Backing up to same server diff disk set

  • Please voice your opinion on the following backup strategy - I am currently reviewing this process...

    Virtual Server

    Disk Set Data and Logs are on SASS disks (SAN) (logical partitions E and F respectively)

    Disk Set Backup is on SATA disks (SAN) (logical partition G)

    Daily differential tape backups on the above and weekend full tape backups.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I did this so I no longer would have to backup to a network location (my network backup server is being retired).

    My thought was, if my data is on a different SAN disk set than my backups I can access my backups if I loose my Data disks, and visa versa. If I loose the entire virtual server I have both tape AND 30 days of snapshots.

    Opinions are welcome on this set-up. Do you think I should still have a network backup? NONE of my databases are High Avail or have a SLA of less than 3 hours.

    Thanks!

  • Daily differential and weekly fulls of what drive? No need to try and backup your data or log volumes since the database files won't be backed up anyways.

    With this setup - you are still at risk of losing up to 30+ hours of data if you lose your SAN, depending upon when it happens and where your tape backups are - when that was done and how long it takes, etc...

    If that risk is acceptable - then your plan is good. If that risk is not acceptable, then you need to add to it. 😉

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  • Hawkeye_DBA (1/13/2010)


    Please voice your opinion on the following backup strategy - I am currently reviewing this process...

    Virtual Server

    Disk Set Data and Logs are on SASS disks (SAN) (logical partitions E and F respectively)

    Disk Set Backup is on SATA disks (SAN) (logical partition G)

    Daily differential tape backups on the above and weekend full tape backups.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I did this so I no longer would have to backup to a network location (my network backup server is being retired).

    My thought was, if my data is on a different SAN disk set than my backups I can access my backups if I loose my Data disks, and visa versa. If I loose the entire virtual server I have both tape AND 30 days of snapshots.

    Opinions are welcome on this set-up. Do you think I should still have a network backup? NONE of my databases are High Avail or have a SLA of less than 3 hours.

    Thanks!

    I don't think you need to have a network backup, but as suggested in the earlier posts, you risk losing approx 30 hours of data if the SAN goes down.

    You can backup to a local disk Disk1 and schedule a job to copy the backup files to a Centralized server's Disk2 and scheduled tape backups from there.

    This will safeguard against failure of either Disk 1 or Disk2..not to mention a daily tape backup if possible would limit the amount of data loss in case of a SAN failure..

    HTH...

    The_SQL_DBA
    MCTS

    "Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."

  • Thank you both for your opinions 😎

    I see your point, let's hope, pray, and pray again that I don't ever loose BOTH of my SAN disk arrays! LOL

    I do some t-log backups as well, but most of our data is in Simple due to the nature of it we can afford to loose a day if a catastrophic event happens.

    I figured it would be overkill to do yet another backup to a third (really 4th) location! LOL

    Thanks again!

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