Storage Decisions Presentation Download
Backup Technologies Track:
5 Things That Will Mess Up Your Backups—and How to Avoid Them
Jeff Harbert Principal Storage Consultant, GlassHouse Technologies
In this presentation, you’ll learn about the five most prevalent backup failures— and explains what you can do about them.
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5 Things That Will Mess Up Your Backups – and How to Avoid Them Jeff Harbert Principal Storage Consultant GlassHouse Technologies
Agenda • Today, we will discuss: • • •
Importance of backups Causes of backup failures Ways to reduce backup failures
Do Backups Matter? How many people here know they have backup failures?
How many people here have had restore failures?
Which do you (and your management) care about more?
Backups Only Matter If You Care About Restoring Data • Data cannot be recovered if it wasn’t backed up initially • Missing servers or data • Backup failures
• Successful backups are the best defense against failed restores • Higher success rates increase recoverability
• Technology and process are both required to minimize backup failures • Technology alone will not ensure high success levels
Backups Will Fail… But Addressing These Issues Minimizes the Impact 1.
Operational p controls
2.
Hidden problems
3.
Technology mismatches
4.
Performance bottlenecks
5.
Reporting visibility
1. Operational Errors Are Common Causes of Backup Failures Initial Configuration
Change Control
File listing Job schedules Client name
Orphaned servers Temporary changes become permanent
Troubleshooting
Access Control
Misaligned skill-sets Lack of defined escalation process
Too many “chefs” Limited accountability
Operational Errors Can Be Minimized • Configuration
• Standardize configurations • Test backups prior to “go-live”
• Change Ch Control C l
• Include backups as part of system deployment • Develop and maintain master client list • Track all changes to configuration
• Troubleshooting
• Document and maintain problem resolution steps • Clearly define escalation path
• Access Control
• Limit number of administrative-level users
2. What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You • “Hidden” problems are those issues that don’t generate error messages • Usually y revealed at the worst possible p time – during g restore attempts • A “hidden problem” becomes obvious when there is no data available to restore
• Usually result from configuration issues • Missing servers • Missing data / files • Scripting / synchronization issues
• Partial backups are failures! • Skipped files may be critical to application
Hidden Problems Will Cause Data Loss • Missing backups are nearly impossible to t track k without ith t external t l reporting tools • Partial backups must be investigated to determine what was skipped
Visibility and Understanding Are the Keys to Avoiding Hidden Problems • Provide comprehensive reporting for the end users • More of them = more eyes to identify an issue • Track servers and data on daily basis • Exception alerting if systems are missed
• Understand your environment
• What are you backing up and when? • Are there any dependencies for the backups?
• Resolve partial backups • Perform periodic, random restore tests
3. Throwing Technology At the Problem Won’t Always Help • Resource contention • Imbalanced implementation of new components (i.e. new media servers without new tape drives)
• Performance bottlenecks • Installation of components that introduce new bottlenecks (i.e. inline encryption device)
• Misaligned service levels • Inappropriate solution for business requirements (i.e. backing up flat db files without backup app integration)
Strategic Approach to Backup Minimizes Data Loss • Technology should align with business requirements • IT and businesses must work together
• Modular, scalable design should be implemented • Accommodating incremental growth should be part of initial design
• Understanding the environment deployed reduces ad-hoc solutions • Predictive analysis prevents last-minute/emergency deployments
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4. Performance Bottlenecks Cause Failures When Not Properly Managed • Bottlenecks exist in all environments • Properly architected solutions identify bottlenecks and design within these parameters • Properly maintained environments monitor and react when bottlenecks cause issues
• Bottlenecks are only an issue when backups fail or tasks cannot complete • Jobs run out of window • Tape copies cannot be sent offsite in timely fashion
Pushing the Bottleneck I. Client Network Interfaces
II. Backup Server Performance
III. Backup Application
IV. Disk--based Disk Performance
V. Physical Tape Drives
Goal is to have the tape drives be the bottleneck
Management of Bottlenecks Is an Ongoing Process • Establish baseline performance metrics for backup components • Network, Network server, server tape/disk throughput
• Determine if performance meets requirements for existing environment • If not, re-architecting the environment may be necessary
• Monitor performance on a regular basis • Bottlenecks may shift as environment grows
5. Ignorance is Not Bliss • What you don’t know CAN hurt you! • If data is not backed up, it cannot be restored • Backup failures will cause restore failures
• Backup is not a “set it and forget” application • Requires constant attention • Reporting and monitoring are essential
• Most backup apps have traditionally struggled with reporting • Often require scripting or command-line integration • Trending is a manual process
Reports Should be Tailored to the Needs of the Organization Backups executed in the last 24 hours ServerA Backed Up Files ----------------------01/27/2009 18:15 2737
KB Sched Type -------- -----------462780 Differential
ServerB Backed Up Files KB Sched Type ----------------------- -------- -----------01/27/2009 18:09 681 305850 Differential
Policy -----------ServerA Policy -----------ServerB
ServerC ServerD Backed Up Files KB ----------------------- -------01/28/2009 05:00 1 96768
Sched Type -----------User
Policy ------------
Example of scripted report
Example of 3rd Party Report
If You Have No Reporting Capability Today, Do Something • First steps • Manual reports can be run from most backup apps • Set-up Set up simple scripts to email job failures
• Examine 3rd party reporting tools • Most provide visual presentation of data, historic trending, and capacity analysis • Separates reporting capabilities from application knowledge
Parting Shots: What Should You Do? 1. Implement operational controls to reduce user errors •
Documented processes and standard configuration
2. Proactively mitigate potential hidden issues by addressing known concerns (like partial backups) and tracking activity 3. Assess backup architecture • •
Identify bottlenecks and technology mismatches that negatively impact environment Does the solution meet business requirements?
4. Re-architect backup environment to minimize bottlenecks and improve data recoverability 5. Implement reporting capabilities •
If you don’t know what’s happening, how can you fix it?
Thank you! Jeff Harbert Principal P i i lC Consultant lt t GlassHouse Technologies www.glasshouse.com
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