Today's solutions for reliable and long-term data archiving can be used in various combinations with hierarchical storage and management concepts life cycle information. The palette of options available ranges from simple write-once tape archiving to complex analytic systems “for meaningful data management”.

To avoid being buried under an ever-increasing amount of information, businesses are adopting new intelligent data management and archiving solutions. On this moment the most significant growth is observed in the segment of unstructured data, such as text documents, emails, graphic images as well as audio and video files. According to experts, their volume annually increases by about 80%. The amount of structured data is also growing - by 20-30% per year. IT departments have to cost-effectively store an ever-increasing amount of data while complying with the directives and regulations in force in their enterprises.

LONG-TERM ARCHIVING

When planning a data archiving solution, one important question needs to be answered: should access to archived data still be fast, or should one or two minutes be spent waiting for the required file to download. If the latter is acceptable, then tape libraries are the most cost-effective solution for long-term archiving. In addition, it is necessary to determine the mechanisms for recording information in the archive. Small businesses that need to keep data for only a few years often use software for backup. However, such a budgetary method of archiving does not allow searching for the necessary information in archived data. If a stand-alone, dedicated solution is used, the administrator must decide whether the archived data needs additional protection. With this option, archived files can be excluded from overall process Reserve copy.

To move files to the archive as quickly as possible, powerful specialized solutions support the function of parallel data transfer. Such systems can break too large files into several parts or combine many small files into several large parallel streams. Professional archiving solutions have extensive search functions that allow you to find necessary information. Yes, for text documents effective indexing and search engines, while receipts and invoices can be provided with barcodes to facilitate their further search. Some manufacturers have already developed solutions that allow indexing of audio and video files.

Another one important function systems for long-term archiving - the ability to migrate stored files to new hardware platforms. Ideally, such a solution should support automatic data migration, which allows you to copy information from old media to new ones without interrupting the operation. To ensure the integrity of stored files, powerful archiving solutions check data stored on disk or tape drives at regular intervals and create a new copy if errors are found. Most archiving solutions keep at least two copies.

The cost of effort to change the manufacturer of the archiving system also depends on whether the data is stored in open format file system, or uses technologies developed by one of the manufacturers, such as proprietary hashing algorithms. In the case of a standard file system, migration to another platform is quite simple, but with very large amounts of data, this process can take a long time.

To ensure compliance with legal requirements, businesses must keep documents such as receipts, invoices or email correspondence unchanged for the prescribed period. At the same time, it is necessary to prevent the possibility of their subsequent editing and ensure round-the-clock availability of data, for example, in the event of a tax audit.

Previously, to protect against changes, they were often used optical media information such as CDs, DVDs, and magneto-optical (Magneto Optical, MO) discs. WORM disk and tape solutions provide significantly more flexibility and scalability than optical libraries, while WORM technology ensures that recorded files cannot be modified later. Many vendors have integrated WORM functionality into their archiving solutions, but some use third-party WORM systems.

HSM and ILM

Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) technology is one of the standard features many archiving systems and provides automatic movement of data to cheaper media (see Figure 1). This archiving is performed based on certain criteria, and the most common parameter is the frequency of data accesses. As a criterion for moving files to the archive, their age can serve. In addition, some rules use threshold values ​​- files are moved as soon as they are full. hard drive exceeds the given limit.

Most HSM solutions support tiered architectures where frequently accessed data resides on "fast" storage systems. Files that are used less often are automatically moved to secondary disks (Nearline) and subsequently transferred to cheap tape drives. Typically, a marker is stored in the original storage location of the file that points to the new location, and if the user needs the file from the archive, the HSM system returns it.

The so-called Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) concept offers much more functionality than HSM. Through a comprehensive set of rules, ILM clearly defines how files should be treated throughout their lifecycle. Most document management systems (Document Management System, DMS) and management systems corporate content(Enterprise Content Management, ECM) support ILM features.

Typically, the first step in using ILM solutions is to classify new files and categorize them - for example, ten-year invoices and receipts. In addition, files can be classified according to their importance. When choosing a data archiving solution, an enterprise should look for reliable mechanisms to remove data from the system at the end of its life cycle. Below we will look at the features various solutions for archiving on the market.

BACKUP SOLUTIONS WITH ARCHIVING FUNCTION

CommVault's Simpana is a modular data backup solution with HSM support, archiving, and searchable full-text indexing (see Figure 2). To archive data, Simpana first backs up and then restores it on the index server. Archived data is deduplicated and encrypted. Simpana can write them to disk systems, to tape drives, or redirect them to cloud system. For archiving using WORM technology, integration with third-party solutions is supported.

IBM has the Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) backup software solution, which, when combined with Tivoli System Storage Archive Manager (SSAM), provides a powerful archiving system with integrated HSM functionality and support for WORM technology. This system is capable of writing files directly to WORM tapes. To speed up access to data, it is possible to connect disk buffers.

Grau Archive Manager (GAM) from Grau Data is a powerful multi-user archiving system designed for large enterprises. Since GAM is implemented as a file system, all applications can use this archive without any advanced settings. Integrated HSM functions are responsible for the automatic transfer of data from disk drives to the tape library. This software supports WORM technology. For smaller businesses, Grau Data offers the Filelock tool, a simple solution for implementing Windows WORM functionality. GAM also has a version with open source codes- Open archive.

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR ARCHIVING

Symantec offers many archiving products. The manufacturer has expanded its Enterprise Vault solution so much that it can now provide tamper-proof archiving not only Email, but also file systems and SharePoint servers. The archived data is deduplicated, and the final storage location can be chosen arbitrarily. The Symantec Storage Foundation solution is equipped with HSM functionality. The eDiscovery module allows you to search through archived data. In addition, with the acquisition of Clearwell, Symantec has a high-performance eDiscovery solution for structured and unstructured data.

Quantum's StorNext is among the hardware-independent solutions. This program is implemented as a file system and is capable of archiving data based on specified rules. Like many other products, it supports WORM technology. When used with Quantum's tape library, StorNext can automatically check tapes for errors and overwrite files if necessary. This system supports multiple clients and provides a migration feature that allows you to copy data to next-generation tape drives without interrupting production.

Following the acquisition of Sun, Oracle became the owner of the SAM-FS archiving solution, which it combined with the Oracle Web Center (OWC) content management solution for managing unstructured data. OWC stores all files in the Unix-based SAM-FS file system and lets you administer file permissions and rules. The SAM-FS multi-user application manages information archiving with integrated HSM and WORM functions. This solution saves data in open TAR format.

HARDWARE SOLUTIONS FOR ARCHIVING

One of the pioneers in the field of archiving systems based on hard drives with the WORM feature is EMC with its Centera solution (see Figure 3). This is an object-oriented system that does not require logical units (LUNs), RAID structures or file systems which greatly simplifies the administration process. EMC has developed a hashing mechanism for Centera to ensure the integrity of stored data. Migration of archived data from the old hardware on new systems is carried out using the appropriate tools. The system supports the data deletion method (Shredding) in seven steps. For small businesses, EMC offers the VNX-E series of WORM-enabled disk systems.

The Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) product portfolio includes an object-oriented data storage system for change-protected archiving, the Hitachi Content Platform (HCP). HCP uses CIFS, NFS, Webday, HTTP, and FTP interfaces. The HCP 300 system consists of HDS servers with local hard drives and RAID controllers. The older model HCP 500, in turn, uses HDS storage systems. HCP does not directly write data to tape drives, this function can be implemented using the software package to support HSM - Hitachi Data Protection Suite, which hides the OEM version of the CommVault Simpana solution.

To ensure archiving in accordance with regulations and legal requirements (Compliance), IBM offers its Information Archive (IA) disk system. IA supports integration with WORM tape libraries and HSB functions of the native TSM SSAM solution (see Figure 4). Archiving of IA file systems is performed via the NFS and CIFS interfaces. Indexing and search functions are also available. In addition, IA has an automatic mechanism for migrating archived data to new media without interrupting the operation. After some time, IBM promises to release a NAS solution (Sonas), in which, in addition to the generalized parallel file system (General Parallel File System, GPFS), ILM and HSM functions will be implemented. To meet the highest requirements, the manufacturer has a high-performance storage system (High Performance Storage System, HPSS) with GPFS support in the arsenal. IBM plans to release the V7000 archiving solution for small businesses very soon.

