Acronis as server backup software?

Firefly86 · 31 Aug 2007 at 11:18

Hi guys,

I've been using Acronis backup on our servers for the past few weeks as I'm trying to get a reliable system up and running for fault tolerance.
At the moment data is backed up via Symantec Backup exec but no system images / system states etc are backed up.

I've tried using acronis to create the images, however they are massive!
Our exchange server image is something like 50GB which atm is stored on s secondary data drive, however if this drive were to crap out we'd lose it, I tried the acronis secure zone but this seems like a massive amount of space to give to the secure zone :/

Does any1 have any suggestions for acronis or other backup software that I could use to quickly backup and restore a full server to its previous state in case of emergencies?
Coz this is what Im really after

sidethink · 31 Aug 2007 at 11:49

For doing full server images you really need oodles of disk space - there's no way to get round it.

If you go for some proper server imaging software, it can do incremental backups that would only increase your space requirements in line with what is actually used on the target server.

Firefly86 · 31 Aug 2007 at 11:54

hmmm do u reckon the acronis secure zone is safe? or better to just store on a secondary HDD ?

Firefly86 · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:51

also...what exactly dus backing up system state do? would this mean that on a fresh install i could restore the system state and everything would return to what it was previously?

CrimsonAvenger · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:53

Firefly86 said:
hmmm do u reckon the acronis secure zone is safe? or better to just store on a secondary HDD ?

Secondary HD would be my choice...........

a1ex2001 · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:04

Firefly86 said:
also...what exactly dus backing up system state do? would this mean that on a fresh install i could restore the system state and everything would return to what it was previously?

That is exactly what it means.

Taking images is a great form of backup but the disk space requirments will be large. We use a combination of images and traditional tape backups. If this is your Job make 100% sure you've got it right, document you backup procedures accurately and run regular documented test restores. Any other way and you wasting you time and when it all goes wrong don't expect sympathy from the managment it doesn't exist.

Firefly86 · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:42

thanks for clearing that up =)