10 issues when developing backup strategy on multi-platform systems

Network administration - Some coefficients can complicate the process of backing up multiple server-based systems. However with some questions in this article you will make sure your plan is enforceable.

Backuping a server is usually a fairly simple task, but things will become more complicated if you own a heterogeneous network with multiple platforms. Here are some questions to consider when planning a backup strategy for this type of system.

1. Does your backup application support all necessary platforms?

The most basic question you need to consider is that your current backup application will work with other operating systems or you will have to invest in something else.

2. Does your backup software support features other than file level backup for operating systems?

This is one of the problems that are often overlooked. To give you an idea of ​​what we are talking about, think about what is involved in backing up a Windows network. Some applications (such as SQL Server and Exchange) do not support file level backups while the application is active. As a result, backup software must be specifically designed to support such applications. The same is true for applications running on Linux or Macintosh. Only file level backup of another server is not enough. You may have to invest in special backup software to support applications running on those servers.

3. Does your existing storage device have enough capacity to backup other servers?

This is a fairly basic consideration, but it is nonetheless important. Is your current backup infrastructure capable of backing up new servers that will be added to the network now?

10 issues when developing backup strategy on multi-platform systems Picture 1 4. How much money is invested in your current backup system?

If asked to add a number of cross-platform servers in the data center, you may discover that for any reason, your current backup infrastructure cannot support either. new servers. When this happens, you have to stop and consider the amount of money you invest in the current system.

If you have spent a lot of money on the current system, then surely you will make someone unhappy if you suggest an alternative, especially if the current system is not too old. In such situations, you can implement a secondary backup system designed for the new platform that you will add to your infrastructure.

5. If you need to replace your backup system, what is the plan for maintaining existing archives?

Suppose you find that your existing backup system does not support the new platform will be added to the network and decided to replace it with another system that is compatible with more platforms. Surely you cannot remove your old hardware and backup software, as it is still used to create all your archives. You then need to decide how long your existing backup system will be retained and how you will have to connect it to the network if the old backup restoration becomes necessary.

6. Are you friendly with all operating systems to know what needs to be backed up?

In Windows environment, there are many types of backups. For example, backing up a server may require you to perform a file level backup, an application level backup, and a system state backup. Non-Windows operating systems may also require servers to be backed up at other levels to be fully protected. Make sure you are friendly enough with the operating system on your network to know how to backup them properly.

7. Is it possible to save data from multiple platforms on the same storage system?

If you plan to backup multiple servers to a storage system, you must decide whether your backup application can write data from multiple platforms to this system. In most cases, this will not become a problem as long as the backup software uses agents to communicate with the target servers, but it is still something you should check.

8. Are there features like bare metal recovery or asynchronous hardware recovery supported on other platforms?

Bare-metal restore is a technique in the field of data recovery, where the backup data will be available in order to allow someone to restore the "bare metal" computer system, which is not loved. What software or operating system preinstallation is required.

If you still use the current backup software, you will probably have some features (such as the ability to perform bare metal recovery or restore to heterogeneous hardware) so that you are allowed to proceed. However, the backup application supports other platforms but it does not mean that every feature will work with all supported platforms. You need to find out if your backup application has limitations in a cross-platform environment.

9. Is your solution loyal to current service level agreements?

Many large organizations impose service level agreements on their IT departments. For example, you might be asked to bring the network back to active status within a certain amount of time when an error occurs. If you need to backup multiple platforms, make sure that your intended backup strategy will allow you to comply with the required service level agreements.

10. Does your solution comply with government storage requirements?

Many large organizations are required by legislation in storage for a certain amount of time. So before making any changes to your current backup solution, determine if your changes violate this legal agreement.