HP acquired expertise in information lifecycle management for unstructured data through the acquisition of Autonomy. HP's legacy products for ILM will be integrated into the Autonomy portfolio. The latter specializes in the analysis of unstructured data, their automatic classification and preparation for subsequent search, which becomes possible thanks to the intelligent data operating layer (IDOL), which is able to recognize and index not only texts, but also audio and video files created by in 70 languages. IDOL allows you to implement the so-called Meaning Based Data Management, when the value of any file types is determined based on statistical analysis information. As a result, it becomes possible to automatically recognize important and less important documents, which are then processed based on the specified rules. HP offers three archiving hardware solutions preinstalled, eDiscovery and Enterprise Search technologies, and Autonomy as a cloud solution. For small businesses, the iCAS disk system is available with support for WORM technology.

Christoph Lange- Freelance journalist and IT consultant.

This article will describe how to create a backup copy (backup) of a server running Windows Server 2008 R2 using standard tools and restore (restore) from the resulting image.

All admins are divided into two categories: those who do not make backups yet and those who ALREADY make backups

Backup

In order to be able to create an image of our server, you first need to install the system component, for this we launch Server Manager, select Components, click Add Components

in the window that appears, check the boxes next to and Programs command line . Click next, install and wait for the installation process to complete.

Now we can start backing up, for this we go to the start menu and type “archive” in the search bar, then select .

This window contains the main controls for the archiving system, in this review We will use Single Backup. In the future, if you have, for example, a separate HDD to store images, you can create a backup schedule.

We press the addition of elements and check the box Restore the initial state of the system, you may have other disks that are not automatically selected, but you want to include them in the archive, you can safely check the box. There is only one thing, but you cannot check the box on the disk where you want to save the archive.

At the next stage, you need to choose where we will save the data, I will save it to an external USB drive, which I have under the letter E: so I choose Local drives. Although the archiving system allows you to save system images also over the network, in shared folder For example.

At the next step, the system prompts you to select the disk where we will save the archive, in my case it is E:
Click next, then Archive and wait until the archiving process is completed.

Upon completion of the archiving process, we can go to the hard drive and see if the WindowsImageBackup folder should appear.

In the Backup Systems window, if successful completion creating a system image should be marked Success. By double clicking on the line we can see the details.

restore

In order to recover from this image, there are two ways, the first one is from the Backup System window, suitable if our system is booting. In order to restore, click the Restore button

Choose This Server

And choose the date of the archive.

In the next step, we can select the files and folders we need, or we can choose to restore the system state if we want to restore the entire server.

And then choose the original location. And click the restore button.

Also, if our server does not load for any reason, or we have replaced it with a new one, we can use the installation Windows disk Server in order to restore the state of the system, for this we boot from installation disk and on the second installation screen, select restore

In the next step, select Restore your computer using the previously created system image.

The system itself scans disks for the presence of an image, it is possible to additionally install a driver through the button or select network location image. Select an image and click next.

We select the archive we need available in the image and in the same way, further.

If such a nuisance happened and we replaced the disk, then it is worth checking the box Format and partition disks. If a disk is installed that is broken as it should, then this checkbox can be left unchecked. Then click done and wait for the system to recover.

On Windows 7 or other similar systems. Many people underestimate this tool of the system somewhat, and in fact it allows not only to save user data, but sometimes even restore the health of the OS itself with all the programs installed in it. Just don't confuse archiving with archiving. Although the terms are very close in meaning, they differ quite strongly.

What is archiving in Windows 7 or any other similar system?

To begin with, consider the issue from a purely theoretical point of view. Archiving data in Windows 7 or in systems with a rank higher or lower generally refers to the toolkit for creating copies of absolutely all information that can be stored on a user's PC.

