Even after using backup tools for many years there is still a lot of confusion about what is the best way to solve enterprise backup/restore/archiving. 

If you didn't know better you'd think that all you had to do is buy some software and an tape autoloader or maybe just skip tape altogether and buy a big disk array so you could backup "disk to disk." 

You might be inclined to believe those two-page ads in "STORAGE" magazine suggesting that the products being offered can solve enterprise backup, then again, you probably know better...

To sort through the smoke and mirrors, we need to consider the differences between conventional technology and next generation backup technology before you choose your next solution.

First, some clarifications are needed:

• Backup:  is supposed to be an online copy of production data stored in a device which supports immediate restore to the original or alternate location.
  
• Archive: a type of data required to be kept by policy or decree in your company for a certain period of time then expect it to be deleted automatically.
  
• Restore: the ability to select a specific version of a given file or database and restore it to the original location or alternate location based on user preference.  Restore functions should not limited to Systems Admin staff unless by policy or decree.
  
• Disaster Recovery (DR): a copy of your "backup" and your "archive" data in an off-site location - this provides the ability to restore a copy of both production and archived data from an off-site copy.  Typically kept on tape, although many sites today are trying to use disk for DR copies
  
• Bare Metal Restore:  the process of restoring a damaged server or workstation from the latest versions of files that existed without the original hardware.  Ranges from restoring just data to rebuilding an entire machine to a previous state.

Given that cost will remain a prime consideration, discovering the true cost of a what you are currently spending on enterprise backup is greatly important in comparing "apples to apples."

Enterprise backup solutions are generally made up the following pieces and parts:

• a server
  
• a tape library of some sort
  
• software licenses for servers and workstations
  
• installation and configuration
  
• operating supplies for the library and off-site tapes
  
• training
  
• support on the pieces
  
• warranty on the pieces
  
• someone to manage the vendor relations (aka - finger-pointing)
  

Interestingly, very few IT Managers want to admit they are spending budget dollars in all these areas - but they are. 

When we add up all these costs, you can see that the real total cost of ownership for backup "solution" is lot more than just the cost of the DR software and a tape library.  Listen to the following topics to find out more: