Re: NT Backup - WHAT A JOKE!

First of all I think that a client will be justifiably reluctant to spend
money to buy additional software to implement the simplest of backup
solutions. Let that solution rest for self changer tape bank users who have
the appropriate budget. This is about SBS or at least SBS users i.e. the
plebs so let the equestrian classes go somehere else!


Secondly the wizard does not suit many SBS users needs. It's perfectly
possible to just follow the prompts and setup a backup scheduled to run (say)
every weekday. Unless that user has been through the rigmarole of
initialising the tape set in RSM that backup is going to fail. Eventually the
client gets fed up and just doesn't take a backup. Or maybe its failing
silently 'cos he's got better things to do than look at log files.

The simple (JCDFOT) solution will only require the user to change the backup
tape daily. If he forgets a day and the previous days tape gets overwritten
then it's no big deal. But the present situation in which the backup fails
because the "wrong" tape is in the drive isn't fail safe - it's fail
dangerous.



If sophisticates want or need more complex schemes then let them purchase
the third party solution. But the JCDFOT solution should be right there out
of the box.

As for the other solutions available, yes I'm using the JSITT2265 script on
some W2K servers, but that note is dated in 2000. Can anyone give an
authoritative aswer on whether the /UM switch should still work in W2K3 even
though it's no longer documented?
--
Bob


"Kerry Brown" wrote:

Bob wrote:
I strongly sympathise with the original poster.

We have been running the NT4 version of NTBackup for years with no
problems at all. Now the server has been switched to Windows 2003.

We want the backup to be written to whatever tape happens to be in
the tape drive regardless of what RSM thinks is the correct tape. In
other words we want the backup to happen and if the wrong tape gets
overwritten through someone's negligence then that's better than the
backup aborting.

Yes we know about the /UM switch. Opinions differ, some say it works
with W2K not with W2K3, some say in W2K3 it works but it's not
documented, others that it won't work, others that it works but that
it has to be at the end of the line. My tuppence worth is that it
works sometimes and sometimes not. I've yet to see an authoritative
post from MS on the subject. The advice I get from the local MS
office is that must Enterprise users buy a third party backup product.

We do know how to use RSM to set up a tape rotation system and it
does work. But it does NOT meet the KISS principle and we don't want
to use it.

Surely MS should support the simple option a la NT4 for the plebs and
let users who want sophisticated tape rotation systems machine
enforced buy a third party solution.


NTBackup and specifically the SBS Backup wizard that use it are an excellent
solution if they fit your needs. For the target audience for SBS the backup
wizard is a built in solution that is easily configured and works. No one is
forcing you to use it. If it doesn't meet your needs or you simply prefer
something else then use something else. No one is stopping you from using a
3rd party solution. The reason many are vocal about using the wizard in SBS
is because of search engines archiving these threads. In the vast majority
of SBS installs the Backup wizard combined with a good tape drive is all
they need. Threads that discourage it's use may discourage someone from
doing backups at all or may cause them to spend money on something they
don't really need. The SBS Backup wizard is supported by Microsoft The
person administering the network (often not a professional IT person) can
pick up the phone and get help when their server is down and they need to
restore it NOW. Most SBS installations are for "plebs". Most SBS
installations do not have tape changers and sophisticated tape rotation
systems.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca



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