I am currently adding 3 storage nodes to our existing networker
system.  2 of the 3 have local administrators that were using arcserve, and
NT backup. The third site has a local user.  It seems to be working OK.  The
W2K storage node is cheaper than the Unix version, but one MAJOR complaint:

(start of rant)
        Why is the cost of a storage node the same as the server?  With the
server, you get client licenses. With the storage node, you don't. This
means that the storage node is more expensive than the server since you have
to buy client licenses to make them work.  I felt like the victim of "bait
and switch" when I found out that the storage nodes didn't come with even
ONE stinken license!
(end of rant).

Two problems I have had so far.

1. I turned on E-mail notifications at "Tape mount request 1".  I then told
the remote user to change the tape everytime he got the e-mail notice.  I
expected only the one notice, but when he started getting 4-5 notices he
e-mailed me to ask for directions.  Unfortunately, he had already changed
the tape a second time, interupting the backup that had continued when he
put the first (new) tape in.  I  moved the e-mails notice to "Tape mount
request 3" and so-far haven't had this problem again.

2. In my case (above) Networker labeled the second new tape as XX2 even
though the user put in a completely different tape externally labeled as
YYY.  This is a recipe for disaster if you and the remote user do not
communicate clearly about which tape is in the drive at any particular time.
The best answer is to pre-label both on tape and externally all tapes before
you send them to your remote users.

Calvin Thomas
UNIX System Administrator
NACA Logistics



-----Original Message-----
From: Cyndi Smith [mailto:Cyndi.Smith AT ASPENTECH DOT COM]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 12:37 PM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: [Networker] Remote backups using legato


We have some very small (<100GB of data) remote sites. They are backed up
using a variety of methods ranging from not at all, to NT Backup, to local
Legato on a small tape changer.
We would like to standardize methods and also reduce the administration
overhead for backups at these remote sites.
Suggestions have included
        1. standardizing on local Legato install (major drawback is need for
local administration of tapes, etc. plus the need to purchase a few more
licenses)
        2. using an off-site (outsourced) backup solution such as LiveVault
(major drawback is cost)
        3. using remote replication to disk at one of our "major" sites and
backing up that disk using our regular methods (major drawback is necessity
of purchasing and maintaining replication software such as Double-Take)
        4. backing up over our WAN using Legato from one of the "major"
sites (major drawback is potential network bandwidth issue)

Option 1 requires remote monitoring of the Legato backups plus an on-site
(non-IS) person willing to change tapes under the direction of a remote IS
person). It would also necessitate purchasing some Legato licenses.
Options 3 and 4 would necessitate purchasing disk space to replicate the
data.
Options 2, 3 and 4 would likely necessitate purchasing more network
bandwidth -- 4 more than 2 or 3 since they do byte level incrementals.
Are there any other issues with option 4? Does this require any sort of
special license from Legato? We have plenty of server and client licenses to
handle this option - as long as no other special license is needed.

Has anyone else gone through this sort of exercise? What did you decide and
why?

Thanks for any input.

Cyndi
---
Cyndi Smith
Senior System Support Engineer - Unix
Aspen Technology, Houston, TX

--
Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via email
to listserv AT listmail.temple DOT edu or visit the list's Web site at
http://listmail.temple.edu/archives/networker.html where you can
also view and post messages to the list.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

--
Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via email
to listserv AT listmail.temple DOT edu or visit the list's Web site at
http://listmail.temple.edu/archives/networker.html where you can
also view and post messages to the list.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=