Re: Recommended Backup/Restore Tools for Newbie

From: Karsten M. Self (kmself_at_ix.netcom.com)
Date: 04/29/05

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    Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:46:02 -0700
To: debian-user@lists.debian.org

    on Tue, Apr 26, 2005 at 02:41:44PM -0400, Parker, Matthew (MParker@seic.com) wrote:
    > Hi,
    >
    > I'm a relative newbie who has just installed Debian (Woody) on 5
    > servers: 2 Firewalls, an Apache/TWiki server, a file server, and a
    > workstation w/ Gnome. I'm looking for a solution to backup these systems
    > (and also the data on the file server.)
    >
    > I've done some reading on the web and have found any number of
    > solutions: from shell scripts to commercial tools. In the interests of
    > time I put together a list of 'system requirements.' I was wondering if
    > people could make some suggestions as to which direction to take.
    >
    > Note: I don't need anything more than a recommended tool/approach. I'll
    > take it from there.
    >
    > Thanks!
    >
    >
    > -----------------------------------
    > -- Requirements of System Backup --
    > -----------------------------------
    > * Incremental Data Backups/SnapShots
    > * System Restore: i.e. bare metal restore
    > * Open Source
    > * Something that a relative newbie can handle
    > * "Popular"
    > > Mature
    > > Well-Documentated
    > > Currently under development/testing
    > > possible relevance to the world of work (i.e. a good tool to put on
    > resume)

    Speaking for myself, tape and tar. Meets most or all of the above,
    though bare-metal restore is IMO overrated (reinstall packages, you want
    current anyway, then apply backups).

        http://kmself.home.netcom.com/Linux/FAQs/backups.html
        http://linuxmafia.com/~karsten/Linux/FAQs/backups.html

    You can use more high-fallutin' stuff. Comes back to:

      - tar is bog standard. It does full or incremental backups. It
        restores from pretty much any interface (very important). It's
        currently developed. It lacks the chrome of more flashy tools, but
        it pretty damned near always works.

      - tape is cheap. It's cheaper than disk, by gobs, for multiple
        copies. You don't state a need for multiple backup points, but if
        the ability to recover an arbitrary date's offsite backup, you've
        got it. rsync-to-disk is _convenient_. It's not a complete robust
        enterprise archival backup solution. It _can_ be a useful component
        of same.

    Peace. 

    -- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com>        http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
 What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?
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    is no "Joe's Shuttle Software" down the street selling a competing
    product. There is no pressure to produce new features in order to
    maintain or increase market share.
    - Robin "Roblimo" Miller, on competition and software quality



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