I'm looking to set up a tape backup system for my small office's Linux file server. I've got about 2TB of diverse files, including CAD files, text documents, images, and VMs, that I want to back up completely every night after 9 PM. I'm considering using tape drives since external HDDs and SSDs have become quite pricey—around 200 euros each over here. I would like to use LTO-7 drives, which would allow me to maintain 7 to 14 tapes for offsite backup, bringing one tape home each day. However, I haven't worked with tape drives in almost 18 years and I'm unsure about what I need or which drives are reliable. Any suggestions for good drives and compatible backup software (open source or commercial)? I also need to ensure the data on the tapes is encrypted, as my home directories are already encrypted with LUKS.
6 Answers
Why go for tape when you only have 2TB? Seriously, it seems excessive. You could just keep the most recent backups on a large storage pool and use a couple of portable drives to rotate offsite. Just adhere to the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of your data, at least 2 media types, and 1 copy offsite. Simple as that!
Back to basics with tape backups! If you have documentation from 18 years ago, stick with what worked. I still use tar for my tape backups and it works like a charm for free. Just ensure your HDDs can stream enough data continuously to prevent shoe shining. You might want to consider using mbuffer to manage data flow, especially if you’re dealing with a mix of file sizes.
Using HDDs might be much cheaper! I get that prices are rising, but in the US, a lot of people are giving away perfectly functional 2TB and 4TB drives. If you’re worried about reliability, maybe think about rsyncing to a cloud storage option as a secondary backup? It might give you peace of mind without spending too much. Full and incremental backups might seem old-fashioned, but they can still work if you manage them right! Just keep in mind you want to protect against ransomware threats too.
I've always preferred HP drives in the past, and if I were in your shoes, I'd look into their latest options. Symantec was my go-to for a while, but Veeam has great support for LTO drives now. Also, don’t forget to grab a cleaning cartridge if you buy a used drive; it's important to keep the drive in good shape!
Going with an LTO-7 drive sounds like a solid plan for your needs! Each tape has a native capacity of around 6TB, which comfortably covers your 2TB of data. Just double-check that the drive you buy is compatible with Linux, as setting up drivers can be a hassle if the vendor hasn't kept them updated. As for backup software, you might want to try Bacula or Amanda; both have strong support for tape drives and encryption. Make sure your encryption keys are stored securely as well. Setting up a cron job to automate everything after 9 PM will be pretty easy. Just remember to test the system manually before setting it and forgetting it!
Consider exploring how Linux dump levels work and look into tape rotation strategies for your backups. You might also want to check out a service like Rubrik, which is designed for cloud backups if you're thinking about expanding your offsite storage options.
I’d prefer to avoid old drives because I don’t want to deal with the wear and tear, and the hassle of transporting them safely is not something I'm up for. Relying on hardcoded credentials for cloud backups makes me uneasy due to potential ransomware risks.