What It Does & How It Works...
With its fast virtualization capabilities, our NAS device can
be configured to function as a replacement server if needed. This
unique device also can replace management intensive, error-prone tape
backups while providing much more…starting with peace of mind.
This new NAS-based technology performs at the block
level where the actual digital 1s and 0s are captured from the hard
drive, essentially eliminating failures related to open files. Because
block-level data is raw information that’s independent of file
structure formatting, it’s the most efficient way to write to a disk.
 Protect Valuable Informational Assets & Keep Downtime To A Minimum
Our NAS device is a comprehensive Backup and Disaster Recovery
solution (BDR) for Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 servers. This
reasonably priced, all-encompassing solution for small-to-midsize
businesses provides:
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Very frequent backups (as frequent as every 15 minutes) with an onsite NAS Device
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Optional off-site data storage at highly rated data centers
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The ability to restore downed servers in less than 30 minutes!
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Advanced restoration options (file- and folder-levels) with Exchange message and mailbox recovery
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Bare-metal restorations to dissimilar hardware
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Low cost
NAS vs. Tape
Though tape backup is common, it’s far from being an ideal BDR
solution. Analysts have said that over half of tape backups fail, so
chances are that if you need to restore from tape, you’ll be out of
luck. But assuming all goes well with tape backup, how does it compare
with the NAS appliance?
What Happens If My Server Crashes?
Now let’s look at how our solution keeps your business running if, for instance, an e-mail server goes down.
Because the device takes snap shots every 15 minutes,
administrators can choose a point in time shortly before the problem
occurred and with just a few clicks of the mouse, this appliance allows
you to activate it as a virtual server to keep business processes up
and running while we diagnose the problem and plan a course of action
for the down email server.
In the event of a catastrophic server failure, our business
continuity solution also includes a boot CD that allows us to perform a
bare metal restore on new hardware in a fraction of the time of a
typical server rebuild. And, this NAS device restoration will allow you
to eliminate the hardware abstraction layer during the restore process
so that the new drivers can be loaded on the server replacement, no
matter which server brand is used — giving you speedy recovery options
in times of crisis.
Recovery after a Catastrophe
If a disaster results in your end-client losing their entire
office — servers and on-site NAS included— you order a newly imaged NAS
with the most current backup-normally the last daily that was done, to
be shipped out via next business-day air transportation to a location
of your choice. If such an event occurs, we will not host the data at
the co-location facility. Depending on the NAS model used, multiple
servers can be virtualized on one NAS even as the NAS continues to
perform backups of other servers.
When the NAS arrives, all you need to do is plug in a patch cable
and you’re up and running. This recovery service will allow you to use
the NAS for two weeks before it must be returned or purchased. This
timeframe should allow you to get a new server ordered, in place and do
a bare-metal restore from the NAS before returning the NAS.
Alternatively, you can choose to keep the NAS and you will be billed
for the list price of the new NAS. This would also allow you to use
this NAS for the ongoing backups when you move forward, re-establishing
the network for your client.
Off-Site Storage Facility
For additional protection in the event of a complete disaster,
data is securely transferred to an off-site co-location facility on a
daily basis. Then, in event of such an occurrence, you will receive a
new NAS device imaged with your latest data. The storage facilities are
two XO high-availability data centers in Phoenix and Baltimore. They
provide:
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Backup images stored at the data centers on a Storage Area
Network (SAN) at the primary facility, then replicated to the secondary
facility
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Connectivity provided by multiple providers with automatic failover capabilities
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Facilities provide two fiber optic network drops for our backbone
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Full physical security at each facility including security cameras and key card access
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Network is secured with high-end redundant, automatic failover firewalls
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Fire suppression and environmental control provided
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Automatic back-up power provided with on-site generator
The Technology At Work To Keep Your Systems Working
The NAS device can be configured to backup multiple Windows
2000 and Windows 2003 servers by partition or by logical drives. There
are no file or folder-level exclusions, because a snapshot of the
entire partition is taken at the block level on the hard drive.
Also, database applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft
Exchange Server transfer data in blocks without having to worry if
files are open or if they are in use.
Key Components Of The Device’s Technology Are:
Base Image - The first backup taken of a
server is the base image — an exact copy of the currently used space on
the server. The base image is taken for each volume (or partition) on
the server. Once the base image is set all future backups are
incrementals.
Remote Storage and Base Remote Backup Image Creation -
Your data is stored (in encrypted form) in two secure online data
backup centers, located hundreds of miles apart from each other. The
BASE IMAGE will be sent via a SATA II drive to the primary remote
storage facility. There is generally a three-week turnaround time
required for this base image transfer to occur. Incremental back ups
will occur in the meantime and they will collapse into the base image
when the transfer is complete.
Incrementals - Incrementals take place at the
frequency that you schedule. If you select 24/7 backups at 15 minute
incrementals 96 incremental files will be created each day. If you
selected one-hour incrementals, 24 incremental files will be created
each day.
Incremental Forever Methodology -Incremental Forever
Methodology differs from regular incrementals in that only one full
backup or base image is required. This greatly reduces the time it
takes to perform subsequent backups as each incremental takes only
seconds to complete.
Synthetic Incrementals - Incremental files are
collapsed into synthetic incrementals (basically one larger incremental
file). This is done to ensure chain integrity and to speed up
restorations. The fewer hops from the current point-in-time back to the
base image, the faster your restoration will be.
Recovery Options - Recovering files and folders is a
simple process where the entire image is mounted as a volume on the NAS
device. The encryption is needed. Files can then be copied to the
destination server over the network. We also provide utilities enabling
your engineers to restore files, folders, Exchange mailboxes or
messages and SQL tables and databases.
Virtualization (Physical to Virtual) Standby Server Functionality
- The NAS device can “virtualize” failed servers while keeping the
system in the same state as it was before the problem arose. No
configurations are necessary. Once virtualized, the NAS will resume the
backup schedule that was in effect before the failure.
Bare Metal Restore (Virtual to Physical) - When it
comes time to restore the virtualized server back to physical hardware,
our bare metal restore process allows restorations to dissimilar
hardware.
On-site and Off-site Solution with Multiple Restore Points
- Multiple NAS devices can be placed on a LAN. Each NAS device,
depending on the model, can be configured to backup one single server
or multiple servers.
Everything comes together in our NAS device to produce 15-minute
incremental snapshots that safely reside within the device and are
ready to be used to restore a file, a file folder, an email, or a
database… all within five minutes.
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