SOS Standby
Server for Windows
A Technical Explanation of How It Works
SOS Standby Server for Windows is a software package that installs on a PC that is dedicated to performing the function of being a backup / standby / failover server. The software will run on 2000 Pro, 2000 Server, XP, or 2003 Server. No special hardware is required. Installation is simple and takes no more than a minute. You are guided through configuration of mirroring a server by a wizard that takes only a few minutes. The software will perform backup four different ways – 1. Mirroring with Failover, 2. Archiving, 3. Offsite, and 4. Drive Imaging.
MIRRORING WITH FAILOVER
The software will continuously monitor and mirror any data sets which you specify, on any servers or workstations on the network, for as many machines as you like, with no extra licensing fees. The Standby Server makes its connection via standard windows networking shares. It can connect through hidden administrative shares or regular shares. It can also be directed to connect to a combination of share / directory paths, such as \\machinename\sharename\directory\subdir\ etc. You do not need to install any software on the machines you are backing up data from, unless they have open/locked files you want to back up, such as SQL databases. In that case you will need the open file access module that we have available. The open file access module is installed on any machines that have locked files you wish to back up.
Data sets on servers are continuously monitored and any data changes are replicated in real-time to the Standby Server using the Rsync protocol, which provides byte / block level delta transmission of only the changes in files. In other words, the entire file is not transmitted, only the changed portion. This significantly reduces network bandwidth.
Failover mode can be initiated on the Standby Server for any servers which fail. In the event of a server failure, Failover is selected from the Tools Menu. The failed server is selected from the drop-down list and when the Failover Button is clicked on, the IP address of the failed server will be added to the network card of the Standby Server. The Standby Server will then automatically create shares with the exact same share names as were used by the original server, and share all the mirrored data using those sharenames. The end result is that the failed server still appears to be online to all workstations, as the IP address, data, and sharenames are all identical to what was on the failed server.
The Standby Server will continue to back up other machines on the network while at the same time providing failover for the failed server. If a second or third server should fail while the Standby Server is already providing failover services for another server, that is no problem. Standby Server can provide failover services for multiple servers at the same time.
Restoration of identity and data back to the failed server after repair is accomplished via a simple and straightforward sync process that will release the IP address, and transmit any new data from the Standby Server back to the original server.
The beauty of this entire process of mirroring with failover is in the inherent simplicity of the design. Because no complicated clustering or server virtualization procedures are employed, the nightmare of complicated cluster configuration is avoided, and the frustrating complexities found in other competing products is eliminated.
ARCHIVING
Every night at midnight (or whatever time you specify) the existing mirror of data sets is archived into a folder with the day’s date. Daily archived data sets are kept for as many days as you specify. Archiving is an important part of any backup / disaster recovery scheme. If databases become corrupted, or files are accidentally deleted, the same corruption or deletion will of course immediately replicate to the mirror. However the archives are untouched. So in the case of data corruption or deletion, the files can be easily restored from the archive. SOS Standby Server handles this beautifully. Just right-click on the file in the archive and click restore. Standby Server knows which machine the file came from and what directory on that machine it lived in. The file is immediately transferred over the network back to its original location. IT administrators rave about this convenient feature!
OFFSITE
SOS Standby Server’s offsite capabilities are unique. It comes with its own client and server software for complete setup of an offsite data location. The server portion, called SOS Offsite Data Receiver can be installed on any 2000, XP or 2003 operating system. The machine does not have to be dedicated. Many people use workstations at another office or at a residence to receive offsite data. The client portion is built into Standby Server. Just check the box for offsite, and the data is mirrored to offsite continually as it is mirrored to the onsite Standby Server. The Rsync protocol is used to do a delta transmission of only byte level changes through the Internet to your offsite location. The software will also transmit to commercial data vault companies, if that is preferred. Some people prefer to transmit to offsite on a scheduled basis, such as once a day, rather than continually. For this reason, the SOS Backup Scheduler is included. This component will allow you to transmit to your offsite location on a scheduled basis.
DRIVE IMAGING
GhostBuster Drive Imaging Server, GhostBuster Windows Client, and GhostBuster Boot CD are included with SOS Standby Server. The GB Windows Client allows for scheduled drive imaging of workstations and servers. The GB Boot CD allows for creation and restoration of images of machines running any operating system. The GB Drive Imaging Server provides a centralized location for managing the receiving and transmitting of drive images over the network. The drive image created by the GB software is a file created bit-by-bit by reading 0s and 1s off of the hard disk platters and streaming them over the network into one large file. This file can be transmitted back from the GB Server directly to the workstation or server, allowing a blank hard disk to be rebuilt from scratch back to its original condition with operating system, programs and data all in one place. Additionally the GB Drive Imaging Server has the capability of mounting images as virtual drives, allowing you to pull individual files out of the image. Since images are created below the operating system level they automatically backup all files, regardless of whether or not they are open, locked or system files
SUMMARY
The combination of mirroring, failover, archiving, offsite and drive imaging capabilities in one package, provides a comprehensive disaster recovery suite that has unparalleled functionality. Continuous real-time mirroring insures loss of no more than a few minutes of data in the event of failure. Failover provides for instant data availability which avoids costly downtime and loss of employee productivity. Archiving delivers simple, easy, and fast restoration of lost or damaged files, protecting against data corruption and human error. Offsite backup protects against fire, flood, theft and terrorist attacks. Drive imaging gives a backup of the entire hard disk, allowing for quick and easy restoration of servers and workstations from bare-metal.
NO PER-SEAT LICENSING
If you used SOS Standby Server to backup one server, our price is less than the competition’s. But when you consider that we have no per-seat licensing, the price of Standby Server becomes astonishingly low. All competing companies sell you a different product for each function. One product for mirroring and failover, another one for offsite backup, another one for drive imaging, and so on. Then they charge you for each machine you want to back up with those products. Not so with SOS Standby Server!. You get all these products in one package, for one license and one price. Then you can back up ALL machines on your network for no extra charge! Yes, you can drive image all your PCs, mirror and archive their data, transmit what you want to offsite, for all the machines on your network -- for no extra charge! This is unheard of in the industry. We are the only company that does it -- and this is why you want to buy -- SOS Standby Server!
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