Backup options for a small business server
I'd like to create a server suitable for having a hot-spare disk, plus the capability to create full backup for removal off-site, say once a week.
I am considering the HP ProLiant DL160 G6 (with hot swap) rack server (spec here).
Obviously configuring the server for RAID 1 with 2 disks will enable the hot-spare in the event of a single drive failure, but will this server support the ad-hoc backup capability I need for the offsite side of things?
I envisage having say 6 additional, spare HDDs,for say 6 weeks of backup and labelled accordingly. The admin would bring the appropriate HDD to the server at the end of the week, insert it in one of the spare hot SATA slots and kick start the disk cloning process.
Can I get a server to perform the "cloning" automatically upon insertion and then notify the user via a light (assuming the server is headless, apart from RDP)?
Or is there a better way to achieve what I'm after?
Thanks.
The server you selected is capable of maintaining a RAID1 with 2 disks+another hot spare if you so desire (you do).
When it comes to backup you have a few options-
NTBackup (Here's a link on how to do it with USB drives) downside-it will run on a schedule-it won't auto run when it detects your backup disk. So you'll have to make sure the disk is plugged into the machine when the backup starts.
Acronis Backup supports SBS 2008 now-and while I've never personally used it, I've heard good things. Similiar caveats as before-your disk will have to be connected to the machine when the backup kicks off otherwise it will fail. Here is a link showing Acronis supports SBS 2008.
If you're going to hot-swap like this, I would advise that you leave the disk that you're pulling out of the RAID array, otherwise each time you pull and replace the disk you'll be rebuilding the array, which will put a load on your server and may possibly shorten the lifespan of your disks and/or controller.
I'm a total tape junkie when it comes to backup solutions, so I'm advising that you pull back a little and look more at what you want to achieve rather than how you want to achieve it. Depending on your volume requirements, a decent tape drive can be bought for a very reasonable price, and tape media are incredibly cheap these days.
I'm also a fan of keeping things simple and primitive with a backup solution. Primitive on the level of "me Og, me discover fire, fire keep tigers away at night" even. In all my time, every time I have seen someone introduce something fancy into a backup solution, the next thing to happen has normally been havoc.
You want your backup solution to be (a) boring and (b) predictable. That way you can be utterly certain that it stands the best chance possible of working flawlessly each time. Exciting or sexy backups are not an option.
Also be sure, whatever you decide to do, that you can restore from it. I include a full server restore as well as restore of individual files here. The whole point of backing up is to be able to restore, after all.