We’re Information Technology specialists
so you don’t have to be!Backup and Disaster Recovery - Overview
ClickAway IT Services now offers a fully-managed BDR solution that provides
small and medium-sized businesses a cost-effective system to bulletproof their
data. This reasonably priced, all-encompassing solution provides near real-time backups
as well as seamless off-site data storage
along with multi-year archiving and fast
server virtualization capabilities.
Additionally, we provide advanced restoration options like file and folder level restorations, Exchange message and mailbox recovery, and bare metal restorations to dissimilar hardware. This solution will replace management intensive, error-prone tape backups while providing much more.
This new NAS-based technology performs data backup at the block level, where the actual 1's and 0's are captured from the hard drive, essentially eliminating failures related to open files. Block level data is raw data which does not have a file structure imposed on it and it is the most efficient way to write to disk. Backups are performed as frequently as every 15 minutes (depending upon available bandwidth), providing clients with an increased number of restore points when compared to traditional tape backups.
Data is securely sent from the local NAS device to high availability, redundant off-site collocation facilities, and all aspects of the on and off-site solutions are monitored 24X7 in the usual ClickAway Managed IT Services form.
Configuration
The NAS device can be configured to back up multiple Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Servers and their volumes or logical drives. Again, there are no file or folder level exclusions to worry about because a snapshot of the entire volume is taken. Additionally, the data backup procedure can be scheduled to run during selected times and days of the week.
Base Image
The base image is the first backup that occurs on the server, which is a complete image of the volumes intended for backup. The base image serves as a starting point for all incremental backups. The Incrementals collapse into the base image when a restoration is performed providing you with a complete image of the server from the selected point in time.
Incrementals
The Incremental Backups are the changes on the hard drive since the last backup. For example, the first Incremental is a record of all of the changes made since the Base Image was taken and the second Incremental is a record of all of the changes made since the first Incremental. Up to 96 Incrementals can be taken in a 24-hour period.
Incremental Forever Methodology
The Incremental Forever Methodology is similar to Incremental Backups during which each Incremental performs a backup of all changes since the last backup. Our technology differs, however, in that only one full backup or base image is required. This greatly reduces the time it takes to perform backups, as each Incremental takes only seconds to complete.
As each Incremental is taken, it is collapsed into what we call a Synthetic Incremental, or SI. For example, if two Incremental backups are taken at 10:15am and 10:30am, the 10:15am backup is collapsed into the 10:30am backup, leaving a single backup as of 10:30am.
Synthetic Incrementals
Synthetic Incrementals are the result of collapsing multiple Incremental snapshots into a single file or Incremental. The Daily SI files are created at the end of the day or 24-hour period when all of the 15 minute Incrementals are collapsed leaving you with a single recovery point for that day.
The SI files result in a complete archiving solution as each Daily SI is collapsed to create a Weekly SI, each Weekly SI is collapsed into a Monthly SI and finally each Monthly SI is collapsed into a Yearly SI. When recovery from a specific month or a year is needed, we simply join together the necessary Incrementals in conjunction with the base image to create the desired point-in-time image. The entire joining process takes a few seconds to complete.
Recovery Options
Recovering files and folders is a simple process during which the entire server is mounted as a volume on the NAS device. The files can then be copied to the destination server over the network. We also provide the ability to restore files, folders, and Exchange mailboxes / messages.
Virtualization (Physical to Virtual)
The NAS device is capable of virtualizing failed servers while maintaining the system state prior to the failure. This means there is no configuration necessary, as the server retains the same IP address and application state. Once virtualized, the server will resume the same backup schedule that the old server did prior to the failure.
Bare Metal Restore (Virtual to Physical)
When it comes time to restore the Virtualized Server back to physical hardware, our Bare Metal Restore process allows restorations to dissimilar hardware. This means that the new server does not have to identically match the old, failed server. Once the server image is loaded on the new server, we can manipulate the Hardware Abstraction Layer by inserting new drivers for the new hardware.
Monitoring and Management
ClickAway ITS’ total BDR Solution is monitored and managed 24x7 by our highly-trained staff. The initial on-site setup usually requires about 45 minutes to complete. Once the NAS has been established on the Local Area Network on-site, our setup time is approximately 4 hours per NAS. Upon completion, the backup process begins with the Base Image replication.
Not only do we monitor the entire solution – servers, NAS, and remote storage devices – but we also manage them by performing restorations and virtualization of servers as needed. Should an incremental become corrupted, our technicians will copy the corrupt incremental from the offsite collocation facility to the NAS and run the verification again. If this does not solve the problem, then corrective action is taken by creating a diff-gen image to get the backup to a consistent state.
