Specifications

Using Backup Express for GuardianOS
106 Snap Server Administrator Guide
Restore Modes
A restore mode is a method of restoring data appropriate to particular situations or
types of data. Backup Express for GuardianOS offers four restore modes:
• Catalog —
Use catalog mode to specify exactly what to restore. In catalog mode,
Backup Express displays your enterprise tree structure. You can select data to
restore at the node group, node, drive, directory, or file level.
• Definition —
Use definition mode to restore all the data in a specific backup
definition. Backup Express displays all the backups you have defined and the
dates on which they were performed. You can choose a backup from a specific
date and a backup scheme, such as the last differential backup for the selected
backup definition. This approach is expedient if you want to restore large
amounts of data.
•Tape —
Use tape mode to restore data from an uncataloged Backup Express tape.
Backup Express brings up a dialog box that allows you to specify a search
pattern. Backup Express restores the files that match your parameters.
•Raw —
Use raw mode to restore data backed up in raw mode. This mode
displays a list of the raw partition backups. Simply select the backup to restore.
Planning Backup Procedures
The goal of any backup strategy is to design a backup schedule that utilizes your
resources efficiently and provides the data protection you need. You can create
multiple backup definitions and have a different intention for each. When
determining your backup requirements, consider the following:
• The amount of data on your system
• The frequency with which it changes
• How many versions you want to save
• How long you want to retain tapes
• How many tapes you want to manage
• File system activity at the time of backup (If heavy, consider backing up a
Snapshot rather than the live file system)
Start your plan by analyzing what you want to save and, beyond that, how you will
want to restore it. Does your backup definition cover your entire enterprise or just a
department or project? Is your goal to be able to restore your entire system as
quickly and easily as possible in the event of a disaster? Or do you want to restore
the occasional lost file or node? When you devise a backup schedule, you are
weaving a safety net for your data out of the three types of backups known as
backup schemes.