We recently added a new server to our system with a 6 TB RAID array for file storage of completed audio and video projects. We have traditionally been a Microsoft house, so I used Windows Server 2008 for the new machine. When I went to make my first backup, I attached a little 4TB GTech box to use for the backup as we were only using about 2.5 TB on the server array at this point in time. I was then going to take that offsite when the backup was complete.
At this point I discovered that the Microsoft backup had changed drastically in Server 2008. No longer can you select what files to backup, but instead you have to backup a full volume. When I read up on it, I decided this was OK as it is supposed to be faster and makes a mountable virtual drive file as the result. But then I discovered that because of limitations in Shadow copy, the new Microsoft software can only backup volumes of less than 2 TB !!! I even used an MSDN incident to confirm this with them.
I have tried to shy away from third party backup apps as I have always believed that basic backup functionality should be built into the OS, and Microsoft has been been traditionally good about providing backwards compatibility to restore backups made from years ago on a newer system. With third party tools you are always having to deal with renewal charges and version changes, and then if you decide to switch companies or the company folds, you have to worry about transitioning old backups, etc. And tools such as RSync can take days to complete a full backup or restore when you are talking about terrabytes of files.
So I wanted to know the commuinty's thoughts on a few options I am considering understanding that budget is definitely a concern:
A) Trying to move the data off the system and repartition. This is not ideal for the structure our data takes. In the world of audio and video, 2TB is a starting place. But it could be possible.
B) Switch the server to a Debian Server box, but I am unsure which tools should be used for backup in that environment, and whether I might run into similar problems.
C) Using a third party tool.
D) Other thoughts?