Thought I'd drop a line here to see if anyone has experience with this:

I recently migrated a Pervasive SQL application to Microsoft SQL (2000) [Great Plains Dynamics - accounting software] on a new server. Simultaneously, we opened a new facility up the road that's connected by a 802.11g link which can support about 60 MB/minute.

Previously, I've only done tape backups [DLT] with Backup Exec 8.5. Since I now have an 'offsite' location with decent bandwidth, I want to try backing up our accounting data over the WLAN link to some type of network attached storage with RAID 0 or 5 storage (could be Win box or a commercial NAS box, I don't have the time/inclination/skills to build a linux box from scratch).

So, my question is: does anyone know if I can do this with Veritas' Backup Exec, and if not, how can I do it? I am planning on doing this in addition to backing up to tape with Backup Exec, to fire-proof the data, perhaps weekly.

I do have funds at my disposal, if spending buys me reliability/ease of use, I wouldn't mind. The database is about 2GB, and I back up about 40 GB nightly of system data from various machines with Backup Exec.

Any thoughts/suggestions are very much appreciated!

-Zeke

Well, SQL 2000 has Maintenance built in through the SQLServerAgent service. With that service running, you can setup backups to run directly from SQL Server 2000 to a file or to a backup device. There's even, of course, a wizard that'll step you through the maintenance plan setup in the Management section of the SQL Server Enterprise Manager.

- trs

I believe you have to get a plug-in to backup SQL Server with backup exec. The reason for this is because backing up SQL Server data requires that a backup program use a seperate Backup API. Do not try to backup the data using an Open file Backup option- either get the Backup Exec plug-in or just have SQL Server dump out the backups to a file that Backup Exec can then backup.

Thanks! I thought I'd seen backups from Enterprise Manager referenced someplace, but I'm not a SQL guru by any stretch. I'll give the built in stuff a shot first, especially if it can be a scheduled task.

I've got the Backup Exec SQL module (for 8.5), but I'm wary of installing it on Server 2003 (which is what the new server runs) as 8.5 isn't 2003 certified. I'll probably upgrade to 9.0 as I want to back up the new system as well as the databases.

Now, any suggestions on good a NAS device?

-Zeke

Being that I am getting trained on it right now, might as well toss out the suggestion of DoubleTake. It's a data mirroring soluton, and many people use it for backing up to off site locations.

NAS products, I can answer any questions you might have on HP Storageworks NAS Products.

Phoo! Those HP's are serious machines, perahaps a bit more serious than what I was considering (dual redundant 1000bT and $2700 for the least capable machine). You're being trained on them now, but they're not released until December? I assume you're an HP employee then?

I guess I'm thinking more along the line of 100bT, Raid 5 ATA (no hot swap), 320 GB or so should be plenty. $1200 or so max was more along the lines of what I was thinking about.

-Zeke