October 24, 2002 at 6:43 am
Hello,
We are trying to set up a backup plan for our sql servers and my question is why would you buy a third party backup utility if sql comes with one built in. I am curious why would you use a third party over the built in one or the opposite. What are the pros and cons?
Thanks.
October 24, 2002 at 7:48 am
Mainly to get the backups off the server. I perfer to do disk backups, as it minimizes the backup time, and don't know a lot about SQL backups to tape.
So we use the SQL to disk backup, then use TSM or Backup Exec to move them to somewhere else.
KlK, MCSE
KlK
October 24, 2002 at 7:49 am
We are using the standard SQL commands to backup our database to disk, and then use Veritas to copy it to tape. Of course this means there is a lag between when the backup is taken and when it gets of to tape. Using Veritas you can backup directly to tape, so there would be no lag in getting the backup securely on tape, should the machine die.
The one drawback we found with Veritas, is that all restores had to be controlled by Veritas, and you couldn't use EM's enterface to restore databases. Also the Veritas responsibility in our shop is not with the DBA's, so to restore a database from a Veritas backup would require the DBA's to find a System Admin person. This last issue alone, drove us to not use Veritas.
I see value in using Veritas to get database backups to tape right way, although other things can be done to make sure you have copy of your disk database backup. We copy our local disk database backups to another network disk right after they are taken.
Hope this helps some. I'm sure others will have their opinion.
Gregory Larsen, DBA
If you looking for SQL Server Examples check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/sqlserverexamples
Gregory A. Larsen, MVP
October 24, 2002 at 6:37 pm
The point about needing an admin to help you do the restore is a big one. We back up to disk, then to tape. Also try to keep at least two days on disk in case the tape job fails...dont they always?
Andy
October 24, 2002 at 7:06 pm
There are many options that come with the SQL backup utility. If you used them all I don't see why you would use a third party utility.
October 25, 2002 at 11:25 am
We use the built in utilities. First at 1:00am we do a full backup under one maintenance plan to another machine on the network (we're lightly loaded at that time, use fast 100 Meg cards, and the 5Gig goes in about 30 minutes). This gets us a full set of backups every night on a backup server. We keep 3 days on that server. This server is also our backup SQL server so any restore from a total disaster would be at local disk speeds.
Then at 2:00 am, we do a full backup on the primary server and do transaction log backups every 1/2 hour.
The combination means that unless the primary server completely trashes itself, we can recover to less than a half hour. If it does trash itself, we have lost one day's work and can get back online quickly.
Student of SQL and Golf, Master of Neither
Student of SQL and Golf, Master of Neither
October 25, 2002 at 11:27 am
I should have also mentioned, when it starts taking too long to do the first backup across the network (due to database growth), we plan on simply putting Gigabit cards in the two servers.
Student of SQL and Golf, Master of Neither
Student of SQL and Golf, Master of Neither
October 27, 2002 at 11:25 pm
Hi All
we are also currently depending upon Veritas Backup exec to do all backups of sql dbs .
veritas also gives off the line backup and alos mailing facilities like i need to mail the repective contact person (the customers whose server is being backed up),that backup is complete.
We do backup the db's there on the sq;l server also.
Greg Has mentioned Veritas as one of products.
Anybody having experience with any other third party tool successfull for sql backups.
Also I am making complete restore plan for using veritas Backup exec, backups to be restored on a freshly installed sql server.
I am facing some problems..
I would like to address all of you and specially Greg,
Pls give some hints /links to send my veritas backup/restore related queries and .
I am already going thru the group : http://news.support.veritas.com
but no help out ther for my problems at least..
We are using BackExec 8.6 and using Backup to Disk folder option instaed Tapes.
Thanks in advance..
Regards
Deepa
October 30, 2002 at 9:12 am
Veritas is a nice tool for backing up directory structures. It allows for messaging, priorization and compression. I would strongly oppose using a third party tool to back-up the database directly to tape. I would always use the MS-SQL Server back-up facility to dump to disk and allow the third party tool to back-up the directory.
The potential issue with allowing the third party tool to complete the SQL back-up is the ever impending issue with the vendor's product that prevents the SQL database from being restored. Who solves that issue? I've been caught in the middle between a vendor and a DBMS technical support both stating the database restore issue was the other's problem.
October 30, 2002 at 9:44 pm
We use Veritas Backup Exec with the SAN agent. Our databases are 250Gb and we do not have the luxury of database to disk. We are getting about 575Mb / minute using this method. The issue with direct to tape is the restore time - in which case use of Filegroups cuts down on the potential restore time. We also aim to increase reliability of direct to tape backups by retiring our DLT tapes after 12 months.
Edited by - peterog on 10/30/2002 9:58:38 PM
Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply