Re: Backup Tapes

[Sonya Fink <fink@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We use 8 tapes (4 weekly and 4 every four weeks) -- i.e. A, B, C, D, E1,
E2, E3, E4.  We use A through D on a daily schedule (A for Monday morning
backups, B for Tuesday mornings, C for Wednesdays, D for Thursdays and E1
for Friday morning one week, E2 for Friday morning next week, E3 for the
Friday morning after that, etc.

I wouldn't keep them longer than six months.  The E tapes can be kept for
a year or more, but A through D I ditch at six months.

YMMV.  We do FULL backups every morning at 2 a.m. (instead of Daily
backups); Full backups are safer but definitely harder on your tapes'
lives.
*****************************************
Sonya Fink
Database / Systems Manager, L.A. IV
UCSF Kalmanovitz Library
tel: 415/514-3338
fax: 415/476-4653
email: fink@xxxxxxxxxx

On Tue, 15 Jan 2002, James Coleman wrote:

> We have just recently installed our server here at William Carey College.  A question among our staff has come up regarding backup tapes.  How many tapes should be kept on hand for performing backups and how many times can tapes be used before having to be replaced?  Any input on this will be appreciated.
>
> Jim Coleman
>
> jcoleman@xxxxxxxxxx
>