Mac OS X Server Backup solutions?

Hi all, I have built up my network with 3 Leopard servers running on Mac Pro's and 8 mac clients (one mobile)
Between all of them there is about 12TB's of storage space (about 2TB being used at present)
it really is time to now invest in a complete backup solution and we won't a format that can be taken offsite (Tape sounds the best)
I really have hardly any experience in this area and need to get some advice.
I have an ATTO Ultra320 card in one of the Mac Pro's so need to figure out which tape drive (or drives) which software and the best way to implement it.
All the clients are on OD so not overly bothered about backing them up, just the 3 main servers really.
Any help would be really appreciated, thanks.

Here's some grist for the thought mill...
The use of "Removable" here likely (probably?) means "remote", which itself (and depending on the bandwidth of the network connection or access to couriers or such) may or may not actually be a removable disk or removable tape storage, or disk or tape libraries.
What's the volume of the actual data? What's the rate of change of the data? There are two parts to the calculation for the creation and operation of the archive, the initial archive and the occasional (weekly, monthly, before an upgrade) full archive, and then the incremental (hourly, daily, weekly) archives. This assumes the usual two-level archive processing; an occasional full and a more frequent incremental.
You need to figure out how big these activities are, and what your backup window is. These details then drive the available hardware and media options and then the device selection.
Then determine (or guesstimate) the growth rate of the data. That tells you what your approach can support now, and how quickly your backup window (if you have one) might be closing. And (if you're using smaller media) when you might need to go to a larger-capacity media or to multi-volume archives. Right now, you can probably get most everything onto a 1 TB or 1.5 TB spindle, for instance.
You'll also need to sort out the local and continuously-active processing activities, and how to get copies of those. The sqldump tool, for instance, can be the path to get a recoverable installation. And that processing tends to be part of getting a recoverable archive.
There are cloud services around for storage and (if your change rate is less than the bandwidth "slop" available within your current network pipe) to a remote site that you manage or contract with; to a storage site or to warm site you work with, or out to an Amazon S3 or other competing storage pool. (There are various options for archiving out into Amazon S3, for instance. And Time Capsule and Time Machine is seriously slick.)
Never assume that RAID is an archival strategy. It's not. RAID is useless against application corruptions, blown software upgrades, user errors, client and server and storage theft, and malicious-user activities. Nor against roof-mounted heat exchanger system that sprout leaks that then pour red-colored coolant into the server racks. RAID protects against disk spindle failures and (for some specific configurations) against certain other "upstream" storage controller failures.
When you get all done, make sure you can recover and restart using your archives. Periodically test the recoverability of the archives.

Similar Messages

NON 3rd party offsite server backup solutions....?

Can anyone recommend a method of an off-site server backup solution that doesn't involve a 3rd party company?
I'm new to server admin and the company I work for is sitting on tons of really, really confidential and sensitive data that we ardently protect on-site, but with all the inclemental weather we've been getting lately (and horror stories from other local businesses regarding their server rooms flooding and such) we've been considering options for offsite backups, but don't want an outside source to have any access to our server contents/data/info in way way shape or form (as in: our backups would be on one of their servers---we don't want to go that route).
Right now we CCC everything everyday to an on-site external drive and then CCCing the server backups onto another external hard drive which then gets taken off-site to the admin's home and brought back in when a backup is going to be made (about once a week for that one).
Any thoughts?
We're absolutely not above buying a second server and running it out of somebody's house for this purpose...but the details of how to configure it as a backup server aren't very clear to me.
Any help is appreciated!
Thanks!
Is there a better way to do this?

ssh/rsync works well for me at home -- local server with a backup copy plus a copy on my brother's server nearly 3000 miles away. Of course, I recommend shipping physical media containing an initial backup to the offsite backup location first to save on bandwidth and time. (Depending on your connection.)
My script is basically:
{quote}
backup()
    src=$1
    dst=$2
    rsync -abz --delete --delete-excluded $src $dst
    echo "Backup starts: `/bin/date`"
    echo ""
    backup /Volumes/backup/Backups.backupdb/computername/Latest/ \
        onsite_server:computername
    backup /Volumes/backup/Backups.backupdb/computername/Latest/ \
        offsite_server:computername
    echo ""
    echo "Backup ends: `/bin/date`"
} > backup.log
rsync -abqz backup.log offsite_server:backup.log
ssh offsite_server "~/bin/backup-complete.sh"
{quote}
backup-complete.sh just emails me using the contents of backup.log as the email body. I used keys for authentication.

Advanced Server - Backup Solutions

I'm needing to set up backup on my Advanced Server, but am aware Time Machine doesn't deal with Open Directory.
The question is - will Carbon Copy Cloner 3.1 work fine? I'm very impressed with it's recent update, scheduling et al, so I'm leaning towards that.
Of course, I need to ensure that it's going to be able to back up everything so a cloned drive can just be stuck in for a failover.
On a related note, is it possible to run Time Machine on an Advanced Server - but just to back up user and group directories, and email?
I know that on Standard and Workgroup, Tim Machine can stop the mailserver for long enough to snapshot the database - something mightily useful in my view. This would be great, but if Time Machine just won't play ball, what else (preferably open source and free), will do all this?

Hi
I have some knowledge of one site where MySQL DBs are being backed up funnily enough using Retrospect. Its not a large DB and as far as I know its at a testing stage. Things may have moved on a since then. As far as I know no issues. This is a 10.4.10 Server however.
As for backing up a Mail Server? There has been some discussion regarding this over on the Mail Forums. My personal feeling is any backup of a constantly changing Mail service has the potential for being a problem.
Alex (Pterobyte) has something which might be useful to you here:
http://osx.topicdesk.com/content/view/41/41/
I've not used this personally but many people have with no complaints. Beyond Apple's built-in Mail Server there are alternatives. One I am familiar with is Kerio:
http://www.kerio.com/kms_home.html
This has a built-in Archive and Restore facility that backs up all Mail to another volume (network or local) and zips the resulting file. This Archive can be backed up further using anything you like, even Retrospect. Another alternative to Apple's Mail Server is Communigate Pro, from what I've seen its very similar to Kerio.
Tony

Backup solutions w/RAID or redundancy (NAS, RAID, DIY File server)

Hi all, I need a place to bounce my ideas off of. Here goes:
I have been doing a lot of reading, since I was considering adding an NAS solution for my home network. My data consists mainly of videos (TVs and movies) and pictures (many many years worth).
Anyways, out of the box solutions seemed a bit too pricy and the RAID not that spectacular unless you're willing to spend, so I began looking at building my own fileserver, with a hardware/software RAID solution. That was a bit better bang for the buck, but I still had one nagging concern.
I've played around with RAID before, and I realized that with mirroring (the only RAID option I was really considering), was that it relied on the RAID controller. I couldn't just take a hard drive, remove it physically from the array, and have my information accessible when plugging it into another computer.
What happens in a few years if your RAID controller dies and you can't find the exact same one? Your array will always be dependent on that controller and I really don't like that feeling. I'd rather have the option of taking a drive, plugging it in another computer, rather than needing to move the whole array (RAID, NAS, DIY file server) around. That means quicker access to my information or the ability to take it with me anywhere I go, on a moment's notice.
The least costly solution I have come up with, for data that doesn't change all that much, is to have two huge drives (1 TB) on a computer, either one or both connected via eSATA. Just remember to ghost/copy the main drive once in a while, and keep the 'backup' drive detached (preferably located in a fire-proof safe) and back it up once in a while, on a regular basis).
Sorry for the long post, but how does that sound, for a cheap, reliable backup solution, for data that doesn't get updated too frequently and for ease of access and use?

Hi BGBG;
For what you are attempting to do, RAID is not the best solution. The reason I say this is because RAID 1 is only capable of protection from disk failure. It is not a valid backup solution.
I think that your last solution of using eSATA and a copy is the best. My only addition to your proposal would be a third disk. That way when you move the backup disk into storage you could replace it with the third one. In this way you could use SuperDuper to periodically backup between two disks.
Allan

Why to use SQL Server's native backup facilities, not other backup solution?

I've been asked in my company: why to use SQL Server’s native backup facilities? Instead, they currently rely on other backup software, like Backup Exec, BrightStor, or even Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager. Those solutions let the
company manage all of its backups—including SQL Server—in a single place, whereas SQL Server’s native backup abilities only apply to SQL Server.
So what does SQL Server native backup facility give us more to be forced to use it?

Satish and Pawan ... thanks but, a backup solution is just there. they don't need to pay anything. even though, having a backup solution that backup everything on the server, like files, software.. etc is needed regardless if you have SQL Server databases
or not, and if it does database backup it would be even better and more complete as a backup solution. So sorry your answer is not an enough reason that will force me to leave that complete backup solution and use the SQL Server backup tools specifically to
backup databases.
Olaf ... thanks as well. But I was just counting a number of solutions that i think they are related to backup things. yet I believe that Symantec backup exec does backup for SQL Server database, ain't?! what I understood from the link that you gave me,
that some backup applications (if not all) use SQL Server backup facilities to do database backup, is what I understood correct? if yes then the question will be, is there any situation or reasons that force me to use SQL Server backup tools even if I have
those backup solution (that some of them in the backgroud they are using SQL Server backup facilities)? does SQL Server backup tool give me more capabilities in backing up databases than what I find in backup solutions?
The answer is NO, as of now you get all these features in 3rd party native backups...
So in nutshell Microsoft never forces you to use SQL Servers Native backup -----The only reason why you get native backup featues is since SQL Server is an Enterprise Solution MS provide you all features in-built within the bundle so that you don't have
to purchase any other license (incase you\your company doesn't have one already)
Sarabpreet Singh Anand
SQL Server MVP Blog ,
Personal website
This posting is provided , "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" and "Vote as Helpful" on posts that help you. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Mac Mini Server Backups

Dear all,
I am using a Mac Mini Server for filesharing, iCal, etc. I want to make sure all data is safe, so I want regular backups. The Mac Mini Server is set up to work on Disk 1 and backup on Disk 2. But in case the server is stolen, crashes or something similar this set up is pretty useless.
Therefor I am investigating different possibilities to back up safely. I have two option I want to investigate further, however I'm not sure what's possible and what not.
1. I have a second Mac Mini Server available. Is it possible to have the primary Mac Mini Server backup on the secondary Mac Mini Server?
2. Is it possible to run backups on an external server? E.g. FTP.
Thanks in advance!
Nick

This is what I would do.
I would repartition the server to use software RAID 0.
What this would do is mirror both hard drives. Lets say one day that one of the hard drives failed, its ok because all you would have to do is put a new hard drive in and you are back online.
This means you will not have to deal with any down time.
For backups you could run Carbon Copy Clone to an external hard drive. This will make an exact clone of your hard drive that you can even boot too!
You can bring this off site for better data protection.

MAc Pro Backup Solution ?

Sorry did not know where else to post... I am going to need about a 1 TB backup solution that I can add on to. I will be using it with my Mac Pro and Time Machine just for backing up data, not for randomly accessing it for application work.
1. Which is faster for backing up data?
-USB
-FireWire 800
-Gigabit
2. What success have you had for the product that are available on the market today (i.e. Time Capsule, Western Digital, etc...?)
Thanks in advance,
Mike

1. Internal, FW800, USB, GB Ethernet in that order.
2. I do my backups to internal drives in my Mac Pro. If you want an external system then I'd recommend building it yourself:
Although you can buy a complete FireWire drive system, you can also put one together if you are so inclined. It's relatively easy and only requires a Phillips head screwdriver (typically.) You can purchase hard drives separately. This gives you an opportunity to shop for the best prices on a hard drive of your choice. Reliable brands include Seagate, Hitachi, Western Digital, Toshiba, and Fujitsu. You can find reviews and benchmarks on many drives at Bare Feats, Storage Review, and Tom's Hardware Review.
Enclosures for FireWire and USB are readily available. You can find only FireWire enclosures, only USB enclosures, and enclosures that feature multiple ports. I would stress getting enclosures that use the Oxford chipsets (911, 921, 922, for example.) You can find enclosures at places such as;
Cool Drives
OWC
WiebeTech
Firewire Direct
California Drives
NewEgg
All you need do is remove a case cover, mount the hard drive in the enclosure and connect the cables, then re-attach the case cover. Usually the only tool required is a small or medium Phillips screwdriver.

Easy Server 2012 backup solutions with tape support?

