HP B6960-96035, Concepts Manual

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Backup strategy planning
Data Protector is simple to configure and administer. However, if you work in a large
environment with diverse client systems and huge amounts of data to back up, plan
in advance. Planning simplifies subsequent configuration steps.
What is backup strategy planning?
Backup strategy planning is a process that includes the following steps:
1. Defining the requirements and constraints for backups, for example, how often
your data needs to be backed up or whether you need additional copies of the
backed up data on additional media sets.
2. Understanding the factors that influence your backup solution, such as the
sustained data transfer rates of the network and of backup devices. These factors
can affect how you configure Data Protector and the kind of backup -- network
or direct, for example -- that you choose. For instance, if you back up to disk,
you can take advantage of advanced backup strategies such as synthetic backup
and disk staging.
3. Preparing the backup strategy that shows your backup concept and how it is
implemented.
This section provides detailed information on the preceding steps. The rest of this
guide provides important information and considerations that help you plan your
backup solution.
Defining the requirements of a backup strategy
Defining objectives and constraints of your backup strategy includes answering
questions, such as:
• What are your organizational policies regarding backups and restores?
Some organizations already have defined policies on archiving and storing data.
Your backup strategy should comply with these policies.
• What types of data need to be backed up?
List all types of data existing in your network, such as user files, system files, Web
servers, and large relational databases.
• How long is the maximum downtime for recovery?
Planning your backup strategy 58