I have a large NetApp environment and I am looking for a new strategy for 
backing up my filers. I am trying to decide between using SnapVault technology 
or a VTL with tape. 

I am fortunate to be able to replicate all my primary filers to a remote 
location. From there I want to protect the data. I have a 7 year retention 
policy for my data. I was thinking of protecting 14 days online, then only 
monthly's for 7 years.

I rarely do restores and most of the data is  flat files. 

With SnapVault I am able to transfer data to NearStore. It takes an initial 
baseline copy, like a full backup, then it it would only "snap" the incremental 
changes at the block level. I am thinking that this would be very fast for 
daily backups and I could eliminate tape. 

The alternative would be to use my existing NetBackup software to backup each 
filer via NDMP to a VTL. From the VTL I would apply the same retention. 14 days 
in the VTL then monthly's to tape for 7 years.

I do not have to takes tape offsite since I am the primary copy is 300 miles 
away. 

So.... I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. I am concerned with 
SnapVault since it is all disk and corruptions may happen. It also has a 
limitation of 251 snaps. That should not be a problem with my retention policy, 
but my requirements may change? Also what would happen if I lost the initial 
baseline copy, does that mean that all the incremental snaps are worthless?

Unfortunately if I go with SnapVault, economically I will not be able to use 
tape or Netbackup, so at that point I would not have the security of tape. 

So VTL and Tape or SnapVault.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Pat

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