We have several smaller to midsized customers that have invested money in tape drives and tapes. They are using Symantec BackupExec on Server 2003 / 2008 and 2008 R2. Unfortunately, Symantec postponed Server 2012 support in their products many times
already. This fact costs us many business opportunities to upgrade infrastructures to Server 2012.
DPM 2012 is good for larger customers, but less suited for smaller companies (and the DPM "philosophy change" of the backup procedures, compared to older tape based backup solutions is an obstacle as well.)
So we are looking for EASY backup solutions that support tape drives and server 2012. The "perfect" product for us would be just a tape driver and an extension to the integrated Windows Server Backup that would allow to store backups on tapes,
the same way that Windows Backup allows backups to network shared folders.
Does anyone knows EASY backup software that provides this functionality? I'm also very interested in feedback from peoples that have successfully used such products on Server 2012 and are satisfied with them.
Thank you all in advance for any help.
Franz

Looks like we are in the same boat here with 2012.
For all its trouble, BackupExec has been instrumental for us in providing our customers with a backup application that no other software vendor has been able to match. This includes:
1) Granular backup and restore of Exchange allowing the restore of individual mailboxes and single mail items
2) The same Granular backup and restore of Hyper-V's VMs
3) The ability to backup to Tape, Removable USB HDD and NAS and Network shares
Not even Shadow Protect cuts the mustard anymore – it’s become simply “stupid”.
Although we love the simplicity and robustness of Windows Backup, there are some very serious deficiencies including;
1) The extreme difficulty of adding additional USB HDD after the backup schedule has been created. I believe that this has partially been resolved in R2 but in 2012 it was a utter mess-up. We
resorted to hooking up two 5-port USB Powered Hubs so we could make sure that all USB HDDs could be included in the schedule - what a mission! One blown hub after the other - couldn't find one that could handle the electrical current load of 5x USB HDDs!
2) No Granular restore ability of nothing... had to resort back to the "old school" ESEUTIL "after" restoring the entire Exchange database to alternate location.
3) Backup to a Network Share is pathetic - can't store more than the current backup. What use is that? Had to resort to backing up to Network Share then including that backup in another Windows backup - go figure!
Like Franz, our customers have invested HEAVILY in Tape Drive hardware (some of which cost the customer in excess of $8000) and that excludes the cost of Symantec BackupExec.
Although BackupExec 2012 now supports Server 2012, the re-purchase of the software is not a consideration to most of our customers.
Sorry Franz, I don’t have a solution for Tape Drives yet. This is one reason why we have stayed away from deploying 2012 that already have a recent investment in Tape Drive technology.
However, because there is NO other backup solution that compares to Symantec BackupExec (version <2010), we have been successfully implementing a hybrid solution (which, unfortunately, still does not include Tape Drives) including our own business.
As BackupExec 2010 does not support Windows 2012 as a “Media Server” there IS a workaround in a “virtual environment”.
We have successfully installed BackupExec 2010 on a Hyper-V Virtual Server as the “media server” and targeted the backups to shared folders on both NAS and removable USB HDD shares (off the Host Server).
Although it works GREAT, there is still the serious deficiency of not been able to use Tape Drives (unless some really bright spark out there has an idea on how to make a Tape Drive accessible to a VM).
Another REALLY good solution in which we deployed just last week was to supply the customer with a dirt-cheap PC, install it with Windows 2008 and the Tape Drive and schedule all the normal (and yummy) BackupExec 2010 granular backups to. Remember, the BackupExec
agent WILL install and run just fine on Server 2012 - no problems there.
This has become an INSTANT hit and this is OUR solution – a very small price to pay for “real granular” backups to Tape Drive.
I hope that you find that the mentioned "good solution" a viable and cost-effective workaround.
Backup Exec DOES NOT support Windows 2012. I just got of the phone with them today April 24, 2014. I have been using BE since Seagate made version 7. Every product Symantec buys eventually turns to crap! I just left Symantec Endpoint
Protection after 13 years because it is unreliable and has very poor detection compared to other products. In fact, it is so bad, that Symantec won't participate in any third-party evaluations that they don't pay for such as AV-Comparatives.org.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Symantec!

Just bought a Mac Mini lion server how do i make a lion backup?

Just bought a Mac Mini lion server how do i make a backup disk for lion?

