I'm looking for ways to improve my off-site backup strategy, and a big hurdle is making it easy to remember to take the media off-site every day.
Rather than having to go into the server closet to get media, is there an easy (and inexpensive) way to have a networked tape drive or networked removable drive located elsewhere in the office?
Taking the media to the off-site storage location can then be delegated to trusted members of staff who aren't sysadmins.
We currently use BackupExec 12, and a full backup of everything on our servers runs to about 125 Gb - more than can easily be sent off-site over DSL.
You could share a USB2 HD over the network. 1TB ~ $150. You could attach it directly to the computer of the user who is responsible for taking it offsite.
I'm going to go against the trend and say that I'm actually something of a fan of retaining a daily manual element in one's backup solution. While fully accepting that it's prone to human error, it does have the advantage that it helps to build good habits, which will be to your advantage when you need to ensure that a less regular manual element is done.
Even something as basic as a large sheet of paper stuck on the door, with "STOP! HAVE YOU CHANGED THE TAPE?" printed on it can be effective.
One warning about online backups: you may be able to shift the data out efficiently enough, but what do you do when smoke starts coming out of the server and you need that 135GB back NOW?
Modern backup solutions for most businesses should not rely on someone remembering to cycle media out and move it to off-site locations. There are a number of reasons it is a bad idea, mainly because of human error.
Online backup is where its at. 125GB is not a lot of data. How much of your data changes on a daily basis? Once your first backup takes place, only changes are sent off to online backup services. With only 125GB, this should not really be a lot of data that changes on a daily basis.
Finally, regarding a networked tape drive - wouldn't this be as simple as creating a computer whose function would be to host the backup drive? It would have to be fast enough to host the BackupExec software. Although, having a tape with all of your company in an "easily accessible" location sounds like a bad idea to me.
You could use a Drobo, and just disconnect it when you leave. Hard to forget to pack that thing under your arm.
You didn't mention budget constraints so I'm going to suggest that you use an inexpensive PC or entry-level server to host the Backup Exec server and the tape drive and/or removable storage. Intall the Remote Agent on the servers to be protected and backup to the devices on the Backup Exec server. This server can be in a more accessible location since it will only contain backups. THe removable media will therefore be easily accessible for rotation.