Hmmmm....Does "rsync" refer to a product or methodology?  Does "rsync" mean
that it has an image some place else (like a matching server at a major
corporate location)?  Generally, directory and file synchronization is big
overhead, especially if you are migrating every change (as opposed to a
scheduled event) across the link.  This kind of thing usually means that
other applications that have to use that link are degraded, sometimes
seriously.

David Anderson
Scripps

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Hellier [mailto:rlh AT lsil DOT com]
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 12:55 PM
To: Anderson, David
Cc: 'veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu'
Subject: Re: [Veritas-bu] RE: Backing up lots of small remote sites.


Folks,
        Can I throw in my ten cents' worth? What we do to backup smallish
sites
is to use the
"rsync" software across a WAN (or VPN) link to send down each day's
"deltas".  The initial sync
takes some time, of course, but can be achieved by shipping disks
(rather than tying up the link
for a week ...).

        The savings are:

* No local admin staff needed to change tapes

* No library / tapes needed at remote site

* DR procedures are greatly simplified

* Restores can be speeded up since the required files are
  "spinning" on your disks at the central site and so can be
  turned around without needing tapes!

* Large economies of scale are possible by spending the itty-bitty
  amounts from the remote sites on a humungous library (ies) at the
  central site.

* A few staff can manage lots of sites once the framework is in place

Cheers,

Richard.