I believe you will need a USB drive and can download and install something called Lion Recovery Disk Assistant from below.
http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1433
Also read the article from below which I believe will encourage your desire to do the backup.
http://www.macworld.com/article/161664/2011/08/hands_on_with_lion_recovery_disk_ assistant.html

WebObjects and Apache2.2 on Mac OS X Server (Snow Leopard)

I have been configuring a new Mac Mini Server with the latest version of Mac OS X Server.
Typically we have been using Max OS X (non-server) in development environment and were following our instructions on how we set up all our boxes. In setting up our new installation on the "server edition" we came across something that caused up some pause.
After we got our WebObjects application launched through JavaMonitor, it attempted to open Safari, but "page" could not be found. We suspected that that WebObjects Adaptor was not being utilized.
Looking through the Apache logs we found this:
script not found or unable to stat: /Library/WebServer/CGI-Executables/WebObjects
We checked our httpd.conf (Apache 2.2.17). This file is slightly different that the one for our generic (non-server) Mac OS X Snow Leopard installations. It even mentions that in the comments at the top of httpd.conf file that ships with Mac OS X Server
We had included the following as we normally do -
Include /System/Library/WebObjects/Adaptors/Apache2.2/apache.conf
But in order to get WebObjects to kick in, we needed to comment out the line
# ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ /Library/WebServer/CGI-Executables/
Once we did that... boom... app was working fine. Since all that is running on this box is WebObjects and Oracle, we are happy with this solution. Moral of the post is that the httpd.conf file supplied is different between "Mac OS X" and "Mac OS X Server" editions.
Note: We do not even see the ScriptAlias line in our non-server httpd.conf.
We were clued into this from a previous discussion on here (and its related replies). http://discussions.apple.com/message/12786408#12786408
Hope this helps someone else.

If you have another administrative username (such as the Open Directory (OD) Administrator (diradmin) username, then you can use that to reset the password.
If you don't have another administrative password including a local administrator and if it's your Open Directory Administrator password that you've forgotten, then you'll want to follow HT1194 Mac OS X Server: How to reset the Open Directory administrator password for the sequence used to reset the OD access. (The header of that article lists up through 10.5, but the text also lists 10.6.)
Once you're back in, you'll probably want to consider adding a back-up directory administrator account with an obscure password, and write down that password and stick it in a fireproof safe somewhere, or maybe in a note in your Keychain of your own OS X client system, or some other secure location. I do that with a few servers, storing that data with full-disk copies of the server backups, etc.

Mac OS X Server: the best option?

We are an expanding small design/web creation business moving soon from 6 to 9 team members. Workstations are all stand-alone in terms of software, which ranges from Office X to full Macromedia Studio suite etc. running over a wireless 11g network and 8Mbps DSL. Macs range from G5 PPC's to latest intel chip iMacs and MacBook Pros (oh, and a Sony Vaio desktop PC) . I would be really grateful if the group would comment/confirm if Mac OS X server would be a logical step and be worth the expense - literally but also in the time required to learn/setup/run (I do have a technical background)!
I am thinking of running Mac OS X server from an existing G5 PPC (1.6GHz, 768Mb, 80HD) - have looked at the Xserve, we simply do not have the space/infrastructure for a rack solution. My reasons for looking at a OS X Server are:
- Minimise time spent on maintenance: boot all mac workstations from single OS image on the server - use this to mainatain latest updates.
- Centralise storage and backup: plan to use an external hot-swap RAID.
- Split workstations into defined groups: 'admin' (using mainly office) and 'designer' (creative software) and manage access rights to files.
- provide more integrated iCal, Mail and Address Book services (not sure what is on offer as we already do some of this via .Mac).
It makes sense to me to run network versions of core software (from the server), but I understand that this is not possible - or cost is prohibitive? We also have various individual requirements, for example people using laptops at work, home or travelling (how do they tap into the server, what would the benefit be) and also the need for considerable amounts of HD memory for the designers...
My apologies for typing so much, but wanted to give an overall status - so have I missed anything? What more can OS X Server bring to make our lives more effiecient/effective?!! I'm itching to buy a copy, but really need to justify it.
Thanks...

