Low cost automatic backup and remote data duplication solution for SMBs

Database and Network Journal, Oct, 2008 by Ernesto Soria-Garcia

When looking into products that solve our daily issues concerning the aspects of making sure our every day and all-important documents and databases are safely secured away, we find a host of different options and specialized products that do so with proficiency.

However If we look closely at the issues concerning data safety, and solutions to restore data in cases of accidentally deletion, or in the unfortunate case of losing a laptop under whatever circumstance or 'force majeure' as they say, it is clear that not all issues are covered by one solution, and that often we are obliged to build up a mecano-like assembly of products, and manage them fitting together.

In most small and medium businesses, not to mention micro enterprises or independent consultant's cases, addressing these issues ourselves becomes almost impossible, as they are not necessarily knowledgeable enough to feel confident at having a crack at it, especially with the heavy burden of responsibility that goes with the management of such solutions.

So often we lay our hands down and decide that we'll survive without, or accept a partial solution, or of course look for a third party to take care of this aspect of our business on our behalf. Often the more secure or complex the solution, the more costly it is, and the more dependent we are on the third party that we have called to our aid. Linux based mini servers can offer SMBs and micro enterprises a solution that makes a backup of data from PCs in the office into a locally based unit and then duplicates it over existing ADSL lines to a second identical unit for disaster recovery of their choice, all automatically, extremely fast and at a surprisingly low cost. The server can integrate the most advanced enterprise-class technology and allow SMBs and micro enterprises with no more skills in IT than the general PC user to set up and run, providing for the first time real private and fully confidential outsourcing of duplication of one's data. The intelligent server can monitor the whole process with security checks and counter checks, provided to the user as well as the manager/owner of the SMB.

Outlined below are what every enterprise whether a conglomerate or SMB needs to do in order to secure their data backup and the procedures and techniques needed to restore the data and files. To do this, the IT industry defines broadly the building blocks necessary to have a full fledged solution as follows:

For backing up data on the company site and then making copies of it for transportation to the remote site physically or perhaps to duplicate and transfer data via networks to a recipient unit elsewhere including media for remote storage:

* Backup software to manage the daily 'gathering' of data from all 'producers' of data or clients.

* The hardware (PC, Server) that orchestrates this collection

* Local office storage media such as tape drives, disk drives to store the data collected

* Software or procedures to create a copy or replication of the backed up data to local tapes or disks that are physically transported daily to the remote (outsourced) site

In case of sending data via the networks to a remote site:

* Hardware (PC/Server) to orchestrate and send data execute this process to additional remote hardware (PC/Server) storage Disk or Tape drives and their media

* Network infrastructure, whether SAN, LANS, or Internet ADSL

* High level IT engineer to put it all together, administrate and monitor.

Large enterprises can afford to piece together a full solution covering the aspects above which require good IT know how, and administration, as well as monitoring efforts to ensure that all is working well. All this has a naturally a cost that can go into the tens or hundred of thousand s [pounds sterling].

By covering in one fully integrated and purpose made software and hardware product that does all this linux servers can offer a huge opportunity for SMB and micro enterprises to once and for all equip themselves with a solution that brings an extremely affordable, high-level enterprise security to their data.

A typical end user wish list when looking for a backup and remote duplication solution are commonly identified as needing to be:

* All inclusive with performance. IDSbox integrates all under its Linux OS, and local office data modifications and updates only are transmitted to the remote IDSbox, therefore avoiding any clogs in the ADSL lines, and providing extremely high performance synchronization of local and remote (outsourced) backup.

* Have completeness and integrity of data. Various monitoring control Checks are carried out at repertory, file levels amongst others

* Robust. A robust system made of metal chassis including a reinforced PVC casing

* Low operating cost. An electronic temperature and activity control lowers energy consumption to a meagre 9 Watts; could not be greener!

* Easy to install and administrate. Linux OS has been adapted to not require human intervention during its operation. Any programming or planning is done via a web browser.