Tape Backup

We  back up every server/host operating system and data repository that we manage on a daily basis.  Our datacenter facilities house several tape and DVD backup systems that perform these functions each night.  Depending on the application/data requirements, the schedule and type of backup service varies.  Contact our Datacenter Operations group for more information regarding individual backup processes.

Where should you store your data?

As a matter of best practice, you should maintain all of your critical work-related data in your personal Home Directory or your department's Network File Share (shared directory).  Each night, we make backup copies of the storage networks that manage these data repositories through a series of automated services.  We have systems in place that monitor these activities that also allow our team to restore data if you or an member of your department accidentally deletes the data or saves the wrong information over an existing file or database.

Office and home PC backups

Desktop personal computers (PCs) typically do not need to be backed up, as long as critical data has been confined to the personal and shared network drives.  With more than 6,000 desktop computers on the campus, the amount of tape storage required to backup that much data each night is not cost effective.  However, there are cases where a desktop computer functions as a proprietary system or interfaces with a proprietary piece of biomedical equipment and should be backed up if possible.

Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to backup home computers.  You should use CDs. DVDs, supplemental external hard drives or flash drives for backups of critical files.  PC hard drives can and do fail.  Remember to keep your backup copies in a secure location.

How does it work?

Our tape backup units are managed by the Datacenter Operations group and housed in the Medical Center datacenters.  The tapes are routinely removed from the tape libraries and taken to a secured vault off site.  Each tape is bar-coded and labeled so we can efficiently manage the information on it.  The tapes are also coded with a secure mechanism to ensure that in the unlikely event that tapes are misplaced or mishandled, there is no way one could restore the information on the tape without our team's intervention.

We have set up these enterprise level storage systems to allow any system administrator to utilize the service and manage their tapes with existing resources.  Our team encourages use of the enterprise storage and security services and is available to instruct system administrators in their use.  We'll also manage those services for requesting departments as needed.