Hi & welcome to the forums.
running over a wireless 11g network
As designers, most likely working with large files, you will appreaciate wires if you can get them in.
I would be really grateful
if the group would comment/confirm if Mac OS X server
would be a logical step and be worth the expense -
literally but also in the time required to
learn/setup/run (I do have a technical background)!
Yes, definitely.
I am thinking of running Mac OS X server from an
existing G5 PPC (1.6GHz, 768Mb, 80HD)
Fine. Remember you have the option of a 10-user version of Mac OS X Server software. This will save you plenty of £'s.
boot all mac
workstations from single OS image on the server - use
this to mainatain latest updates.
NetBoot (as this is called) would be a non-starter over a wireless network. In any case, the time spent config'g, tweaking, troubleshooting, and downtime (due to sngle point of failure) with netboot can be extensive.
I suggest you spend your time creating a perfect, STABLE, master image, then distribute this to other machines using NetRestore. Maintain a list of changes/updates to the cleints and update your image every 6 months or so.
- Centralise storage and backup: plan to use an
external hot-swap RAID.
Good idea.
- Split workstations into defined groups: 'admin'
(using mainly office) and 'designer' (creative
software) and manage access rights to files.
Good idea. You can use WorkGroup Maanager to fine tune what users are able to see on the network, which applications they are able to use and how their desktops appear. This can be done at User, Group or Computer level.
- provide more integrated iCal, Mail and Address Book
services (not sure what is on offer as we already do
some of this via .Mac).
Mail, yes.
Unfortunately iCal & AddressBook are still non-starters in terms of multi-user sharing. Look to Leopard in Q2 2007 to update this.
It makes sense to me to run network versions of core
software (from the server), but I understand that
this is not possible - or cost is prohibitive?
Just run your apps locally. Especially if you only have wireless.
We
also have various individual requirements, for
example people using laptops at work, home or
travelling (how do they tap into the server, what
would the benefit be)
VPN is your friend.
Also, look into Mobile Home Directories which will sync your users's data to/from the server at each login. When they are awy from the office they will have all their files with them. And you will have a server-side copy for your backups.
My apologies for typing so much, but wanted to give
an overall status - so have I missed anything?
Probably
On the fly, I would say look outside of OSX Server for your mailserver.
FTP services are also weak in OSX Server.
There are lots of 3rd party options for both, though.
What
more can OS X Server bring to make our lives more
effiecient/effective?!! I'm itching to buy a copy,
but really need to justify it.
Full server documentation is here at http://www.apple.com/server/documentation/ Take a look at Appendix B of the Getting Started guide for a practical example of how a setup like yours may be config'd.
Hope this helps,
b.

What online backup solution is best with Time Capsule?

I am trying to find an online backup solution that is compatible with Time Machine's Time Capsule. I tried ZipCloud, but while using ZipCloud my Time Capsule failed to backup. It would issue an error something-"sparsebundle" was already in use by another program and therefore Time Capsule would not backup. I worked with ZipCloud's technical support, but was unable to find a solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

cfirtion wrote:
It would issue an error something-"sparsebundle" was already in use by another program and therefore Time Capsule would not backup.
See #C12 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting, but that's probably unresolvable.
I don't know how that app is supposed to work, but usually only one user can access a sparse bundle disk image at a time. If the app is supposed to be backing-up your backups, instead of your Mac, that's not a good idea in general and unlikely to work with a sparse bundle anyway.
I did hear from one developer a couple of years ago, about an app that did the backups separately, but used the same rules, etc., as Time Machine, so the operation was, theoretically, separate. I can't recall the name now, though. They had lots of trouble at first, and I haven't heard of them in a while. I'll post back if the name comes to me.
For secondary backups, whether local or not, it's usually prudent to use a different app entirely; that way, you're also protected against a failure of either app.
If you have a lot of data, it's probably not worthwhile trying to back up your entire system to the Internet; it would take much too long to download it all. If your HD failed, you'd have to install OSX first anyway to get connected to the remote location.
EDIT: By the way, just to reduce misunderstandings, a Time Capsule is Apple hardware combining a wireless router and HD; Time Machine is the software that does the backups, to a Time Capsule, internal or external HD, shared drive on another Mac, Mac Server, or (sometimes) a NAS.
Message was edited by: Pondini

Help replacing my backup solution

I currently have a Windows Home Server from my PC days. The house is now all Mac, but I still use the WHS in the following way:
1. Common files, pictures and vidoes are stored on the home server. This allows all Macs in my house to access them.
2. Important folders are dpulicated across two drives in the WHS using Drive Extender. the new WHS 2011 does not have this, so I won't upgrade.
3. I use Cloudberry to backup items in 1) to Amazon S3. It currently does it once a week, but you can set any frequency you want. Since it runs on the WHS as a service, it always keeps the schedule unless the power is off.
In this way I basically have my important files (family pictures and videos) on three different drives. Once of those is in the cloud. I think it is a good backup solution that requires almost no work to maintain.
Now, the PC with WHS is old and I have had some hardware issues. Also, WHS was always a niche product and you can't really find hardware with it installed. You basically have to build your own server. I also don't like the loss of drive extender in the 2011 product.
Is there a way I can duplicate this arrangement using Time Capsule or some other mac specific products. I basically want to:
1. Store files in a common network drive so everyone in my house can access them
2. Back up the files/folders in 1) to Amazon S3 automatically.
Sorry to be long-winded and thanks for the help.

