Re: [SAGE] reliable Windows backup/recovery software

[Robert Brockway <rbrockway@opentrend.net>]

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006, Ruth Milner wrote:

> I am trying to find a reliable program to do disk image backups (and
> recovery :-) ) under Windows XP. Besides reliability, I really only
> have three capabilities that I care about:
>
>  1. Make a complete image of the system disk contents (preferably
>     only the used space, not the entire surface) into a *file* on
>     a separate hard drive.
>  2. The choice of browsing the image to restore selected files, or
>     to restore the entire image.
>  3. Support CDs as bootable rescue media.
>
> I don't mind if the program has to boot itself into DOS (or whatever)
> to image the system disk correctly. Frankly, I'd have more confidence
> in the integrity of the backup if it does.

I'm a *nix guy.  No doubt about it.  I've successfully backed up (and 
fully recovered) MS-Windows systems by having the system boot up in Linux 
off a small partition and backup the NTFS/VFAT/FAT filesystem while it is 
mounted read-only under Linux.

I generally use dd for this as it can slap the filesystem back to a 
partition without the need for any additional tools (eg, no need to make 
a new filesystem).  The disadvantage of using dd is that you'll get a 
filesystem back the same size as the one you backed up.  A resize tool is 
needed to change the size.

Also, compressing a dd'ed filesystem archive is very desirable.

This is all really straight forward to setup & manage.  Any Linux person 
should be able to do this in their sleep.

Recovery is as simple as booting off a Linux live cdrom (eg, Knoppix) and 
restoring the filesystem (after making a partition if it is a new disk).

Now with MS-Windows if you go around changing a lot of the hardware you 
have a different situation.  So if the entire system is destroyed it gets 
more interesting.

> vendors' support. Perhaps I'm naive, but I just don't understand
> how such a critical function is being left to such a sorry-looking
> bunch of prospects.

At the risk of starting a flame war, overall I'm very under-impressed by 
most commercial backup solutions, especially when it comes to disaster 
recovery (DR).  As far as I'm concerned a backup/DR system needs to be as 
simple as possible.

I'm either going to be doing a DR at 3am when I'm tired or at 3pm with 
people looking over my shoulder.  Neither situation is conducive to good 
concentration so DR systems need to be simple.  In my experience 
commercial backup systems are complex with many bells and whistles. 
Exactly what I don't need at 3am.  I accept others may see it differently 
but this is how I feel.

Above I described the way we do backup systems for MS-Windows.  The system 
we use for *nix boxes is very similar.  We use a custom backup script for 
most clients.  Our DR system has been tested in the field and shown to 
work.  That's the ultimate test.  The more of a no-brainer that DR can be 
the better.

Just because DR should be a no-brainer doesn't mean you don't need good 
docs.  The DR system needs to be documented so that a suitable qualified 
sysadmin who has no knowledge of your site can do the DR with minimal 
problems.

> Do you have experience with such software under Windows, and if so,
> have you found a program with these capabilities that has *proven*
> reliable for you? I'd be willing to sacrifice the imaging capability
> if it's the only realistic way to get high reliability on restores,

Short of backup corruption a restore should just work.  If this is not so 
there is something fundamentally wrong with the backup/DR system or 
software.

> Suggestions would be appreciated. Please reply to me and I will
> summarize to the list around the end of next week. Thank you!

I've decided to make mine public.  I hope you don't mind.  Perhaps I'm in 
a chatty mood :)

/me dons his asbestos underwear.

Rob

-- 
Robert Brockway B.Sc.        Phone:          +1-905-821-2327
Senior Technical Consultant  Urgent Support: +1-416-669-3073
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