; Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:20:08 -0500 (CDT) Message-Id: <6.0.0.22.2.20070423191407.02611260@mail.computinginnovations.com> X-Sender: derek@mail.computinginnovations.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 6.0.0.22 Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:19:15 -0500 To: L Goodwin , freebsd-questions@freebsd.org From: Derek Ragona In-Reply-To: <879633.68756.qm@web58109.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <879633.68756.qm@web58109.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-ComputingInnovations-MailScanner-Information: Please contact the ISP for more information X-ComputingInnovations-MailScanner: Found to be clean X-ComputingInnovations-MailScanner-From: derek@computinginnovations.com X-Spam-Status: No Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5 Cc: Subject: Re: Backup media choices for FreeBSD servers X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:20:58 -0000 At 07:01 PM 4/23/2007, L Goodwin wrote: >I need to implement an automated backup facility on the FreeBSD file >server I'm setting up for a client. It will have a software RAID 1 >Mirror/Duplex that is made available to Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista >Home Premium users as a Samba share. I also plan to create system >recovery disks (disk images) for the server and each Windows client. > >This leaves backing up user data on some schedule. I've read "Backup >Basics", but have some questions: > >Which is best backup media for a FreeBSD file server, based on known >issues (or lack of) with each format? I need to decide between the >following formats: > a) CD-R (or CD-RW?) > b) DVD-R (or CD-RW?) > c) Streaming tape (which format/standard?) > >Which is the best method for backing up data files on a Samba sharer FreeBSD? >Handbook says dump is the only way to go. > >Is it possible to have a Windows client perform the backup files on the >Samba share to a local Re-Writable CD or DVD drive? If the answer is YES, >what are the pros and cons of a UNIX-based (data-file only) backup vs. a >Windows-based one? >Please add to my list of pros and cons: > >Windows Backup: >PRO: Backup can be restored to a Windows drive while server is being fixed? >CON: Users might forget to replace backup disk after using optical drive. > >FreeBSD Backup: >PRO: Out of sight from users (server is in a storeroom). >CON: Cannot restore backup to a Windows disk while server is being fixed? > >These are some of my other considerations: > > 1) Cost is a primary concern. Budget does not allow for a multi-drive > solution. Best if client does not handle backups (change discs/tapes), so > a solution that permits storing several backups to same disc/tape preferred. > >2) I only want to back up user data (not the OS). Current user data >occupies less than 1GB of drive space, and is expected to grow at a modest >rate. > >3) I do NOT have a writable CD or DVD drive (but can buy one if not too >spendy). > >4) I have an external SCSI connection, but very little "shelf" space. > >5) The server does not have room for another internal device (except if >swapping out the existing ATAPI CD-ROM drive). > >6) I have an Ecrix Corporation Model VXI-1A SCSI internal tape drive that >I assume is obsolete (comments appreciated). Anyway, I don't have room for it. > >7) Have not yet settled on a backup schedule. May be weekly or monthly or >ad-hoc, but daily is probably out of the question. The RAID 1 array is >expected to provide some degree of protection in leieu of daily backups. >Plan to back up all documents each time, rather than implement a >two-tiered backup process. > >Thanks! > You already have RAID 1 so you need more of an offline, removable media solution. You need to choose between CD, DVD, or tape. That is a cost and capacity issue, you need to do some price comparisons and choose what fits your budget. You can backup and restore all files UNIX and Samba/windows from the FreeBSD but not vice-versa. You would do well to setup some automated task, as in a cron job to do the backups. You will need a human to change whatever media you choose, and move it off-site occasionally too. For FreeBSD, be sure to backup /etc /usr/local/etc. You can use dump/restore, tar, pax, cpio, or one of the ports such as bacula. -Derek -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. MailScanner thanks transtec Computers for their support.