Basically NO!!
The Time Capsule is unfortunately not designed as a NAS.. it has no internal backup solution.. it has no expansion nor raid nor servers nor anything really. It is designed as a dumb target for Time Machine. In particular Time Machine running on laptops which will need wireless.. hence the incorporation of the airport to give wireless.
And there is no Mac.. legimate that is .. that fits the role. A Mac Mini is used and is even sold as a server. But you do not have 3.5" drives.. and any expansion of drives is only by External boxes. The next step up is a Mac Pro.. super expensive and very high power demand. What is needed is an i3 low power consumption with lots of hard disk internal space of a small tower.
I think you will find it is why people with your kind of setup tend to just stick to them.
I would look at Synology or QNAP .. readyNAS maybe higher end models.. that offer TM compatibility.. although Apple will break it regularly, which is why you buy from the bigger companies that will try and keep firmware upgrades coming.
Or build your own running something like FreeNAS. But you will never achieve the neatness of the purchased unit.
I have a feeling Lion Server which is very cheap cf the old SL server was intended for such a role.. the hassle is finding a hardware platform to run it on.. (I wouldn't jump into Lion server yet anyway.. to buggie for now).

Need backup solution with zero user interaction

Good Day.
I'm putting together a external/offsite backup solution for a client that runs OSX10 Server on a Mac Mini.
Their data is on a Promise SAN, and they currently back up via software daily to an externally attached 4TB Drive.
The big problem is that each day, a user comes in and removes "yesterday's" external drive to give it to the courier who stored it offsite, then they plug in the drive for "today's" backup. Neither the user nor the courier has access to log in to the server to unmount the external drive. Many times, this leaves the external drive in a corrupted state and unusable.
I'm not allowed to give the user of the courier access to the server, and attempts to schedule or script the unmounting of the drives have been troublesome.
I'd like to know if there's a solution out there, possibly an external chassis with removable drives or something similar that can be used to allow for easy removal of the drives to offsite storage that would not require an actual unmounting of the drive.
All advice is appreciated.

What software are you currently using to do backups?
Not that it will help, but if you were backing up to an external optical drive e.g. DVD or Blu-Ray then they have a physical eject button which would tidily eject the media, unfortunately hard disks and even hard disk docks do not work the same way.
Something that might help would be if whatever backup solution you used was able to work on a Mac that did not need to be logged in as a user, in other words that ran as a Unix style background process. This would mean that as no user is logged in the Finder would not be active and this would reduce but not eliminate the avenues for corruption.
Again it will probably not help you but a different approach used by many is to backup over a WAN or Internet link to another site, with this approach your backup media is already offsite and you don't need to eject it to transport it. This does of course rely on a decent speed link in both directions so as to both allow backups and restores.
Something else to consider, if you used a separate dedicated Mac for doing the backups rather than a server then you could consider giving the courier access to the backup machine without having to give access to a server. If you use encrypted disk images on the backup drive then even with access to the backup machine it maybe possible to still prevent their access to data on it.

Mac OS X Server, Network Home Directories & Time Machine

hi,
I am using mac os x server to manage a small workgroup using open directory and network home directories, the server is backed up using time machine. From what I understand, time machine does work on network home directories.
However, as I am backing up my server using Time Machine, it is already backing up the user directories. Is there any way of getting a client to access the server time machine backup to access the backups of the user directories?
Of course, it would be easy to restore files by logging onto the server as the user and restoring from there. I am just wondering if there is a more elegant solution available to do this from a client machine.
any thoughts?
thx!

Hi,
I am trying to do the same exact thing and find that it is best to do this locally (for now). Not only is the network way slower, but it seems to make things worse. For example, things backed up via the client machine are routed from the FTP server/volume mount and different permission wise. When you try to restore them locally, it should work, but the folder had different permissions because they were initially created in root (for me). So, I hope they would come out with something better than what is available now. Thanks!

Mac OS X Server Backup solutions?

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