Prepare to get your Backup...
31 August, 2009
There is a piece of software we have implemented at a number of our clients' sites that makes data protection really simple by performing automatic, scheduled backups of Windows Servers.
Wait; Microsoft's Server Operating Systems have inbuilt backup software, don't they??
Indeed! Introduced in 1997, NT Backup was built-in to the operating system and used to back up files. However, it has been discontinued and is no longer part of Windows Server (2008 onwards). Instead it's been replaced with a block-level backup system. Without getting too technical, let's just say this new type of backup system is aimed at making server backup and recovery really fast.
So why wouldn't you just use built-in systems to do backups?
There are limitations with the in-built backup (both NT Backup and the new block-level backup system) and we have found these are important to acknowledge. BackupAssist addresses all these limitations and the recent upgrade to Version 5 brings even further enhancements.
Firstly, with the discontinuation of NTBackup goes the support for tape drives. BackupAssist enables tape drive support for Server 2008, a very compelling fact for millions of tape drive users!
BackupAssist version 5 supports Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008. It also provides an image-based backup solution for these operating systems.
BackupAssist now gives the option for backing up via the Internet. It uses an efficient software application called Rsync that transmits files from one location to another while minimising data transfer. Rsync is clever in the way that it copies backup files - it only copies the data that has changed. Normally Rsync is configured via something called a command line, which even for techies can be a bit of a nightmare! BackupAssist allows us to set your backups via a user interface; no more command line!
Um, What exactly does that mean?
BackupAssist gives us a lot of flexibility to easily host your data, should you wish to have offsite backups:
- internally - at a different branch office, or to the boss' home for example
- externally - a third party data centre or a hosting partner
- on Windows or Linux machines
- to selected NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices
One of our favourite features in BackupAssist is the email notification of the backup's success/failure. In addition to this, version 5 now has an exciting new feature; Centralized Monitoring. This allows us to monitor your backup results from a central location (along with the results of our clients), or via an email report. It also allows us to look at data growth on your server. BackupAssist Centralized Monitoring can also produce easy to decipher PDF reports.
All of this enables us to:
- give you more options for how you want to backup your data
- be more proactive about backup failures and
- make sure you don't run out of space on your backup drives and tapes.
For more information about BackupAssist or to discuss your backup procedures in greater detail, please contact our office.
Growing in Stormy Weather
6 May, 2009
You only have to flick open the Business section of any given paper to know at the moment, times are tough. Companies are cutting back on spending. Problem - nobody can afford to just bunker down and take cover until the economic climate brightens; it is imperative that businesses continue to grow and manage that growth appropriately.
This includes their infrastructure and when it comes to IT, a sturdy, well-maintained and up-to-date system can be the cornerstone of a productive organisation. But IT investment can be daunting - particularly with all the warnings about tightening the purse strings and news bulletins that bring tidings of economic woe.
So how does a company even think about updating server infrastructure that is low on disk space and slowing down the exchange of information? How does a business facilitate refreshing an old fleet of PCs that are potential security threats due to old operating systems and applications?
In principle, the investment is undeniably important; new infrastructure takes advantage of the latest improvements in both hardware and software technology. It can make a huge difference in the performance of a company's network - the improvements in speed make the network feel tangibly zippier. An investment in your IT can bring you real savings in areas such as power consumption and staff productivity. You may know you need it, but how do you do it, realistically?
Here are a couple of ideas that can make the process of updating more manageable.
Financing
We have been Microsoft Financing partners for some time now and can recommend it as a great alternative to a bank loan. Unlike traditional financing, Microsoft Financing covers 100 percent of eligible Microsoft and third-party software, partner services and hardware…with no hidden costs. With three and five year terms available, you can break your IT investment down into manageable monthly repayments, greatly improving your cash flow.Service Provider Licensing & Software Assurance
Businesses tend to struggle keeping up-to-date with new versions of software. It is no secret that software vendors such as Microsoft go through product phases every 3 - 5 years. This can leave companies behind when the only licensing they have is OEM and they have no upgrade path. Each time a new version of an operating system or application is released, companies are either forced to stay with the versions they have, or spend thousands on new licensing. Rather than admonishing the fact vendors do this, it is best to try and plan around it.Service Provider Licensing (SPLA) will allow a business to access the latest versions of software via a subscription model. This means you only pay for what you use, and you pay for the right to use the software monthly, turning the investment from Capital expenditure into an Operational expense. SPLA is a great way of keeping the software across your fleet uniform and current.
If you do buy OEM licensing, a good way to maximise your Microsoft investment is to add a Software Assurance Agreement to it. Particularly for server operating systems or desktop applications (such as Office) Software Assurance means not only do you own the license; for the term of the agreement you can access the latest version, move it from one machine to another, as well as accessing extended usage rights such as Home Use (the ability to give your employees the right to use the software at home).
For more detail on these and other ideas when planning your IT investments, call us to discuss your needs further…
Virtualisation - What is it?
20 January, 2009
Virtualisation could be the hottest topic of 2009, and it's only January.
So what is Virtualisation and what can it do for your business? This is the first in a series of posts in which we will explain in plain English terms just what it is and how it can be used in your business.
Virtualisation can seem like a magical, mystical concept. At its core however, it is simply a technical way of describing the sharing of computer resources across more than one single purpose.
Traditionally, computer hardware is used to host one single Operating System (OS), upon which applications (APPS) are installed. Think of your Desktop PC. You have one set of hardware, one Operating System (Windows) and then your applications (Microsoft Office, Adobe, printers, games etc).
The Virtualisation Model allows the utilisation of one set of hardware to provide multiple Operating Systems with the resources they need to function. Each OS is completely independent of the other instances. So, if your PC was virtualised, you would have one set of hardware and multiple instances of Windows, each running independently of the others. Commonly, Virtualisation is used to build Servers.
So what does this mean to you as a business owner? Well in these tight times, Virtualisation gives us the ability to supply you with one physical server and have it perform the job of multiple servers, therefore saving on the cost of hardware investment.
There are a number of other benefits as well, which we will go into in the next post on the subject...
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