Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:05:38 -0400 From: Steve Bertrand <steve@ibctech.ca> To: Christopher Sean Hilton <chris@vindaloo.com> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Replacing tape changer with USB disk drives. Message-ID: <48571BF2.8010407@ibctech.ca> In-Reply-To: <F551340C-1A3B-4357-9EC8-2FB2904ECCDD@vindaloo.com> References: <F551340C-1A3B-4357-9EC8-2FB2904ECCDD@vindaloo.com>
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Christopher Sean Hilton wrote: > I run FreeBSD 7.0-STABLE on a file server and until recently used a Tape > Changer for backups. I'm considering my options for a new backup > solution. I'm actually thinking of ditching tape and using an externally > attached USB or Firewire disk drive. Do the tapes get taken off-site, or do they sit in the same location that the servers will burn when a fire breaks out? > My experimentation isn't giving me good feelings about doing this with > FreeBSD. To start this off I installed an Adaptec USB 2.0 interface into > my server. In the time that I've been working with it I notice that it > periodically bogs down and that it has the potential to panic the kernel > and cause a reboot. I recognize that this could be: > > The USB card that I'm using. > > The chipset in the USB enclosure that I'm testing with. > > Has anyone gone this route? If so what was your experience? Yes, I use external USB 2.0 external disks for backup for workstations that are encrypted with either GELI or TrueCrypt on the fly. The problem with USB hard disks is that they A) are prone to failure very quickly (as has been pointed out); and B) they never get taken off-site on a routine basis as they should. My recommendation (FWIW) would be to build/buy/acquire a network storage device with a 1000Mbps Ethernet interface that you back up your entire network to. Depending on the size of your network, it may be advisable to pop an extra NIC (gigE) in every box that requires a backup and create yourself a private backup subnet, as to not disturb the production network. Once the network backup is complete, cycle this complete backup to tape which can be taken off site for longer term storage (after the network backup to 'hot' storage is done, the tape backup time becomes irrelevant). This setup provides an always-on, live-as-of-yesterday recovery mechanism without having to load tape. Also, depending on the amount of data that requires backup, and the throughput capacity/cost of your Internet link(s), it is always a benefit to do an rsync (or equivalent) copy to a remote location, in order to best accommodate a 'hot spare' location (ie, users migrate to remote temporary location, and have to change as little as possible). USB disks are as useful as the people that you put in charge of taking them off-site, multiplied by the number of drives you cycle, divided by the life expectancy of the disks (and/or the people taking them offsite ;) One more thing...a good backup is not measured in how far back the backup goes...a good backup is measured in the amount of time it takes to recover from it.... Steve
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