Offsite backups?

[ChiXJeff]

Glenn has been taking offsite backups, which I view as a *GOOD* thing. Obviously, with his departure, this will have cease.

I've got a DSL connection here, I can take backups at least of the MySQL db daily. Having multiple offsite backup locations wouldn't break my heart either.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

is there an automated backup script that runs.....or is it all just done manually? or don't you know

 

[ChiXJeff]

Truthfully, I do not know. I would hope to gawd that it is automated. If it ain't, it *WILL* be.

 

[GSequoia]

If there is an automated script I can easily open up some room wiht one of my hosting accounts as a backup source.

 

[Glenn B]

Jeff, you can do it however you want. MysqlHotCopy is set up on the DB server (if you move the DB back to it) and set up a cron job to handle it. Or you can use Rsync or whatever makes you happy . mysqlhotcopy has worked well, and results in very little downtime... it locks the tables and does what it needs to do... IIRC, it does it in less the 1.5min.

 

[ChiXJeff]

I'm happy with live copies, as long as it's a supported method. Simply doing a cp of live db files generally doesn't result in usable backups. And doing it live means the services never stop. Is this task scheduled in cron, or via some other method?

Getting the backups offsite is another topic. I'd prefer gzipped, and sent via ssh to avoid unencrypted traffic.

On a related note........ with the EMC frame here, we can make multi-terabyte backups of Oracle databases in under 20 minutes. Disk to disk first, then rolled off to LTO2 tape (that takes some time.) In a month or so, it'll be disk to disk to virtual tape drive, then to tape.

 

[Glenn B]

If there is an automated script I can easily open up some room wiht one of my hosting accounts as a backup source.

Not sure why we would need to do that, though it is a nice gesture. Space is not a problem.... I wish people would get that in their heads. Optimally... the new server Admin (not to be confused with forum admins!!) would work out the php/html to be backed up to the other server... and the database be backed up to the opposite server.

Backing stuff up to the Admins local service is also a bonus, better than other options.

 

[Glenn B]

I'm happy with live copies, as long as it's a supported method. Simply doing a cp of live db files generally doesn't result in usable backups. And doing it live means the services never stop. Is this task scheduled in cron, or via some other method?

LOL, "LIVE" copies, you need to ramp up then. Not sure where you got the CP of live DB files, but whatever. Oh, and the mysqlhotcopy files ARE indeed usable back-ups. Been there, done that. :wave1:
Eitherway, I told you about mysqlhotcopy. Use it or not, I don't care all that much. You can use some enterprise solution, or whatever works.
I am simply telling you what is avalable now, what works with our hardaware..... and is already configured.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Glenn, Glenn, Glenn.......... haven't you learned yet about offsite backups?

It's a good thing to have disk based backups on another machine. I'd have thought that the little exercise you went through a few years back after a server reload would have pretty clearly indicated that a backup the ISP can't touch is a GOOD thing.

 

[Glenn B]

Glenn, Glenn, Glenn.......... haven't you learned yet about offsite backups?

It's a good thing to have disk based backups on another machine. I'd have thought that the little exercise you went through a few years back after a server reload would have pretty clearly indicated that a backup the ISP can't touch is a GOOD thing.

Are you being a dick on purpose, or just on accident? :eyes:

 

[ChiXJeff]

LOL, "LIVE" copies, you need to ramp up then. Not sure where you got the CP of live DB files, but whatever. Oh, and the mysqlhotcopy files ARE indeed usable back-ups. Been there, done that. :wave1:
Eitherway, I told you about mysqlhotcopy. Use it or not, I don't care all that much. You can use some enterprise solution, or whatever works.
I am simply telling you what is avalable now, what works with our hardaware..... and is already configured.

Sorry, I've been dealing with dumbass consultants since Saturday night.

It's amazing to me how many people don't understand that you need to do SOMETHING to make a filesystem quiet before you take a backup. Database engines are the poster child for this. No, your cp'ed Oracle db files aren't gonna be usable. Yes, you can shut the db down, copy the files and restart the server. Or use the db tools to do it for you, and keep everything up and running.

 

[Glenn B]

Sorry, I've been dealing with dumbass consultants since Saturday night.

It's amazing to me how many people don't understand that you need to do SOMETHING to make a filesystem quiet before you take a backup. Database engines are the poster child for this. No, your cp'ed Oracle db files aren't gonna be usable. Yes, you can shut the db down, copy the files and restart the server. Or use the db tools to do it for you, and keep everything up and running.

No oracle stuff here, mysql is what is used. I am not gouing to suggest mysqlhotcopy again.... because it seems some other system does things better, or something. Was just saying what works, and that it, a cron job, and perhaps even copying it to another server would be prudent. Whatever... me, I download them to a local machine as is now.

And bringing up an issue from several years ago, weak. If you will remember, I was able to recover a great majority of the data.... something that may be unlikely to be done by somebody that has another job consuming their time.

Ease up, be less judgemental.... this will go much easier. Playing "who knows more" at this point is just not productive. I am willing to make this easy, but am not going to play games.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Glenn, I'm afraid that you sorely misunderstood me there......I have nothing but respect for what you accomplished during that incident. My point is that an offsite backup would help in such a situation. And situations like that are why I'm pretty adamant about maintaining multiple backups and particularly offline backups. You've been burned, I've been burned by this.

Seriously, I do not believe for a second that you've done anything wrong or bad with 's setup or operation. My comments were not meant to be derogatory, or judgemental. Heck, you should be putting that on your resume as a good example of disaster recovery.

 

[GSequoia]

Space is not a problem...

Not insinuating that, just talking about another physical location to cache the backups.. Personally I have mine at work (tapes, not files but same theory) going to three different locations scattered in a 75 mile radius from our data center.

 

[Glenn B]

Glenn, I'm afraid that you sorely misunderstood me there......I have nothing but respect for what you accomplished during that incident. My point is that an offsite backup would help in such a situation. And situations like that are why I'm pretty adamant about maintaining multiple backups and particularly offline backups. You've been burned, I've been burned by this.

Seriously, I do not believe for a second that you've done anything wrong or bad with 's setup or operation. My comments were not meant to be derogatory, or judgemental. Heck, you should be putting that on your resume as a good example of disaster recovery.

Peace Jeff.... My missunderstanding.

 

[Glenn B]

Not insinuating that, just talking about another physical location to cache the backups.. Personally I have mine at work (tapes, not files but same theory) going to three different locations scattered in a 75 mile radius from our data center.

You want everybody's PM's... posts etc... on your host? That worries me a bit. Dreamhost or apple?