Learn strategic steps to create computer tape backup for your business


How do you set up a backup tape strategy suited for your business? Let's start by taking a simple look at 3 steps to set up a full tape backup solution.


Step 1 – To buy a tape backup hardware

Step one: is to make a purchase of the right tape backup hardware. Most small organizations can store all their data onto a single tape. Calculate the amount of data you need to back up. Use this information when you select the tape drive according to these guidelines:


Then buy the tapes for your backup rotation strategy that you will need. A sufficient Grandfather-Father-Child model will require 10 or 14 tapes.



Step 2 – To buy a tape backup software

One alternative tape backup software to use is NTBackup, which is the standard Windows backup program from Microsoft. However one problem associate with NTBackup is that it is difficult to use. Although a backup expert will be able to use and schedule backup jobs using NTBackup, what you really need is a product which a novice can setup in minutes.

The solution is to seek out and invest in a quality data backup software. But how do you find a good backup program that is right for your business? Well, first off, stay away from expensive brands! They're tailored for the large corporations. Don't buy features that you don't need.

Search instead for a backup program that is designed specifically for the need of small business, such as BackupAssist. Look for a product that is described as being simple to use. Keep in mind that you don't want software that requires you to be an expert to use it. Download a trial version of the software and test it out for a month or so. If everything works out easily and you are happy to use the product, go ahead and buy it!


Step 3 - Take backups at regular intervals

So you've installed the tape drive on your server and installed the software. You have configured the backup software to run with a tape rotation scheme and everything is set to go. So how do you perform and make the backups?

At the end of every working day, load the correct tape in the backup drive. From there the tape backup software will take care of the rest. The backup should run automatically and be completed overnight. Remember to examine the results from each backup. If there is some problem that prevents a backup from completing, you need to beware about it so that you can make a re-run of the backup during the day.

Make sure to follow your manufacturer's guidelines for how to clean the tape drive and to maintain it.


Final notes

Although it may sound strange, but it is an advantage to be at the mercy of your backup software. The more control it have over you, the better off you are! Let me explain...

To make NTBackup work correctly it assumes that you load the tape drive with the correct tape. It doesn't give you any errors if it doesn’t work. You have to check that you select the tape according to your tape backup rotation scheme, and it is on your shoulders that you really read the result logs in order to discover if any errors have occurred.

The data backup software you are using should tell you precisely which actions you should take and when you should take them. It should also tell you exactly which tape you should insert into the drive. It should inform you if the backup have failed. You shouldn't be in command of your network backup strategy. This is what your software should do!

A backup program such as BackupAssist should be able to create email tape rotation instructions and the results from the backups should be sent to you or your secretary, making it far simpler and minimizing chances of human errors. Pick the right tape backup software and you're almost there by integrating a complete backup strategy for your enterprise.

-- This tape backup software article has been brought to you by BackupAssist