[NTLUG:Discuss] Backup recommendations

[Kelledin]

> Should I wait to select a tape device until I decide which backup
> package I want to go with?  I'm thinking of going with an internal tape
> drive on this.  Any thoughts on the internal vs external options?

Probably not too much need to wait.  Tape devices in Linux pretty much all 
get treated equally (with a few exceptions like QIC-02 and ftape).  If you 
get a generic SCSI DAT drive (assuming that's all the capacity you need), 
you're golden.

As for internal vs external, I would first try managing with a cheaper 
internal drive.  You can always make it external later with a $90 enclosure.

> Which PCI SCSI card would be the best choice?  I intend to hang some
> hard drives off this card in the future as well.  Probably external
> drives to eliminate the cooling problems associated with internals.

I'd recommend the Adaptec 29160 (*not* the 29160N; the 29160N only has a 
50-pin external interface).

> Which package have people found easiest to deal with for single station
> backups of networked machines?

I myself am still tarring straight to DAT tape. ;)  I've heard good things 
about Amanda though.

--
Kelledin
"If a server crashes in a server farm and no one pings it, does it still cost 
four figures to fix?"