The similarity to archiving when using an appropriate packer is that the system actually creates a kind of archive copy of the data with a reduction in size. True, it is completely incomparable with the initial volume. Yes, what to say? A copy of a 200 GB hard drive will take about 150 GB minimum, while the archiver can produce a maximum compression of two or more times.

On the other hand, archiving files in Windows 7 and other systems, unlike archiving programs, retains all the operating parameters of the OS itself and installed programs. This is, in fact, an image of the system or hard disk, from which all data can be restored within a few minutes.

Do not confuse standard remedy system rollback with archiving. Resuscitation of Windows after critical failures and errors is based on the restoration of the system registry. Therefore, programs installed before a certain point (restore checkpoint) will not work, they will simply disappear from the system, although user files and folders are not affected.

Data archiving in Windows 7: how does it work?

As it turns out, this tool of the system is far from being as perfect as it was originally supposed. After all, what is archiving in Windows 7? The usual creation of a working copy of a system or disk with all the information that is best stored on removable media, and not in the logical partition due to the large volume. For this, they can be used external USB HDD.

However, if you save a copy only system disk on which the operating system is installed, there are no questions about saving backups in logical partitions.

True, even when setting a schedule, when the saved copy will change automatically in a certain time period, it also has its drawbacks. The problem here is that Windows constantly saves not the same copy, but different ones. Therefore, the space on the same virtual disk can decrease at a catastrophic rate.

Archiving Options

But if you enter the usual "Control Panel", you can use several options for archiving. For example, you can specify to save a copy of only user data, or you can create an image of the entire system or hard drive.

In the first case, the place, as a rule, will not have to be spent much. But if you leave the choice to the system at the preparation stage, then you can be sure that you will need almost as much space as the system partition or the entire hard drive takes up (well, the maximum that you can count on is a compression ratio of 1.5, nothing more) . But what if it is 2 TB or more, and the HDD and USB HDD file systems are different (one of them is in GPT format)? You will have to partition the disks into sections using conversion to MBR and NTFS, but the saved copy may not fit on them. Therefore, you should set your own choice.

Disabling a service

In general, by and large, in order not to waste disk space, you can create a copy once, save it on removable media or in system partition and then simply deactivate the given service.

Disabling archiving in Windows 7 or in another OS is quite simple. You need to use the services section (services.msc in the Run menu), find the WMENGINE client there, double click call the parameter editing menu, stop the process, set the startup type to disabled and save the changes.

After that, through RMB on the notification icon in the system tray, you need to select the "Action Center" line, settings and uncheck the archiving box. This is followed by a reboot, after which the creation of copies (even in virtual storage) will no longer bother you. To clean up disk space, you can delete the copies yourself, but it is better to use the Disk Cleanup tool, called through the properties menu for the selected partition. You can also use the backup and restore section in the Toolbar.

What else do you need to know?

What is archiving in Windows 7, figured it out. It remains to answer the most pressing question regarding the disabling of this function. There is nothing wrong with deactivating it. By and large, you can produce it once and save a copy on an external HDD. But for low volume hard drives, disabling this service will be very significant in terms of space savings. Only in this case you will need to create a recovery disk or flash drive. But, as it is already clear, it will be possible to revive only the operation of the OS itself, and certainly not installed user programs, not to mention saving personal files. So here you have to make a decision on your own, putting all the pros and cons on the scales.

The backup tool is quite useful as it allows the administrator to set up a schedule for backing up user data. Data refers to files stored on computer disks, important information. In case of loss, it can be restored thanks to the created reserve.

There are quite a few archiving methods: copy backup, full backup, differential, incremental. When creating an archive, it is important to correctly schedule the backup of files, as well as specify the location of the future copy.

Windows 7 Backup Applet

In Windows 8, the archiving panel was renamed and slightly changed when compared with the similar "seven" applet. In Windows 7, you can find it in the Control Panel called Backup and Restore. It contains two sections. Let's open the control panel.

For ease of display, set "Small Icons" and open the archiving applet.

As you can see, the backup function is not configured.

