Hi forum,
I've read for days now, but don't get the idea how backup is done in times beyond MS SBS, i.e. in times of virtualization. Many comments describe environments, where an extra server for backup purposes exist or a NAS or something like that. But the typical SMB scenario is: No separate room for server, server tower includes tape drive and is located somewhere in the office, often beneath a desk. No room and money for additional server or NAS hardware.
Up to now we used SBS 2003/2008/2011, and now we're forced to aggregate SBS components within one Hyper-V host and two VMs (one for Exchange Server, one for DC, user data and all the rest), still only on one single machine.
Formerly we usually backed up our SBS onto internal LTO tape drive, doing full backup on Fridays and differential or incremental backups on the other days of week. For disaster recovery we used separate programs, specialized in imaging, because DR option of BE and others usually did not work and we nearly never had to restore the whole computer (at least I never did) and because solid imaging software is for free. Restoring files, folders or e-mail items was, on the other hand, a daily job, which our customers expect to be executed within minutes. We only needed to change the tape once a day, had multiple backup generations and were even able to restore files or e-mails, that where deleted months ago.
What we need now is:
1. Periodically fullbackup of host and both VMs, so that the whole system or a single VM can be restored to a running state
2. File- and e-mail tape backups from inside of the VM, truncation of e-mail log files
3. Schedule these weekly full and daily incremental backupsk - as formerly
4. Restore of single files or E-Mail-Items from tape within minutes and without any downtime - as formerly
Where can BE help and how? As far as I see BE comes into consideration for No. 2 - 4. No. 1 could or should be done by a simple copy action or by imaging software. Since this is done not that often, it could be done manually and images can be stored on any USB drive. But what to do with No. 2 - 4? Remember: No extra backup server, only internal tape drive, no way to install any software onto the host (as everybody strongly recommends).
Does someone feel like sharing his or her experience?
Thanks and regards,
Stefano