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Storage and Disaster Recovery FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions on storage and disaster recovery (DR), as provided by our authors for this special report.
Posted September 15, 2003
Storage
Q. What are some of the most common storage and backup options?
A. There is no single solution for everyone. Depending on company size, disks and tape can be appropriate. Some companies are moving to centralized storage, a potentially expensive option although network-attached storage (NAS) devices are now available for as low as $2,000. Many companies believe that using distributed data deposits through direct attached storage (storage that is directly located within a server) is still the best method, though.
Q. What are some of the new storage technologies that can be used to help with DR?
A. New technologies such as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (Serial ATA, or SATA), Internet small computer serial interface (iSCSI), and Windows Server 2003, along with advances in current technologies such as Fibre Channel, make access to a more streamlined and secure storage approach readily available to organizations of all sizes.
Q. What is Fibre Channel?
A. Fibre Channel technology allows data transmission at rates of up to 1 or 2 Gigabits per second (Gbps). It is used for connecting servers to shared storage devices and for interconnecting storage controllers and drives. Although a 10 G-bit switch has been in the works for some time, a 4 G-bit switch was recently ratified and will likely be more popular in the short run.
Q. What is RAID?
A. Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks use two or more disk drives to mirror data.
Q. What is a geocluster?
A. Geocluster is short for geographic cluster. A geocluster is made up of a bank of servers operating in tandem to provide load balancing and fail-over services. These servers are situated in separate physical locations, sometimes spanning large distances. Geoclusters have been too expensive for small- to medium-sized firms, but iSCSI technology is helping to lower the cost.
Q. How often should backups occur?
A. This will vary according to the size of your organization and the type of data involved, but some experts recommend full system backups on the weekend, with incremental backups every night.
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