| Image based backup products such as Acronis True | | | | products and with both we had a number perfect |
| Image Echo Server and StorageCraft ShadowProtect | | | | restores without problems with Domain Controllers |
| Server Edition have revolutionised the way that | | | | and Member Servers. However we found a number |
| servers can be backed up and recovered. | | | | of issues intermittently with both: |
| We used to run Veritas (Now Symantec) | | | | ‘ntldr is missing’ error – on reboot we |
| BackupExec on all of our servers, backing up at | | | | received ntldr is missing error, this was easily fixed by |
| intervals throughout the day but only to tape. We | | | | copying a boot.ini and ntldr file to the server, |
| tried Acronis True Image Server’s image based | | | | rebooting – problem solved. As a precautionary |
| backup to disk software and there was no turning | | | | measure we now keep these files on our backup |
| back, the benefits included: fast backup to disk, | | | | drives and on our recovery CD. |
| increased the number of backups we could take | | | | Error that the IP Address is in use by Another |
| throughout the day and rapid recovery should our | | | | Network Adapter – fortunately an easy one to |
| server fail. | | | | resolve. StorageCraft provide a document to assist |
| Things have come a long way since, the same | | | | which again is on our recovery CD and backup drive, |
| benefits were there however backup and recovery | | | | plus have implemented part of the solution on the |
| times have reduced; both can be achieved in minutes | | | | servers already so upon restore it is quick. |
| rather than hours. However the main advantage now | | | | Member servers not seeing the domain – we |
| is Universal Restore or Hardware Independent | | | | have had the problem with member servers not |
| Restore: both Acronis True Image Echo Server and | | | | seeing the domain, this was fixed by removing the |
| StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server Edition enable | | | | sever from the domain, rebooting and adding it to |
| you to recover your backup image to different | | | | the domain (a relatively quick job). |
| hardware. | | | | Other Options |
| Acronis True Image Echo Server vs StorageCraft | | | | StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server Edition (SSP) |
| ShadowProtect Server Edition | | | | came out on top for speed of backup and more |
| After running Acronis True Image Server (ATI) for | | | | importantly recovery. It also wins on price by |
| some time we tested StorageCraft ShadowProtect | | | | including hardware independent restore as standard |
| Server Edition on our servers we tested | | | | (an additional chargeable option on the Acronis |
| StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server Edition (SSP); | | | | offerings) in addition Acronis charge for SQL and |
| our tests surprised us: | | | | Exchange Recovery options. |
| Backup Times | | | | It may seem that Acronis has lost out altogether |
| StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server Edition (SSP) | | | | however they do offer some other products which |
| beat Acronis True Image Server (ATI) hands down | | | | compliment the True Image Server (ATI), making |
| on the time taken for a full server backup, even | | | | their product seem more suitable for some |
| better was the speed of incremental backups | | | | businesses: |
| throughout the Day. The ShadowProtect times were | | | | Tape Backup Support – although disk backup is |
| so good that we are now taking incremental backups | | | | far quicker than tape backup, many businesses use |
| every few minutes, something we could not achieve | | | | tapes for archival purposes (for example keeping |
| with Acronis True Image Server. | | | | Financial Month and Year End backups indefinitely) and |
| Recovery Times | | | | daily rotation. |
| When recovering our server backup to new | | | | Snap Deploy – this product uses the same |
| hardware both products had a simple interface | | | | images as True Image but to remotely deploy |
| however, as with all backup products you must test | | | | computers and servers across your network. The |
| your recovery; firstly so that you know how to do it | | | | two products work side by side, images are |
| (you don’t want to start learning when one of | | | | interchangeable and has universal restore options. |
| your servers are down) and secondly to ensure that | | | | Summary |
| the backups are running correctly. | | | | Both products have their benefits, for us speed was |
| Again StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server Edition | | | | of the essence therefore ShadowProtect was the |
| (SSP) beat Acronis True Image Server (ATI) on | | | | winner, however we do run daily tape backups as |
| recovery times, but it was far closer than the backup | | | | well as monthly and yearly tape archives which |
| times. | | | | ShadowProtect does not provide for, so we run |
| Recovery Issues | | | | Backup Exec as well. However Acronis True Image |
| Although both products had simple interfaces we | | | | does provide these in one package which to some, in |
| found that a little practice was necessary to | | | | combination with the Snap Deploy product may |
| understand how to install the drivers for the new | | | | provide the perfect partnership. |
| server (using the hardware independent / universal | | | | Whichever product you choose rely on image based |
| restore), which again is a reminder to test your | | | | backups to ensure your servers can be recovered |
| restore thus insuring you have the correct drivers for | | | | quickly should they fail. |
| your spare hardware on-hand. | | | | Simon Finn |
| We performed a number of recoveries with both | | | | Securemax.co. |