8/31/05 Vortech Backup Systems

[Craig_Smith]

**Update On Vortech Backup Systems**


Due to the recent issues with our Backup System configuration, specifically failures for NT20 and unix12, we will be switching back to our old system with some added improvements. We've learned a great deal in the past 5 days and are very confident that we can provide a fully functional and stable backup system for our clients as we've done in the past.

The new system will be finished tonight sometime between 8 PM and Midnight. During and shortly after this period we will be running backup processes using the new system. This will result in a short lapse in backups running on many of our servers which could last as long as 24 hours. This will not cause any web, email or network downtime.

**We strongly urge all Vortech Clients, Resellers and their End-user Clients to backup all website content**

In the event of a Backup system failure we will not be able to restore your sites during this short transitional period. Please take the necessary steps to ensure you have critical files. Also, don't forget about the backup system in the user panel for all H-Sphere end-users which is fully functional for you to use anytime.

Best Regards,

Vortech, Inc. Staff

[kattouf]

In my opinion you should keep a copy of the backups, in case something goes wrong (yes i know they are huge). I assume this will errase last wednesdays backup too, so fingers crossed. :-)

Oh and whens its done, could you please post the backups schedules etc.

Good luck!

[nickp]

I thought the drives were being mirrored via raid. Is it only some of them? From this end, it looks like the servers are holding way too much data. I realize the loads are fine, but dang, that's alot of data for a web server with no mirror.

[javier011]

Backups system for all of the other servers are working fine, why not only make changes for nt20 and unix12 ?

anyway, I think you should make this operation the next week, let us have the time to backup sites, dont you?

[awen]

Originally Posted by Craig_Smith

**We strongly urge all Vortech Clients, Resellers and their End-user Clients to backup all website content**

Um right, and how do we back up all our sites in a few short hours, especially those of us using tired old dialup?

Guess I'll just have to hope, pray, and if I lose everything... just go away. (bankrupt)

Thanks for the consideration of at least SOME advance warning before setting us up for possible catastrophic failure.

[Craig_Smith]

nt20 and unix12 had nothing to do with the backups failing. They simply brought attention to the fact that our system is not working as good as it should be.

This system will solve all the issues and needs to be done NOW. Thus the short notice.

As always we would hope and assume that anyone would have a copy of their own website, but tonight god forbid if anything happens, there would not be a backup to restore. Please take this information and do as you wish.

nickP, no not all of the servers are RAIDed for mirrored drives. This would cost us a fortune and drive plan prices way up, which we don't want to do. At this time we offer a backup system FREE to our customers and want to keep it that way.

[Craig_Smith]

I'm just going to close this and let the on-duty techs update as needed.

[admin]

We will also be adding 1 more system adding another 600+ gb of raid5 backup space. We will then also be working a much bigger system a 9TB system that will be going in to place with in the coming weeks. We want to be sure our backups are 100% and we want you to know the same thing.

Our old system worked for years and has never let us downt his bad. So with a lot of new code added and checks added the system will almost be full proof or as close as we can get it. We are adding lots of checks in to the system to check that we do have current backups that are good and then checking them again.

[Craig_Smith]

Seems that my "common sense" comment upset some folks. It wasn't meant in any way as condescending or disrespectful.

As someone who has designed, maintained and hosted websites for years, I've always had copies of my work somewhere. Thats all I meant.

I apologize if I offended anyone.