Database backup hardware

Can anyone suggest what types of hardware I should be using to backup my SQL database. I currently do a differential each night to a file share, which works well, and there is no concern for network usage. I wonder if using a tape or perhaps DVD is a better method. Is a differential backup to DVD even possible?
Thanks.I personally prefer to backup to a file share overnight and archive that to
tape during the day. I don't bother with differential backups, but that is
due more to my data flow than anything else. Differentials don't really
save me much. Your situation may be different.
--
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
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"G Clark" <G Clark@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EA640F28-A688-4A9C-B3C2-0F0C51470A76@.microsoft.com...
> Can anyone suggest what types of hardware I should be using to backup my
SQL database. I currently do a differential each night to a file share,
which works well, and there is no concern for network usage. I wonder if
using a tape or perhaps DVD is a better method. Is a differential backup to
DVD even possible?
> Thanks.|||So I tend to be of the school of thought that the first, if not the second
and third, generations of backups should be on spinning disk somewhere -
high performance, cheap, simple and for more reliable than any removable
medium. In a multi-server environment it's best to have these on a device
that's independant of a server chassis (NAS or SAN). I consider tape for
disaster recovery from off-site resources _only_. TCO of tape is
astronomical compared to SATA NAS or SAN devices and way more problematic.
"G Clark" <G Clark@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EA640F28-A688-4A9C-B3C2-0F0C51470A76@.microsoft.com...
> Can anyone suggest what types of hardware I should be using to backup my
SQL database. I currently do a differential each night to a file share,
which works well, and there is no concern for network usage. I wonder if
using a tape or perhaps DVD is a better method. Is a differential backup to
DVD even possible?
> Thanks.|||G Clark,
I like to backup to disk first, then let a tape job run at night to
backup the sql backup files. When selecting backup media you should look
at the durability of the media. I'm not sure how durable DVD media is,
or if it is better than tape. There is certainly a capacity issue with
DVD for me.
Tape manufacturers recommend that a tape not be used more than 20 times
before being discarded. However this is seldom respected and I quite
often here stories of people with corrupt tapes - due I suspect to a
worn out tape.
A tape solution should be serviceable for you as long as your respect
the durability of the medium and adhere to manufacturers guidelines.
--
Mark Allison, SQL Server MVP
http://www.markallison.co.uk
Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
G Clark wrote:
> Can anyone suggest what types of hardware I should be using to backup my SQL database. I currently do a differential each night to a file share, which works well, and there is no concern for network usage. I wonder if using a tape or perhaps DVD is a better method. Is a differential backup to DVD even possible?
> Thanks.