If the creation of "backups" is not configured, then the "Archiving" section will not display useful information. It will prompt you to configure the reservation settings. To do this, click on the "Set up backup" link. This action will launch the backup wizard.

Setting up archiving

First of all, the user will be prompted to specify the location of the future copy. He is given the choice of:

One of the available volumes,

DVD media,

Networking and more.

Location selection box.

Ways to select files for a future archive - either we provide a choice to Windows, or we do it ourselves.

Our choice was in favor of one of the drives, but the best location would be either a network location or storage on external media.

In the next step, we have to specify whether we trust the system tools in selecting objects for archiving or make an independent choice. If we stop at an independent choice, then the next window will provide us available volumes and directories for selecting important objects to be copied.

Also, we will be asked to decide if we need a system disk image. By default, this option is enabled, however, we have the option to uncheck the box and slightly reduce the backup time, as well as significantly reduce the weight of the copy of user files.

It will take some time to archive.

The task has been started for execution. You can also see the details.

Backup Administration

The "seven" archiving applet allows you to manage regular backup settings and the amount of space occupied. Backup information in view of regular backups grows greatly, and if we take into account the regular creation of copies of the system, archives sometimes turn into real giants.

Windows for archiving administration offers tools:

Space management;

Wizard for changing settings;

Scheduling wizard.

Space Management

By opening the space management tool window, we will find current information about the size of the space occupied by archives, images and other objects. In the same place, we will find the amount of free space available. If necessary, we have the ability to limit the size of archived information and images.

By clicking the "View archives" button, we will force the system to show all available "backup" copies. At the same time, it will provide information on the volume they occupy.

If necessary, unnecessary can be deleted, thus reducing the volume of the entire archive.

If we click the "Change settings" button of the images section, then in the next window that opens, the system will prompt you to choose a method for storing its copies. We can only store the latest versions of them, or we can trust Windows itself to manage the amount of space that can be allocated to store the backup log.

Change settings and schedule

To change the archiving settings, you need to click the "Change settings" link.

The configuration tool will open a window where you can set a new location, specify what exactly to copy, uncheck, or check the box to create a system image.

We can choose what to archive.

Also, you can reset the checkbox for regular execution.

The same tool will open the window for setting the backup schedule.

In the schedule window, it is possible to set the regularity of the procedure for creating archive copies. This task can run daily, weekly, or monthly. Also, to complete the task, the user can set the day of the week the exact time. If necessary, the regular task can be disabled and backups can only be made manually as needed.

Summary

Archiving is very useful feature in the operating environment. It allows you to form archival copies user data. In Windows 7, it is represented by the Backup and Restore Control Panel applet. Before starting the backup procedure, if it has never been done before, the wizard will offer to set up archiving, giving the user the opportunity to specify the location of the future archive, select the data to be copied, and the mode for performing a regular backup task.

All these options can be changed and further configured after the backup data is generated. In addition, the system provides a disk space management tool so that archived data does not grow to gigantic sizes.

Information for the news

Data archiving computer should be made in case of a rainy day. There was a sad case in my practice. There was a fire at one enterprise, naturally the computer burned down along with hard drive, programs and databases disappeared, it was clear to the naked eye that nothing could be restored. When the director of the company realized that all the data from this computer was hopelessly lost, he became ill. Naturally, no archiving was carried out, no one even knew such a word, System Administrator quit a month ago due to a small salary, the authorities did not remember his name. On such a day, my friends, you need to regularly back up data.

Create an image of Windows 7 using the Data Backup tool built into the operating system

In my article, I will tell you how system administrators use tools such as Archiving computer data and Creating a recovery disk, and what nuances may be unfamiliar to a simple user, without relevant experience. I want to say that such a case would not have produced any negative effect on a good admin, he would not have moved an eye, restoring everything in an hour. How do you ask?

• In our articles, we have analyzed what it is in general, how to use and, as well as the tool. But unfortunately, all these tools will not help us, if we have the same disaster, they will all be useless without a tool: Archiving computer data or Creating a system image.

