Symantec Backup Exec is a popular software for backing up and restoring data on Windows servers and clients. It allows you to create backup jobs that run automatically or manually, and specify various settings and options for each job. In this article, you will learn how to configure a backup job in Symantec Backup Exec, and what factors to consider when choosing a backup strategy.
The first step to configure a backup job is to choose the type of backup you want to perform. Symantec Backup Exec supports several backup types, such as full, incremental, differential, and synthetic. Each backup type has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the amount of data, the frequency of changes, the storage space, and the recovery time. For example, a full backup copies all the data in the selected sources, but it takes longer and consumes more space than an incremental backup, which only copies the data that has changed since the last backup.
To configure a backup job in Symantec Backup Exec, launch the Backup Exec console, navigate to the "Backup and Restore" tab, select "Backup" and choose the desired backup source. Pick the storage device and define backup options, including scheduling and retention policies. Specify the destination and verify selections. Set up notification preferences and run a test backup before saving the job. Regularly review and update the backup configuration to ensure data integrity and compliance with recovery objectives.
You'll need to consider several factors when setting up your backup job(s). How much data needs to be backed up? What is my Recovery Point Objective? How much time do I have to run the backup operation or what is my backup window? What media am I using for the backup? Do I have any regulatory or compliance objectives? Do I need to encrypt my backups? Where will they be stored? These are all important to answer and will determine which backup jobs you will ultimately configure.
The next step is to select the sources that you want to back up. You can back up files and folders, databases, applications, system state, virtual machines, or cloud data. You can also use filters to include or exclude specific files or folders based on criteria such as name, size, date, or attribute. You can also create backup sets, which are groups of sources that share the same backup settings and schedule. For example, you can create a backup set for your critical files and another backup set for your less important files.
In considering the first series of questions, you'll then need to ask what is most important to backup first. Online data needs to be backed up first with nearline data next and less frequently and archived data backed up last and the least frequently.
The third step is to choose the destination where you want to store your backup data. You can use a variety of storage devices, such as disk, tape, removable media, or cloud. You can also use storage pools, which are collections of storage devices that act as a single logical device. You can also use storage tiers, which are levels of storage devices that have different performance and cost characteristics. For example, you can use a fast and expensive disk for your primary backup, and a slow and cheap tape for your secondary backup.
The fourth step is to configure the options that affect how your backup job runs and how your backup data is managed. You can set options such as compression, encryption, verification, retention, overwrite protection, notification, and error handling. You can also use advanced options, such as synthetic backup, deduplication, granular recovery, and continuous protection. Each option has its own benefits and trade-offs, depending on your backup goals and resources. For example, compression can reduce the size of your backup data, but it can also increase the CPU usage and the backup time.
The fifth step is to schedule your backup job to run at a specific time or frequency. You can use predefined schedules, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, or create custom schedules based on your needs. You can also use triggers, such as events, alerts, or policies, to start your backup job automatically. You can also run your backup job manually at any time. You should consider factors such as your backup window, your recovery point objective, and your backup frequency when scheduling your backup job.
The final step is to monitor your backup job and check its status, progress, and results. You can use the Backup Exec console, the Backup Exec web interface, or the Backup Exec mobile app to view and manage your backup jobs. You can also use reports, logs, and alerts to get detailed information and notifications about your backup jobs. You can also perform actions, such as pause, resume, cancel, or retry, on your backup jobs. You should review your backup jobs regularly and troubleshoot any issues or errors that may occur.