A common frustration experienced by many IT departments is the issue of interoperability, especially within the storage sector. Drive Control Corporation (DCC) recently tested Quantum`s Snap Server range with VERITAS Backup Exec at its competency centre to provide a 'tried and tested` solution to its resellers.
The fundamental advantage of Snap Server is its embedded operating system, which is optimised with Backup Exec for a single purpose: data storage. These NAS devices are single purpose, self-contained appliances, rather than complex external computer systems like conventional file servers.
"There are primarily two ways to backup data using a Snap Server," explains Craig Johnson, VERITAS Product Manager at DCC. "The Snap Server can be treated as a standard client server, the data from which can be backed up via a standard network shared directory and an existing media server to tape. Or, data can be backed up directly to the Snap Server using the Backup-to-Disk feature - a feature unique to Backup Exec in the workgroup-product space."
Says Jose Coelho, technology centre manager at DCC: "Another consideration is the time taken to complete a backup. The advantage of using Backup Exec with Snap Server is that incremental backups may be done over the network. It makes sense to backup just the changes to a file and not backup the entire file."
VERITAS Backup Exec is the first storage solution certified for both Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems. Now in its seventh generation, Backup Exec is an easy to use and flexible network backup solution that is currently protecting millions of Windows NT and Windows 2000 servers worldwide.
"Our integration test with Backup Exec and Snap Server has highlighted the flexibility of performing backups using Backup Exec," continues Johnson. "In the past, backup to tape was generally the only option available to most small to medium enterprises. Now, organisations have the option to use either tape or disk (or both) as their backup media. This is something that impacts recovery time - retrieving data from disk is a lot faster that retrieving data from tape, an insight often overlooked. This is not to say that tape will become obsolete. Tape media is still generally used as long-term, off-site."
Snap Server`s ability to create virtual folders also reduces backup time significantly as data is saved onto multiple folders simultaneously. This function allows the user to restore data in minimal time and it enables one to access information quickly.
Coelho comments: "Much emphasis is placed on backup but what about disaster recovery? Server to server synchronisation software enables replication of data from a local Snap Server to a remote Snap Server. Again, incremental replication and the fact that this function is host-based ensures network speeds are not impacted negatively with these activities."
The Backup Exec architecture minimises network traffic and reduces backup time to fit into the ever-shrinking backup window. You can also specify a secondary network to pass backup traffic through reducing LAN traffic on the primary network.
"The Backup Exec/Snap Server combination is very cost effective. Believe it or not but Snap Server`s cost per GB is cheaper than tape. Backup Exec also enables Snap Server to tie into existing backup solutions, which again positively impacts storage-related expenditure," continues Johnson.
Higher reliability is achieved and faster performances is par for the course as only necessary tasks are performed so that CPU cycles are dedicated to what is most critical - data storage and file serving.
Coelho concludes: "Snap Servers install in minutes and automatically recognises and supports all major network platforms which can be managed via a simple web browser. Less maintenance is required as there are no recurring service packs, patches or bug fixes as with conventional operating systems."
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