Thanks to Preston, Stuart, Librado, & Darren for there replies regarding
VTL's.

We have a relatively simple Networker configuration here, 8 Windows servers,
1 Windows workstation & 1 Solaris server.  The only BSM we use is for MS
Exchange.  A full backup takes about 7.5 hours and another 7 hours for
cloning (around 300 GB backed up).  The full Exchange backup takes about 3
hours including cloning (60 GB).

The main reason we're looking at disk backup is to speed up recovery.  About
a year ago we had a component fail on the RAID array on our main file
server.  It took IBM 4 days to find the problem then it took us 1+ day to
restore the array from AIT-2 tapes.  (We now have AIT-4 drives which are 4
times as fast).

So the impetus to look at disk backup is to improve that restore time to
near the of speed disk to disk transfers.  If we could achieve that with VTL
technology I think that would be the way to go for us.  We would probably
back up to the VTL then clone that to a tape for off-site storage.  We don't
need to keep more than about 5 weeks of backups at one time.

Spectralogic (the vendor of our current library) has an interesting VTL
product they call RXT.  The disks are removable RAID packs (RAID 0, 1, 0+1,
or 5).  It's probably kind of spendy but might be just what we need.

Thanks again, Dave.

David Werth
Garmin AT, Inc
Salem, Oregon
dave.werth AT garmin DOT com
-----Original Message-----
From: Darren Dunham [mailto:ddunham AT TAOS DOT COM] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:32 AM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [Networker] Cloning from Disk

> The VTLs also have their problems, mostly down to a lack of maturity
> on the software side.

*bing* *bing*

Strong agreement.  2-3 years ago, I was not happy with the disk backup
features in either Networker or Netbackup.  I felt that they hadn't been
used heavily by enough admins.  I would have gone with a "simpler" model
with VTL (it had some advantages of reducing modifications in the backup
configuration as well).

After greater use of the disk backup mechanisms and putting up with bugs
and problems of a VTL, I'd now start any redesign with a preference for
keeping it within the backup product rather than introducing a separate
piece.

-- 
Darren Dunham                                           ddunham AT taos DOT com
Senior Technical Consultant         TAOS            http://www.taos.com/
Got some Dr Pepper?                           San Francisco, CA bay area
         < This line left intentionally blank to confuse you. >

To sign off this list, send email to listserv AT listserv.temple DOT edu and 
type
"signoff networker" in the
body of the email. Please write to networker-request AT listserv.temple DOT edu 
if
you have any problems
wit this list. You can access the archives at
http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/networker.html or
via RSS at http://listserv.temple.edu/cgi-bin/wa?RSS&L=NETWORKER

------------------------- 
This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential material for the sole 
use of the intended recipient.  If you are not the intended recipient, please 
be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this e-mail or 
any attachment is prohibited.  If you have received this e-mail in error, 
please contact the sender and delete all copies. 
Thank you for your cooperation 

To sign off this list, send email to listserv AT listserv.temple DOT edu and 
type "signoff networker" in the
body of the email. Please write to networker-request AT listserv.temple DOT edu 
if you have any problems
wit this list. You can access the archives at 
http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/networker.html or
via RSS at http://listserv.temple.edu/cgi-bin/wa?RSS&L=NETWORKER