Backup Tape Drives

[Kodiak]

I have a customer that is having an issue with there backup tape drive for there server. (2003) This is what she says:

It is not backing up correctly, it says the backup is incomplete and some of the errors are:

- the file date and time have changed

- the file contents have changed

- unable to open file

It is also telling us that we are running out of memory. I had to do a back up of the boss’s emails and we had to go in and delete a bunch of stuff off the shared drive to make room for it. Is there anything we can do to get some more memory?

I asked her to reboot the system during non office hours and she is going to do this in the morning. They are running BrightStor ARCserv Backup for backup software. Is there a better software to run with tape backup and can ghost be ran with a tape backup drive. Probably stupid questions but I have to ask.

[Ferrit]

Ghost doesnt do servers as far as I know.
That requires Live State Recovery

[Kodiak]

IC. What about the built in backup utility like xp pro has? I will install it and see.

[NooNoo]

what software is being used with this drive and which drive is it?

[Kodiak]

BrightStor ARCserv Backup for backup software and I'm not sure of the tape drive. From what I have read on it it's terrible software. From what I read tape drives are pretty much being replaced with external devices. This place only has 10pcs. The manager says they are open to alternatives. Heck, I have 5 pc's and one server and I just backup to a Naslite box with the windows backup utility but I don't pretend to know much about backing up servers. What do you think? They understand my experience with this and I hide nothing from them. I'm looking to sub a server man out and fix servers for me.

[NooNoo]

OK server back up and restore depends on two things:

Budget - how much are they prepared to spend on backup devices/software?
How long can they afford it to be off line if the worst should happen?

Live state server back ups are for mission critical servers
If on the other hand they are happy for it to be down for a day or two while it gets fixed, then back up to tape or hard drives

First find out what they want, then find out what they need, then find out how much they are prepared to spend, then balance the wants, the needs and the money. It's all about the research!