Backup Suggestions

I use a batch file to backup the database to a folder C:\RMS Backup. You can search the google archive of this group for the code. It seems to work great. Creates a rolling 3-day archive. Very handy.

I back up to DVD. A DVD-RW drive is cheap. I use NTI's Backup NOW! (cheap

- like $49 or so) for unattended backups.

Tom

I got my first wakeup call to take seriously the daily backing up of our databases; luckily I dodged a bullet this time. I have 1 HQ and 2 SO's. Does anybody have any suggestions what kind of hardware that I should buy to start doing so...preferably a cost-effective solution. Thanks for any feedback.

I found a low cost solution for backups. The prices of external drives are very low. I got a 500gb drive for less than $200. I have 2 of these on my server. One backs up during the day and one at night. Within each of these drives I have a folder for each day. I now have a back up to go back 1 week and have 2 sources of information. I also have the same configuration on all of my PC's. I also have an external backup on each register that contains all of the software, updates and drivers necessary for a re-install. I did not buy any software, I just use the windows software. Works great.

Jay

Steve wrote:

Cheap--you said it.

I USED to use that until we had a hard drive crash on our server. the incremental backups are REQUIRED to recreate the drive.

One was corrupted or something happened while it was in process.

So, we could not recover the data. I was able to pick pieces off the original full backup but I was REALLY mad and will never ise NTI again.

I was backing up to DVDs.

mickie

"Terrible Tom" wrote:

I also back up to an external harddrive using a script for daily backups after we close. I also have Ghost installed(because of Jeffs recommendation)and have it set to run at midnight everyday. Not quite as good as backing up every hour, but it has worked for us. Craig

What script do you use to backup hourly? and what script do you use for the daily backup?

I would also point out that for a comprehensive DR program there should definitely be some form of off-site storage.

Previously we were backing up to tape on a nightly basis and have even been sending our nightly backups to Iron Mountain for storage. This is of course partly due to the fact that a large portion of our data was also internal accounting information. Once you spend a couple of years (or even a couple of weeks) humping tapes around, forgetting to swap them out, and generally being annoyed by the process, you start looking at backing up via the network. We currently are using evault which isn't cheap, per se, but your data is always available, they handle all the incrementing, and if you have to you can recover it from anywhere in the world.

Again, it's not the apex of penny pinching but if you have a few bucks to throw at it every month it will make your life a lot easier. I haven't worked with any of the other online backup companies but I have been very happy with evault's customer service and responsiveness. They seem to be both reliable and professional.

Here is a program I got off this NG to make a set of backup scripts. I did my own, but this should do the trick. You will have to change the name of locations, databases, etc. Craig

begin 666 BACKUP Scripts.zip M4$L#! H``````&148C4````````````````6````4DU3,5\S+T)!0TM54"!3 M0U))4%13+U!+`P04````" # 6BPUF!&12YJ;V+5D;U*`U$0A;]-(ED2Q(!"RJRM5;".%FH@(A(B&KL%2?P)0GYD]UJD\PE\B906Z95 *AL["Q_ )_',54->(0?F MWC,SY]R998.U@,G!=W;V_M%Z?CM^[==>UAM\!@C[%(B,;*4;=K&98UYZVO[* MA^2H4&*'(M,,7%&G1LP9"2-Z.CL,Y&UP3Y];4O6:XM>^GRKND-54D M18>AHJ?J0#'TF@O&=-LLIQ=&TMN@```+ ````B````4DU3,5\S M+T)!0TM54"!30U))4%13+U-A='5R9&%Y+F)A=$M)S5%PMHIQ/$X ATC3=# M*- U(-W.0%L\@>P0(!NDOQ2H+@6HIY)!CR$)K!XX-)D2VD5"F3,2)OQ7GI#55)$5*7]'5M*?H>\T=8SFKCM:S7U!+`P04````" !@6RPU,/C^M'D` M``"M````(0```%)-4S%?,R]"04-+55 @4T-225!44R]4eS9&%Y+F)A=$M) MS5%PMHIQH4FX>.X]C$$Z0G:L,_^66N=O0\G. AXC0O+

What script do you use to backup hourly? and what script do you use for the daily backup?

What database are you running, MSDE/SQL 2000 or SQL2005/Express? The scripts are different.

As far as scheduling them, use the Windows Task Scheduler for either.