Setting up a tape backup strategy for your business

So how do you go about setting up a backup to tape, strategy for your business? Well, let's take a look at 3 simple steps to setting up a complete tape backup solution.

Step 1 - Purchase your tape backup hardware

Firstly, purchase the tape backup hardware. If you need to perform file server backup (or Exchange Server backup or SQL Server backup) for small business, then one of the following tape drive should suffice:

Travan cartridge drive (up to 10 Gb)
DDS tape backup drive (up to 20 Gb)
DDS tape backup drive with hardware data compression (up to 40 Gb)

Then purchase the necessary tapes for your backup rotation strategy. A good Grandfather-Father-Child variation will require 10 tapes or 14 tapes.

Step 2 - Purchase your tape backup software

When it comes to tape backup software, one option is to use NTBackup - the standard Windows backup program. The problem with NTBackup is that it is too hard to use. While an expert should be able to schedule backup jobs using NTBackup, what you really want is something a novice can setup in minutes.

What you really want to do is invest in some quality backup software for your business? Well, if you run a small business, you'll want to avoid those expensive brands! They're designed for large corporations. You should really be looking for software for tape backup that does everything you need, but is affordable at the same.

Look for a backup program that's designed specially for small business instead, such as BackupAssist. Look for a product that advertises itself as being simple to use. Remember, you don't want software that requires an expert to run it. Download a trial version of the backup software and try it out for a month or so. If everything works smoothly and you're happy with the product, go ahead and make a purchase!

Step 3 - Continually perform your backups

So you've attached the tape drive to your server and installed the software. You've configured the software to run your tape rotation scheme and everything's raring to go. So how do you go about performing backups?

Well, at the end of each working day, put the correct tape in the tape drive. Your tape backup software will take care of the rest. The backup should start automatically and complete overnight. Remember to check the results of each backup. If some problem prevented a backup from completing, you need to know about it so that you can re-run the backup during the day.

Be sure to also follow your manufacturer's guidelines for drive cleaning and maintenance.

Final notes

As strange as this seems, you should be at the mercy of your tape backup software. And the more control it exerts over you, the better! Let me explain...

NTBackup assumes that you insert the correct tape and it doesn't inform you of any errors. You are responsible for selecting the tape according to your tape rotation scheme, and the onus is on you to read result logs and discover if any errors occurred.

Your data backup software should tell you exactly what actions to take and when to take them. It should tell you which tape to insert into the tape drive. It should tell you if the backup failed. You shouldn't be in charge of your network backup strategy. Your software should be!

A backup program like BackupAssist will email tape rotation instructions and the results of backups to you or your secretary, making your task far simpler and minimising the chance of human error. Select the right tape backup software and you're already most of the way to implementing a complete tape backup strategy for your business.

> This article was brought to you by BackupAssist - tape backup software

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<h1>Setting up a tape backup strategy for your business</h1>

<p>So how do you go about setting up a <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/tape-backup.html">backup to tape</a>,  strategy for your business? Well, let's take a look at 3 simple steps to setting up a complete  <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/backup-solution.html">tape backup solution</a>.</p>

<h2>Step 1 - Purchase your tape backup hardware</h2>

<p>Firstly, purchase the tape backup hardware. If you need to perform  <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/server-backup.html">file server backup</a> (or  <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/exchange-server-backup.html">Exchange Server backup</a> or <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/sql-server-backup.html">SQL Server backup</a>) for small business, then one of the following tape drive should suffice:</p>
<ul>
<li>Travan cartridge drive (up to 10 Gb)
<li>DDS tape backup drive (up to 20 Gb)
<li>DDS tape backup drive with hardware data compression (up to 40 Gb)
</ul>

<p>Then purchase the necessary tapes for your backup rotation strategy. A good Grandfather-Father-Child variation will require 10 tapes or 14 tapes.</p>
<h2>Step 2 - Purchase your tape backup software</h2>
<p>When it comes to tape backup software, one option is to use <a href="../news/ntbackup.html">NTBackup</a> - the standard <a href="../news/windows-backup.html">Windows backup</a> program. The problem with NTBackup is that it is too hard to use. While an expert should be able to schedule backup jobs using NTBackup, what you really want is something a novice can setup in minutes.</p>

<p>What you really want to do is invest in some quality <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/backup-software.html>tape backup software</a>. What should you look for in a <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/data-backup-software.html">backup software</a>  for your business? Well, if you run a small business, you'll want to avoid those expensive brands! They're  designed for large corporations. You should really be looking for  <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/tape-backup-software.html">software for tape backup</a> that does everything you need, but is affordable at the same.</p>

<p>Look for a backup program that's designed specially for small business instead, such as BackupAssist. Look for a product that advertises itself as being simple to use. Remember, you don't want software that requires an expert to run it. Download a trial version of the backup software and try it out for a month or so. If everything works smoothly and you're happy with the product, go ahead and make a purchase!</p>
<h2>Step 3 - Continually perform your backups</h2>
<p>So you've attached the tape drive to your server and installed the software. You've configured the software to run your tape rotation scheme and everything's raring to go. So how do you go about performing backups?</p>

<p>Well, at the end of each working day, put the correct tape in the tape drive. Your  <a href="../news/tape-backup.html">tape backup software</a> will take care of the rest. The backup should start automatically and complete overnight. Remember to check the results of each backup. If some problem prevented a backup from completing,  you need to know about it so that you can re-run the backup during the day.</p>

<p>Be sure to also follow your manufacturer's guidelines for drive cleaning and maintenance.</p>
<h2>Final notes</h2>
<p>As strange as this seems, you should be at the mercy of your tape backup software. And the more control it exerts over you, the better! Let me explain...</p>
<p>NTBackup assumes that you insert the correct tape and it doesn't inform you of any errors. You are responsible for selecting the tape according to your tape rotation scheme, and the onus is on you to read result logs and discover if any errors occurred.</p>
 
	<p>Your <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/data-backup-software.html">data backup software</a> should tell you exactly what actions to take and when to take them. It should tell you which tape to insert into the tape drive. It should tell you if the backup failed. You shouldn't be  in charge of your <a href="http://www.backupassist.com/news/network-backup.html">network backup</a> strategy.  Your software should be!</p> 
 
<p>A <a href="../news/backup-program.html">backup program</a> like BackupAssist will email tape rotation instructions and the results of backups to you or your secretary, making your task far simpler and minimising the chance of human error. Select the right tape backup software and you're already most of the way to implementing a complete tape backup strategy for your business.</p>
<p>> This article was brought to you by <a href="http://www.backupassist.com">BackupAssist - tape backup software</a></p>
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