Veritas dying. Need new backup software.

[Poppa_Meth]

Since the first of the year, Symantec Backup Exec. (was Veritas) has stopped functioning for some unknown reason. We've tried repair and reinstall with no success. I'm looking for another backup software to take it's place. We are using a Sony SCSI tape drive. Any input is appreciated. We are running an SQL server that needs to be backed up as well.

[Soopafresh]

What platform is the SQL Server running on ? Windows ?


Retrospect is pretty decent. All backup software is kinda horrible. Can't stand how software companies come up with their own terminology - "Library Pool" "Library Queue" "Backup to Queue Set Library" "Backup to Source Set Pool".

Managing tape rotation sets is also horrible. Anyway, I don't envy you. I talked a big client into buying a backup server that mirrors the main one every 15 minutes. If the main one dumps, I created a script that can rename the backup server and change the IP address to the "now crashed" main server. Users can get back to work quickly.

[Poppa_Meth]

Running XP Pro. I hated the thought of a tape backup as well but tech guys talked the boss into it. IMO its expensive and obviously not any more reliable than anything else.

[BJ_M]

ive been using novastor with DLT tapes

http://www.novastor.com/pcbackup/backup/n_backup.html

with no problems -- been using their products for years ..

[dwill123]

I've been backing up multiple SQL Server machines to tape with Backup Exec for years. The only time I ever had a problem was when moving a copy of Backup Exec to a new machine and not removing the old machine from the network (product registration issues). Also all of my machines were running server OSes. What version of Backup Exec are you running and how current is your license?

[Wile_E]

Have you attempted a clean re-install of the O/S?

[Poppa_Meth]

Running version 10d. It came as part of the software package with the Sony tape drive. The guys that set up the PC originally had it all preinstalled and working just fine. I haven't tried reinstalling the OS. That would put us out of commission for a while since this is our store register. The computer was set up less than a year ago and virtually nothing has changed on it outside of standard updates.

It's odd that this happened right at the change of the year. It stopped backing up on the new year weekend and the tapes say they were first created on 1-2-2007 now. All jobs and job records are just gone. The software also freezes and crashes when trying to create a new job or even just look at the "about" screen.

[stiltman]

Check to see if it is still licensed
Help/about/license information

Make sure it lists SQL in there too. That is unless SQL is shutdown prior to backup starting

I found version 10 to be even more buggy than version 9, but I know that doesn't help you...

BTW, I also agree NovaStor is comparable product

[Poppa_Meth]

I managed to get it working again. It was all still licensed. I finally navigated through the mess of a website Symantec has and found all the updates I could for the program. After installing the last service pack it's back up and running with all my old data restored in it. I can't figure out why the change in date would cause such an issue. Regardless, I heard a lot better things about this software before Symantec bought it, which is common with the things they buy out.