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WHY BACKUP AND VIRUS PROTECT?? MY SYSTEMS ARE RELIABLE!
GENERAL INSURANCE: You continuously pay money for various forms of
insurance. Health, liability, workman's compensation, automotive, buildings and
other types of insurance. WHY all this insurance? Not that you anticipate
something will happen, but just in case it does.
DATA INSURANCE: Do you insure you critical business data like all of
your other valuable assets? You can, and without paying reoccurring premiums.
And what happens if you don't?
DATA LOSS: If your business data on your computer(s) became corrupted
or lost, how severe would the ramifications be. Would you be able to reconstruct
and re-enter that data? How much time would it take, and what would become of
your business in the interim? Data loss can be a costly and devastating
experience.
WHAT TO DO: For your data insurance, "JUST BACK IT UP"!
DATA BACKUP: It's not costly to install and set up the necessary
backup device to "JUST BACK IT UP!" There's only a one time cost for
the device, installation and setup. Backup media are considered consumables like
printer ribbons and toner cartridges.
WHAT TO BACKUP: You should back up all of your data files at least
daily. Backup programs allow you to easily select the files you want to backup.
You may want to backup the entire contents of your hard drive(s) on a daily or
periodic basis. A consultant may be needed, perhaps on a one-time visit, to
recommend what and when to backup.
WHEN TO BACKUP: The time it takes to backup your data depends on the
speed of the backup device, the number of files to be backed up and the
computer's speed. This time can range from a few minutes to over an hour. You
can manually start a backup or schedule it to run automatically at a specified
time on selected days of the week. This can be during the lunch hour or during
the evening hours when no one is using the computer(s). But keep in mind that
the backup cycle should be performed at least on a daily workday cycle.
WHAT CAN BE BACKED UP: Only the files and programs that are NOT IN USE
can be backed up. Automatically scheduled nightly backups are recommended.
That's when most computers are not in use. It is very important to keep in mind
that in order to do a backup, the computer(s) must be left turned on and
running; and all application programs must be closed.
BACKUP DEVICES: There is a wide selection of backup devices available
today. Economical tape drives can back up 4 gigabytes or more on a single tape,
depending on the model selected. Zip drives can handle 100 or 250 MB on a single
cartridge. Jazz drives can store 1 or 2 gigabytes on a single cartridge. DAT
devices can store from 10 to over 100 gigabytes on a single tape. A CD Writer
drive can burn 670 MB on a CD disk.
DATA VS PROGRAMS: Both are synonymous when talking about or reviewing
specifications of a backup device. The amount of information a device media can
handle is referred to as the amount of data that can be stored on that device.
TAPE DRIVES: The preferred backup device is the tape drive. It can
store more information, data and/or programs, on a single tape than most other
devices store on their media. The exceptions are high cost optical devices. Tape
drives have either an IDE or SCSI interface. Most PC's have an IDE interface
controller. SCSI controllers are in high end PC's and are common in most
servers.
IDE TAPE DRIVE: PC's in the 486 and faster Pentium class have dual IDE
controllers. A wide range of IDE based tape drives are available that connect to
one of those controllers. Today, TR4 4/8 GB and TR5 5/10 GB tape drives are
available for under $200. Tape cartridges for these economical drives are in the
mid $30 price range.
SCSI TAPE DRIVE: Faster transfer rates are usually inherent with
SCSI-type tape drives. A SCSI tape drive requires a SCSI drive controller in the
computer system. 4/8 and 5/10 GB SCSI tape drives are economically available and
usually cost about $50 more than their IDE counterpart. Higher speed tape drives
are DAT drives. A DAT type drive costs considerably more than an IDE type drive
but is noticeably faster. Transfer speeds for DAT drives are from twice to a
greater multiple as compared to IDE type drives. Usually in the 40 MB per minute
and much higher data transfer rate.
NATIVE VS COMPRESSED: As an example, a TR4 tape cartridge can handle 4
GB of data in native mode and 8 GB of data in compressed mode. The mode to be
used is a selection criterion made when setting up the tape backup program for a
backup set. To back up 4 GB of disk data to a TR4 tape cartridge in native mode,
the entire length of the tape would be used. To back up that same 4 GB of disk
data in compressed mode, less than half of the tape length would be used. In
compressed mode, redundant same digits are compressed so the result is that less
tape is used. Compression may be 2 to 1 or may even reach as high as 3 to 1. The
backup is also faster in compression mode.
BACKUP SET: When you use the backup program to select the files you
want to back up, other choices are also made. Select native or compression mode.
Next, select if you want to compare the contents of the tape cartridge against
the selected contents of the hard drive when the backup is done. Then you select
if you want a backup performance log. This selection procedure is called a
backup set. The backup set is saved in the backup program with a name you assign
to it. You can have multiple backup sets for different backup criteria. A backup
set can be started manually, or it can be scheduled to run automatically.
COMPARE: Compare performs a second pass of the tape to physically read
the contents of the tape against the contents of the hard drive. After the
compare is done, a log file is created. You can then review the contents of the
log on the screen or print it out to the printer. The log file lists the
performance of the backup and compare cycles for your review. Printing and
reviewing the log file can serve as a reminder that the backup was successfully
done. Set up a calendar and initial it each day the backup was done.
RESTORE: "JUST BACK IT UP" is the data insurance you have
just in case of data loss due to your computer's hard drive failure or if a
glitch occurs. This may be the result of a computer malfunction or hard drive
failure. Regardless, after the computer system is repaired or replaced, you reed
to restore your critical data and/or programs. The restore facility of the
backup program allows you to selectively choose discrete individual or multiple
files to copy from your backup media to your hard drive. Your full backup allows
you to restore an entire hard drive after your system is prepped to receive it.
STAND ALONE PC's: It is advisable to have a backup drive on each PC in
your business environment. This assures you the best type of data insurance. As
an alternative to dedicated backup devices on each PC, you can time share
swappable backup devices among numerous stand alone PC's. A device shelf is
installed in each PC connected to its drive controller. A mobile rack containing
a backup device can be inserted into the shelf for doing the backup. When the
backup is completed the mobile rack can be removed and rotated to another PC to
back up that PC. Then it can be rotated to another PC. Tape or Zip backup
devices can be contained within a mobile rack. This allows you complete backup
capabilities for each PC with a minimum cost. A mobile rack with shelf is under
$45.
WINDOWS 95/98/NT4.0/2000 WORKGROUP: A single backup device on one of
the PC's in a workgroup environment can be setup to systematically backup
selected folders and files from each PC in the workgroup. Discuss your backup
needs with your workgroup administrator. If you do not have an administrator,
seek help from a consultant.
SERVERS: Servers typically have a backup device inherent to its
hardware configuration. Backup software is available to not only back up the
contents of the server hard drive, but to also back up selected folders and
files from each PC on the network. There are many ways in which to configure the
backup of folders and data files from each PC on a network. Discuss your backup
needs with your system administrator. If you do not have an administrator seek
help from a consultant.
TAPE LIBRARY: How many tape cartridges do you need? The recommendation
is 10. Label 4 of them as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Use these
tapes on their respective days each day of the month. Label 5 of them as F1, F2,
F3, F4 and F5. These will be used on their respective Fridays of the month. The
10th tape is the Grand Daddy. Do a full disk backup to this tape and place it in
a vault. Update it only if you add another application program to you system.
This 10-tape library will give you over a month of restore capabilities.
Consider using an additional tape for each month end. Tapes are cheap
considering the invaluable business data you have.
"JUST BACK IT UP!"
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