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Frequently Asked Questions
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Does it make sense to backup all
files on the server?
That depends on several factors, such as how often the
data changes, how fast your Internet connection is, and
whether or not you have a good backup image. If you have a
slow Internet connection, and a good image of the server,
you may be able to backup only your data files.
Applications and other system files that don't change
don't need to be backed up, as they are on your disk
image. The system state should be backed up, however, to
ensure changes to system files since your drive imaging
are backed up. This can be done using
the built in Microsoft Backup program to dump the system
state to a file. This file can be restored by booting into Active
Directory Restore mode on your server.
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How do I backup
Microsoft SQL Server databases?
You can backup SQL files easily by using SQL
Enterprise Manager to dump the databases to a file. This
file can then be backed up using CU Data Vault. This
process ensures the integrity of database backup and that
you will be able to restore the backup, as you will use
Enterprise Manager. Please note that as with any
application, you should speak with your software vendor to
ensure you are backing up everything you need. It may not
be enough to just backup the database - configuration or
other files may also be needed.
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How do I backup
Microsoft Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange can be difficult to backup,
however like the system state, it can easily be done using
the Microsoft Backup program. All you need to do is
schedule Microsoft Backup to dump exchange to a file, then
backup that file using CU Data Vault.
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Won't the backup take forever if my
Internet connection is slow?
The first backup is likely to take a long time,
particularly if you are backing up a lot of data. We
recommend doing your initial backup over a weekend, so
that the backup doesn't impact network users trying to
access the Internet. You can also resume a canceled
backup, allowing you to resume where you left off if you
need to cancel the backup due to a busy period. After the
first backup, the time required should diminish
considerably.
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We have a lot of data - is it really
practical to use online backups?
Of course. As we noted above, the initial backup
will likely take a long time. However, our special
technology makes subsequent backups quick as we only
backup the actual bytes of the file that have changed.
This technology really kicks in on the third and
subsequent backups. Also, the data is compressed (and
encrypted) prior to being transmitted, for even more
efficient use of bandwidth.
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Can I backup non-Windows based data?
Yes. You can do this by either having the
non-Windows server dump the information to the Windows
server being backed up, or by creating a mapped drive to
the non-Windows server.
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What if I lose my fast Internet
connection and need to recover data?
You have two options, actually. First, you can use
a dial-up connection to connect to the Internet, then
download the data - any Internet connection is usable,
although it will be slower. Second, you could have us put
the data on CDs or DVDs and overnight them to you,
for a reasonable fee. This will provide you with a
complete offline restore solution for all the data.
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How will I know if my backup
succeeded or failed?
The backup client software can be configured to
send an email after each backup or only when problems
occur. A copy of the backup log can also be attached.
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Can we back up more than 1x per day?
Yes. While we recommend performing full backups
nightly to minimize the impact on your server resources
and bandwidth, backups can be performed anytime. In fact,
separate backup schedules can be created to backup just
mission critical information, more often.
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How secure is my data?
Very secure. First, your data is encrypted on your
server using 3DES or Blowfish encryption. The encryption
key used is unique to your server or credit union, and the
data cannot be decrypted without it. We cannot even
decrypt your data, so be sure to keep
that encryption key safe!
Once encrypted and compressed, the data is transmitted to
our servers where it remains encrypted. Our servers are
protected by firewalls and intrusion detection systems,
and are isolated from other public servers to ensure
maximum security. Also, we monitor security closely and
have an experienced CISSP on staff to supervise security
matters.
For maximum stability and data protection, our servers
deploy triple redundant power supplies, and utilizes RAID
5 disk subsystems, providing terabytes of storage
capacity.
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How long is my data retained on the
server?
Backup data is store on the server for
120 days. Files from any
individual backup set can be retrieved as needed. Files
that are deleted from your server will remain in the prior
backup sets until they fall outside the
120 day window. We can optionally extend the data
storage period if needed, although data that is already
outside the restore window cannot be recovered after the
fact.
Question not answered?
Please drop us an
email |
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8231
Harvest Bend Lane
#33
Laurel,
Maryland
20707
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We are resellers for:
Netgear, Netopia, Sonicwall, Seagate, Maxtor, Proxim, Linksys
Covad, U.S. LEC, SnappyDSL, COFS.Net, and other DSL and T-1
providers.
Our Primary customer base
includes:
Credit Unions, Mortgage Companies, Automobile Dealerships and Small Businesses in Baltimore, Washington DC
and Virginia |
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