As I have previously stated, I am now in charge of our nightly backup to tape. We actually replicate all our file server data from various places overnight and backup from a local file server to a directly attached tape system during the day. The process was actually offline when I started messing around trying to fix it. Replication is back online. We were originally using Microsoft's DSFR but switched to a third-party product called Vice-Versa.
Now I am ready to begin committing the files to tape. I prefer to do a 100% full backup nightly because it reduces compleixty when trying to restore. Unfortunately, my backups are taking way too long -- in the area of 20-22 hours. I am not sure why because the backup process is 100% on the local server so network speeds aren't an issue. I understand that the bottleneck could be anywhere so here is what I know:
- Software Version: Backup Exec v14 rev 1798 (64-bit)
- Total backup set = 1.3 TB (currently fits on one LTO5 tape)
- Currently reported throughput by Backup Exec: about 1,013 MB/minute
- Tape system: Quantum Scalar i40 with HP Ultrium-5 tape drive (single unit) -- potential throughput is 140 MB/second?
- SAS card: LSI SAS2 2008 Falcon; Driver 2.0.2.71 dated 2/20/2009; Provider: LSI; Digital signer: Microsoft Windows
- Windows Version: Server 2008 R2 Standard, 64-bit, SP1
- Computer: Dell Precision T7400 with Intel 5400 Chipset, 1600 MHz frontside bus
- Processor: Intel Xeon Processor, E5420 @ 2.50GHz (four core with a 1333 frontside bus)
- RAM: 8.00 GB (max is 128 GB which I can add if it would help)
OK, this is about everything I can think of. Let me know if anything is missing or what needs to be addressed to decrease my backup window to roughly 12 hours or less. Thanks!