George,
I have found that management all over is led to believe from various vendors
that backup solutions are a "set it and forget it" process. This is far from
true.
Today's backup solutions are very complex and reliant on infrastructure: the
Network, DNS, the backup software, the hardware, the media, the OS, and the
configuration of each on every backup server and client. This all plays a roll
in the success or failure of backups. This is not to mention the fact that
backups have to fit into smaller and smaller windows. Databases need to be
shutdown correctly or even more complex tools need to be involved so hot and
cold online backups can take place.
Even under the best controlled environments failures occur and need to be
addressed.
Backups are like insurance. No one thinks they need them until something goes
wrong.
We have no less then two full time people investigating failures and performing
Legato administration. We have 2 utility operators a shift 24/7/365 performing
monitoring and care and feeding tasks for backups and restores 50% of their
time. At times we need to tap other areas for help keeping up. Our Storage,
DBA, NT and Unix Teams all contribute time and effort in the backup arena.
However, we are a large organization.
At one time it was thought here that it was a one man job.
Ronald D. Valvano
e-mail: ronald.valvano AT unilever DOT com
=============================================
May contain confidential and trade secret
information of Unilever Inc. and be subject to the
Economic Espionage Act 0f 1996. For recipient's
use only. If you have received this message in
error, delete immediately, and alert the sender.
=============================================
-----Original Message-----
From: George Sinclair [SMTP:George.Sinclair AT NOAA DOT GOV]
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:01 PM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: [Networker] How much time do you spend on backups?
Just curious how much time some of you spend on your backups. Clearly,
when new equipment is being installed or major software updates, you're
gonna be spending a lot of time, but let's just say on average:
1. How much of your work week is spent on backups.
2. How many people are involved.
3. If you are spending a lot of time, what's your justification? How do
you justify it?
Backups at my shop involve just myself and one tape operator. That's it,
just the two of us. Personally, I find that this whole backup thing is
pretty much a full time job unto itself. There is always plenty of work
to be done, and I can only automate so much, but some folks seem to
think otherwise. They say that with proper automation, a backup
specialist's job can be reduced by 80%, and if not, well then things
just must not be configured or set up right. I tend to doubt that. Can
anyone help me to justify that backups are not some simple thing that
you just quietly usher away at night, only to have some magical reports
and scripts just do everything for you? Would like to hear it.
Thanks.
George
--
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.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
|