Windows 7 was installed on a burned-out computer, let's imagine that unpleasant events have not yet occurred, but the system administrator has already ordered to live long, how would we act, knowing that such a useful tool as Data Archiving should not be neglected. By the way, do you know what's different? Data archiving computer from System Imaging? Read on.

Data archiving backs up our files, i.e. photos, documents, drawings, music, etc. It is very important where it produces, since we have a lot of personal data, it is better if it is a portable USB hard drive, where our entire household will probably fit, but you need to be careful with it, such drives are afraid of strong shocks. If we don't have many files, we can even use DVD discs.

• Very many users Windows installation 7 split the hard drive into several partitions, install the operating system on one, store personal data on the others, and this is right, but it’s not right to store backups of your data on the same hard drive, albeit on a separately created partition, believe my sad experience and store everything on portable media or another hard drive.

Personally, I always use a simple and normal SATA or IDE hard drive, such a drive can even be dropped and it is unlikely that anything will happen to it. Inexperienced, of course, may have problems connecting an additional hard drive to a computer. But let me, for whom I wrote so many articles, for example: or Connecting a SATA hard drive and How to connect an IDE hard drive.
Now the most important thing is how we will act, now we will do it with the help of the Data Archiving tool backup all our files on the computer to a portable hard drive, done, let's imagine that with our system unit something happened or it was stolen, respectively, all our data was gone. But we have another computer and you and I will be able to install the Windows 7 operating system there, then we will connect the USB hard drive with our archive and restore our data.

Start -> Control Panel->Computer data archiving era -> Restore files of all users lei, then we will specify our archive and the process of restoring everything that you had on this computer will begin. If you don't need everything, restore only the files you need. But first things first.

• Unfortunately Data Backup does not restore the entire operating system of Windows 7, but only your personal data included in the backup. If you want to make an archive of the entire Windows 7 OS, along with settings, programs and, of course, your files, then you need to use the . You can also deploy the created image on another computer and even with a different hardware configuration. Knowing certain subtleties, you can even get out of the image individual files, read our article Creating a system image.

We create a backup copy of our files using Computer Data Backup.
Start->Control Panel->Archiving computer data->do not rush to press the Archive button, first we will choose where.

Click the Change settings button

then select which hard drive (I have two, one is divided into two partitions (E:) and (C:), the second local disk(N :) with a capacity of 465.76 GB, used specifically for storing archives) select it and click next.

We can also store our data on a special paid server on the Internet, but here there is a risk of confidential data theft.
What should be archived? Provide Windows selection 7 or choose yourself, a good question, if you give the choice of Windows 7, the files of your personal libraries, all your programs and files used by the operating system for work will be included in the archive. Archiving will take quite a long time and remember that there is no guarantee that all the data you need will be included in the backup. Microsoft Help is available in this window How do I select files for backup in Windows?
So check the box Give me a choice and then.

In this window, we will be able to select those files for archiving that we need. My advice, select only personal data (folders with documents, music, photos, etc.) do not select files in system folders, for archiving software settings it is better to use not Data Archiving, but the System Image Creation tool (read System Image Creation).

Include disk system image, (E:) and (C:). Data archiving can additionally create entire disk images (E:) and (C:) on my computer along with the data archive.

• Note: You can notice on (C :) there is Windows 7, and what the Archiving setting saw on the disk (E :), but here's the answer for you, there I have the second Windows XP operating system. My advice is to check the box Enable system image for disks, the image with the operating system will come in handy.

Change schedule. In this window, you can change the schedule and data archiving will start when you need it, let data archiving be done exactly at the time when your computer is not busy or completely cancel it.

After the Data Archiving process is completed, we can see on the disk (N:) our backup archive on the left (it will be called the full name of your computer) and the Disk Image (E:) and (C:) on the right, called WindowsImageBackup with operating systems Windows 7 and XP. The Data Archiving tool creates an archive in the form of ordinary Zip-files, which, if desired, can simply be unzipped. As for the Disk Image, you won't be able to get the files that easily, so read on.

What could be the errors. The archiving process may fail if the removable USB device not enough space.
You can stop archiving by clicking the View details->Stop backup button.