Resource guide to disk-based backup

Disk-based backup has been making a name for itself this past year especially since costs continue to drop. SearchStorage.com's readers have come to us seeking answers on the best way to implement disk-to-disk backup and even disk-to-disk-to-tape.

We tapped our own experts as well as other industry experts to put together this guide for you. A few of the topics covered are the cost of integrating and implementing disk backup, how the technology works with iSCSI SANs, hot disk-to-disk products and a peak into how and why some managers are going with disk backup.


Table of Contents

  Disk-to-disk-to-tape makes inroads
  Think before you invest in disk-to-disk backup
  2004 predictions: The year of disk-based backup?
  SEC gives nod to some disk-based archive
  SD 2003: Integrating disk into backup for fast restores
  Using disk-to-disk with iSCSI SANS
  SD 2003: Disk cost buster – how to leverage low-cost disk solutions
  Ham radio group tunes in disk-to-disk backup
  A directory of hot disk-to-disk backup products
  Disk-based backup vs. tape
  Plan on disk-based backup


Disk-to-disk-to-tape makes inroads
The recoverability of disk, the cost-effectiveness of tape – seems like the two working together is a no-brainer. If you are looking for an effective way to back up remote offices -- a disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) setup might be an interesting way to go. This tip uncovers the limitations of D2D2T, who is offering D2D2T products and what the benefits are.

Think before you invest in disk-to-disk backup
Disk-to-disk backup is a very attractive solution, especially with the introduction of several new inexpensive disk options like ATA and Serial ATA (SATA). But sometimes the older, less glamorous approach is better. Jon William Toigo explains why disk-to-disk backup might not be ready for prime time.

2004 predictions: The year of disk-based backup?
W. Curtis Preston offers his predictions for the year ahead in backup and recovery. Is disk-based backup set to explode? What about serverless backup? Where should the vendors focus their attention on with new backup products. Curtis Preston breaks it down.

SEC gives nod to some disk-based archive
The SEC is starting to allow some disk-based archive methods to act as legitimate archiving tools. This bodes well for EMC and NetApp who are already have products in this market. This tip explores how disk-based backup is slowly gaining the acceptance of regulators.

SD 2003: Integrating disk into backup for fast restores
Backup expert W. Curtis Preston discusses the most effective way to perform backups -- send your data to disk first and then archive to tape. The end result will be a smaller backup window and the ability to perform faster restores. Read more about Preston's plan for faster backups.

Using disk-to-disk with iSCSI SANS
Looking for a low-cost solution for connecting servers to disk over IP networks? Storage networking expert Chris Poelker explains that a great way to reduce backup time and speed up restore time is to use an iSCSI storage area network (SAN) for disk-to-disk backup.

SD 2003: Disk cost buster – how to leverage low-cost disk solutions
According to Ron Lovell, storage practice director at Greenwich Technology Partners, low-end storage should be made up of low-cost serial ATA (SATA) and serial-attached SCSI (SAS) drives. Learn more about the SATA and SAS technologies and who the major players are in these markets.

Ham radio group tunes in disk-to-disk backup
A group representing ham radio operators now uses disk-to-disk backup. Not only is the new system more efficient, the organization's IT manager, a self-proclaimed "paranoid," sleeps a little easier at night.

A directory of hot disk-to-disk backup products
When thinking of disk backup products, it's probably a pretty safe bet that you've asked yourself "what's hot and what's not." Backup expert Curtis Preston says there is a lot out there and plenty that work well with Windows. For your convenience he provides a handy link to a list of current D2D backup products.

Disk-based backup vs. tape
Is your shop thinking of going the tape route for data backup? Well, before you make a move, backup expert Curtis Preston says take a look a disks first. He's been "tape" burned too many times and believes disk-based backup is the way to go, all the way.

Plan on disk-based backup
As backup and recovery becomes more of a chief concern in the data center, storage managers are looking to new technologies to make the process easier. Tape isn't going away, but it will be increasingly joined by disk as a core backup technology.

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