Adding disk storage

[Xignals]

What would be the best approach to add large amounts of data storage
for housing backups of customer databases? We are talking terabytes
of data that will need to be redundant as well as be backed up on tape
for offsite storage. We are a Windows shop only. Would network
attached storage be a possibility? Thank you for any insight.

 

[Todd H.]

What would be the best approach to add large amounts of data storage
for housing backups of customer databases? We are talking terabytes
of data that will need to be redundant as well as be backed up on tape
for offsite storage. We are a Windows shop only. Would network
attached storage be a possibility? Thank you for any insight.

That's a shitload of data, and likely a complex process with a lot to
consider. I'd be tempted to steer you towards a consultant who's
spec'd and successfully implemented something on this scale before.
I'm not sure I'd trust any usenet answer for this size of project.

But to answer your question quickly, terabytes plural puts you beyond
simple NAS boxes potentially. You are in SAN (storage area network)
land with those requirements. Though, snap does sell a $17,000 4TB
fiber channel server:
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=682828

For backing up that amount of data...whew. I dunno, those
requirements are out of my league.

I'd probably pick up the phone to a good rep at CDW that might be able
to get you in touch with one of their storage gurus match your
requirements with a decent solution.

Best Regards,

 

[Arno Wagner]

What would be the best approach to add large amounts of data storage
for housing backups of customer databases? We are talking terabytes
of data that will need to be redundant as well as be backed up on tape
for offsite storage. We are a Windows shop only. Would network
attached storage be a possibility? Thank you for any insight.

I have experience with Linux servers and I have up to 3 TB (could be
made 4-5TB with larger disks) with software RAID5. It works pretty
well, but I would not attempt to do something similar with Windows.
Your option is likely to use SAN storage (a lot more expensive) with
hardware-RAID.

As for redundancy, I would probably want to have the date on three
servers with similar configuration, so that there is hardware
redundancy. For the backup-to-tape and copy-from-customer processes
you should be very carefull to make them reliable.

I agree with the first answer here that you should seek outside
helpfor this, both because Windows is eminently unsuitable for this
type of work and because it os far more domplicated than just
providing reliable storage.

Arno

 

[Eric Gisin]

I have experience with Linux servers and I have up to 3 TB (could be
made 4-5TB with larger disks) with software RAID5. It works pretty
well, but I would not attempt to do something similar with Windows.
Your option is likely to use SAN storage (a lot more expensive) with
hardware-RAID.

We all know how stupid you are when it comes to Windows, right Arnie?

A normal intelligent person has better luck setting up anything on Win 200X over Linux.

 

[ArneJoris]

You sound bitter Eric. Were you personally hurt by the software RAID
implementation on Linux ? (I am assuming you weren't just posting
"linux sucks and this poster is dumb")

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

You sound bitter Eric. Were you personally hurt by the software RAID
implementation on Linux ?

(I am assuming you weren't just posting "linux sucks and this poster is dumb")

Bad assumption.