Distributed backup solution for corporate networks

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Coming soon

As world becomes more dependent on computers, the value of information increases, and so does the importance of performing regular data backups. Many companies consider using network backup technology, a system that allows backing up all corporate data over network to a central server. According to statistics, downtime caused by data loss costs for businesses more than $12 billion a year, and that’s why network backup solutions receive much attention from enterprises of all sizes.

Handy Backup Server has recently gone for the most advanced development in the area of network backup called distributed backup. Distributed backup is a step forward from “common” server-based network backup to a serverless distributed backup system that allocates backup data across the whole network. Logically, all computers within the network collaboratively create a virtual server that can be accessed by any client, but physically, there is no central data storage.

The technology of distributed backup easily and coherently integrates into the architecture of Handy Backup Server and provides numerous benefits that make it one of the best network backup solutions for enterprises:

• Virtual server created by computers in the distributed backup system eliminates the need for backup storage devices: it allows you to forget about tapes, their retrieval, storage and rotation schemes. Once set up, it provides the most reliable and convenient way to back up network computers in a company of any size.
• The concept of peer-to-peer network backup provides the most effective way to exploit employees’ free disk space, creating reliable data storage and allowing every computer to access all backed up files even when some machines are unavailable. The cumulative disk space can be made much larger than any hard drive available on the market, and provides higher reliability at lower price.
• All data kept on participant machines is replicated several times with the use of a distributed randomized placement algorithm. All important data can be doubled, trebled, etc. – according to administrator-defined replication factor. This guarantees data safety even if one or several computers fail.
• Distributed backup preserves all features of “ordinary” server-based network backup: it provides efficient protection of all important data, can be scheduled, and is easily extended to any number of computers.

A distributed backup system is based on a peer-to-peer network technology. Backed up files of each computer are split into several chunks and allocated across the network. All computers (or nodes) simultaneously function as “clients” and “servers”, copying their data to the network and providing access to backed up data of other computers. To increase reliability of the system each data chunk is replicated several times and stored on different nodes. If some peer fails, the data can always be retrieved from the remaining computers.

Data management is performed by a so-called Distributed Backup Coordinator, a machine that coordinates all actions within the network backup system. Distributed Backup Coordinator represents an interface between Handy Backup Server and participants of the distributed backup system, and has the following functions:

• Files division and collection. Distributed Backup Coordinator keeps information about all backed up files, the way they are split into chunks and how these chunks are distributed across the network. Whenever you want to restore a file, it collects the needed components from nodes, rebuilds the file and transfers it via FTP/SFTP to Handy Backup Server, which in its turn redirects it to the node.
• Data replication. When a node leaves the system, Distributed Backup Coordinator reallocates chunks of files, ensuring that data involved in distributed backup exists at least on two computers (if replication factor is more or equals two, their actual number depends on the defined replication factor). The same applies to new nodes: when a new node joins the system, pieces of backed up data are moved to its hard drive from another computers.
• Disk space management. Distributed Backup Coordinator allows the administrator to define the amount of disk space given by each participant computer to the virtual server. The cumulative disk space can’t be limited by any physical causes and provides higher reliability at lower price than any classical server in network backup scheme.
• Provision of a backup destination. After the configuration, Distributed Backup Coordinator creates an FTP/SFTP server which is used by Handy Backup Server as a backup destination or restoration location. Depending on your will, you may set both parts on the same computer, or use a separate computer with Handy Backup Server to set up tasks.

Integrated into the architecture of Handy Backup Server, distributed backup system provides the most powerful and cost-effective data protection for corporate networks. It allows performing backup, restoration and synchronization of multiple computers at once, working with minimal consumption of system resources, what allows running all tasks during work hours. Once set up, it fully automates all processes, requiring no user intervention on client computers. It provides higher backup reliability and strongly reduces overall expenses needed for corporate backups.

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