Admin: Backup of critical files only for no more than a year and less than that if large data amounts over a TB
User: "why can't you restore my file from 1976 I neeeeeedddddd it!!!!!" Ted -----Original Message----- From: PLUG <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Paul Heinlein Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 1:44 PM To: Portland Linux/Unix Group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [PLUG] Backup Solutions On Wed, 21 Feb 2024, Charles Sliger wrote: > Looking for recommendations for Linux backups. > Anyone use theirs for actual restoring of files or disks? Yes. At work, we use Bacula and an actual in-operation tape library. We've never had trouble with restoring data, but we don't image or restore whole block devices. We maintain a few petabytes of data on tape. We also use a product that I believe now goes by the name MSB Backup. We have a licensed version, but there's a free version for desktop machines. We use that product to back files up to Amazon S3/Glacier; we do test restorations at least once a year, and we've not yet had any problems. But, really, first things first: Are you concerned with hardware failure (e.g., failed disk), human failure (e.g, mistakenly deleted file), or both? Human failure can largely be mitigated with some sort of copy-on-write file snapshotting system, which can be provided by ZFS, LVM, and related technologies. If hardware failure, what is the scope of failure against which you want to protect? Failed hard drive? Stolen computer? Burned-down domicile? Cascadia under water? Your answer will tall you a lot about where to store your files: a second hard drive, a removable hard drive kept in a secure location, a local off-site venue, an out-of-region venue. What is the timeframe of failure you want to guard against? A day? A week? Month? Year? Longer? Do you need your backups stored in multiple locations? -- Paul Heinlein [email protected] 45°22'48" N, 122°35'36" W
