We have been using the Open Source edition for about 6 months.  It is working fine in our production area.  I’m still reading and learning a lot about the system (it is very flexible).  However, we do have a couple of SQL SERVERS and an EXCHANGE server and was considering the Enterprise Edition because of the plugins.  Currently, I just have the SQL SERVERS backup the databases using it’s built-in maintenance schedule and the Bacula backups the backed up databases from their backup folder.  As for Exchange, it is a relatively small store (4 db’s, ~100GB).  We’ve been just using VSS to back it up, but I’ve also written a couple of powerscripts that get run before/after to unmounts/report stats/mount the store.  So far it seems fine.  I also have Bacula-Web installed.

 

So, I was wondering if anyone is using the Enterprise Edition and give some good reasons to upgrade.  Also, I can find NO pricing information online (a bit strange).  I have no problem paying for good software (open source or proprietary).  I just wonder about the pros and cons.  Oh, here is our production environment:

 

4 Xenserver 6.2 hosts (running ~17-20 VM’s split between Windows 2008 R2 and Ubuntu LTS).

2 Physical Servers (Windows 2008 R2)

2000/2005/2008 M$ SQL SERVER, M$ EXCHANGE 2010

 

Oh, we are looking at using Bacula to get stuff offsite.  Our Bacula server is just a plain Dell PowerEdge server with dual Xeon CPU’s, 12GB RAM, and 8x3TB drives in a RAID-5 configuration with raid card and battery backup on the card.  It also has 2 tape drives (LTO-2, LTO-5).  I’m still researching how to use Bacula (copy/migration) to maybe copy some of the files to our secondary plant via our wireless link (18Ghz link at 300Mbps bandwidth).  Anyone who has successfully setup an offsite scenario, I’d love to hear from you.

 

Steven Hammond

I.T. Manager

Technical Chemical Company

 

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