Technology and Features
Block Level Backups
The block-level image is an exact digital duplicate of the on-site server. This technology also allows for complete server restorations, using the last functioning server system state before the failure occurred.
Security
Encryption is an important step in the process of transmitting data between the NAS and the remote sites because it greatly reduces the risk of data loss incidents that plague magnetic tape, and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks during transmission. We employ the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm because it has never been broken; it is currently considered the gold standard of encryption techniques and renders transmitted data immune to theft.
After imaging the servers to which it is attached, the NAS device creates an independent 256-bit encrypted tunnel and transmits the imaged data to a secure offsite location where it resides in an encrypted, compressed format. That remote site then replicates again to an alternate data center, creating a total of three copies of the data in three distinct geographic regions. Since the data is encrypted, no one has access to the data on the NAS device or either of the remote storage facilities unless the storage key is provided.
Smart Data Transport
Data transmission itself occurs over an internet connection and can easily be configured to minimize bandwidth consumption. Our NAS leverages Adaptive Bandwidth Throttling, which allows us to set a limit on outbound bandwidth used. For example, assuming a customer has a 768Kbps outbound connection, the adaptive bandwidth throttle can be set with a maximum of 512Kbps. We can therefore exercise fine control over the data imaging and transmission processes. We perform packet level verification along with the Adaptive Bandwidth Throttling. The result is that we can send very large files over the internet without affecting outbound data rates. Additionally, we send data over the secure AES 256-bit encrypted UDP session, which provides significant efficiencies in data transport speeds. If the connection drops at any time the transmission picks up from the last successful packet received. This is a vast improvement over other technologies that use FTP transmission, where a connectivity problem results in the entire amount of data needing to be resent. Using the same 512Kbps transfer rate as an example, you will average about 14GB per 24-hour period.
On-site and Off-site Solution with Multi-year Archiving
Each NAS device (depending on the model) can be configured to backup from one single server to eight servers. Multiple NAS devices can be placed on a LAN. As each backup occurs, the data is securely transferred to the off-site collocation facility so in the event of a complete disaster, we are able to ship a new NAS device imaged with the latest data.
Recovery after a Catastrophe
In the event of catastrophe (such as a natural disaster or fire), we will prepare a new NAS device that will be imaged and sent out next-day business air. Depending on the NAS Model, multiple servers can be virtualized on one NAS while the NAS can also continue to perform backups. Data is never hosted at the collocation facility.
Near-line Disaster Recovery and Failover Using Virtualization
The NAS comes with built-in virtualization software. This allows a server which has failed to be restored on the local NAS as a virtual image giving the customer a standby server in less than hour, under typical conditions. Since the total image of the server is being restored, no configuration changes are needed as the virtual image has the same properties, IP address, and NetBIOS name as the failed server. When new hardware/spares arrive, the virtual image can be shut down and the latest backup image can be used to perform a bare metal install on the new hardware.
NAS Specifics
There are two NAS models, V1 (for backing up to 2 servers) and V2 (for backing up to 8 servers). Following are the specifics:
V1
- The V1 model can be used to backup up to 2 Servers and is based upon the AMD Athlon FX2 Dual Core 3800, 2GB RAM, 1.0 to 1.2GB per minute virtualization
- Utilizes a single hard drive that can store up to 450GB (NO RAID).
- Small form factor chassis that can be placed vertically or horizontally.
- 30GB offsite storage included, $0.99 per additional GB per month.
- Windows Storage Server 2003 R2-based operating system.
- Purchase price $1,399 + $49 per month monitoring.
- Monthly rental $79 + $49 per month monitoring.
- 2-year hardware warranty.
V2
- The V2 model can be used to backup up to 8 Servers and is based upon the Intel Core 2 Duo 6300, 4GB RAM, 3.2 to 3.6GB per minute virtualization.
- Utilizes 4 hot-swappable hard drives with a combined storage of up to 2TB (RAID5).
- 4U device that can be rack-mounted or placed vertically.
- 60GB offsite storage included, $0.99 per additional GB per month.
- Windows Storage Server 2003 R2-based operating system.
- Purchase price $2,699 + $99 per month monitoring.
- Monthly rental $149 + $99 per month monitoring.
- 2-year hardware warranty
Offsite Storage
- Stored at two XO high availability data centers in Phoenix and Baltimore.
- Highly redundant storage with backup images stored at the data centers on a SAN at the primary facility, then replicated to the secondary facility.
- Connectivity provided by multiple providers with automatic failover capabilities.
- Facilities provide two fiber optic network drops for our backbone.
- Full physical security at each facility including security cameras, key card and biometric access.
- Network is secured with high-end redundant, automatic failover firewalls.
- Fire suppression and environmental control provided.
- Automatic backup power provided by on-site generators.
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