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So you think you are backed up?
We all know how important computer and data backups are. But have you ever used one of
your backups to do a full restore? Most of you will never have to perform a restoration.
But what if you have a catastrophic hardware failure?
Do you have the support to quickly repair or replace your hardware?
Do you have the proper backups to recover the system?
 I would like to relate a recent experience along
these lines. We manage the network, web, and FTP servers for one of our PCM customers.
This customer purchased their server hardware from a local, well-respected, competent, and
popular local computer reseller. This customer’s server required a service pack
upgrade for Internet security as the web and FTP servers are exposed to the Internet. We
remotely installed the service pack only to have the server crash on reboot!
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The next 48 hours was truly a nightmare. An attempt to
"repair" the operating system failed. The local reseller had to take the server
back to their shop to replace the floppy drive as it had also failed. They too, tried to
repair the operating system with help from Hewlett Packard’s (the computer’s
manufacturer) support to no avail. (The reseller related Hewlett Packard was of very
little help. As it turns out, this server required a Hewlett Packard driver not supported
by Microsoft BUT detected by the "repair" installation.) |
| The operating system ultimately had to be
"re–installed". This destroyed all the user accounts, file access rights,
web and FTP settings. All of these items had to be manually re-configured. Two days later,
the system was up with the latest service packs. What should have been 15 minutes became
48 hours! What really "slipped though the cracks" was all the unforeseen
obstacles. This is the same cause of your aircraft, train, and automobile accidents! All
of these modes of transportation have extensive safeguards in place, yet they continue to
happen. |
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What can be done to provide for reliable protection?
We believe we have the solution to these problems. Beginning this fall PCM will
be "leasing" Linux (Unix) based servers we will remotely manage via the
Internet. Implementation will be as follows:
- Your server will be initially configured here at our office with the services you will
be requiring. These services may include firewall,
Web, FTP, web proxy, NAT, Samba (Windows file server), and dial-in
just to name a few. These servers will also be able to host MySQL, the database
server we will be using with our new enterprise version of Total Milk Management.
- Once your server is configured, including user accounts, and tested, a recovery CD will
be produced.
- You server will then be CRASHED (simulated) and a recovery performed. This
is something almost never done to a server during setup and configuration.
- Your server will then be installed at your location and Internet connectivity will be
tested.
- Nightly, (more often if required), your server will perform incremental backups to our
network center. (All of these "network" backups will be written to high capacity
DVD disks!)
We SET it, you FORGET it.
Disaster Strikes!
It just happened, milk truck drove right through the office. Luckily, no one was hurt
but the server is GONE! We move into action:
- A new server is pulled from our spares. It was previously completely tested and
"burnt in", 100% ready for deployment with the core operating system installed.
- Your latest backups are used to complete the configuration and data restoration.
- Your server is then shipped via over night service or can optionally be delivered by a
PCM technician.
Disaster Over!
You get ALL these advantages.
 | Never buy server hardware again, ever. |
| Never worry about performing backups. |
| No need to remove backup tapes to a different location. |
| No additional hardware maintenance agreements needed, ever. |
| 24 hour a day monitoring of your server included. |
| System administration also included at no additional charge. |
| One low monthly amount covers ALL of this. |
| Multiple high availability and performance (clustering and balancing) servers also
available. |
| All systems Linux based for the highest reliability. |
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