Re: [gentoo-server] Backup software

[Jose Gonzalez Gomez]

Anthony,

    I'm currently testing Bacula. I started with Amanda (it seems to be 
the venerable one in the area) but the documentation and configuration 
file format made me quit by now. Other things that I don't like in 
Amanda but Bacula has are native support for backups to file system and 
possibility of using more than one tape per backup or more than one 
backup per tape. Bacula documentation is much better (I'm reading it 
right now) and the configuration file format is very natural and 
readable. From what I've read and tried it seems to comply with 
(almost?) all my requisites. Would you mind answering just two questions?

    First of all, I like a lot the modular approach of Bacula, so I can 
have the services spread over my network communicating among them. What 
about network traffic? I guess file daemons must send all the data to be 
backed up to the storage daemon over the wire. Don't you notice network 
slowdowns? Could you give me stimates of backup time based on size of 
backup from some of your installations?

    What about backups of file systems containing mail or database 
servers? What is your exeprience here?

    Thanks a lot, best regards
    Jose

Anthony Dodson wrote:

>We use Bacula at three different sites, with three different DLT-based
>autochangers.  We are very happy with the software as well as the
>responsiveness of the development community.  Our most complex site has
>Bacula running on a server connected to a 4-drive, 48-slot autochanger.
>Bacula handles multiple simultaneous backups to the same drive, as well as
>control of the robot for swapping out tapes for all 4 drives.  It allows
>(currently 3) choices for your media database, PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite.
>
>I have no experience with the others you mention.
>
>Good luck...  and let us know what you choose and why...
>
>Anthony
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jose Gonzalez Gomez [mailto:jgonzalez@×××××××××××.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 12:49 PM
>To: gentoo-server@l.g.o
>Subject: [gentoo-server] Backup software
>
>
>
>    Hi there,
>
>    I sent this to the gentoo-user list without much success, I hope in
>the server list there are more people doing backups... you know what
>they say: "there are only two kind of people: those doing backups and
>those that never lost any data". I hope I become one of the third kind,
>those that never lost any data but are doing backups :o)
>
>    I'm searching for some backup software with the following requirements:
>
>    * Capability to scale from a single machine to backups of full
>networks, including heterogeneous OS (Linux, Windows,...)
>    * Capability to do full or incremental backups
>    * Network friendly (don't wanna have my network down because the
>backup traffic ate all the bandwidth)
>    * Possibility of using different backup media (tape, CD, DVD, HD,...)
>    * Ease of maintenance and recovery, preferably with unattended
>      operation (don't wanna be hanging around changing tapes)
>    * Snapshot backups of live file systems (don't wanna have to stop my
>      web/mail/database server to do the backup)
>    * Ready to go (so please, don't tell me to use tar / cpio / mt)
>    * Of course open source
>
>    After a preliminary search, I've found Amanda, Mondo Rescue and
>Bacula, all of them in portage. I would like to hear experiences, and
>thoughts about this.
>
>    Thanks in advance, best regards
>    Jose
>
>IMPORTANT WARNING:
>This e-mail is intended for the use of the person to whom it is addressed
>and may contain information that is privileged and confidential, the
>disclosure of which is governed by applicable law. Dissemination,
>distribution or copying of this information in an unauthorized manner is
>strictly prohibited. Sender accepts no liability for any damage caused by
>any virus transmitted by this e-mail. If you receive this in error, please
>notify the sender.
>
>
>