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Part 4 – System Administration - 9 -
1.
Backup to Removable Hard Drive such as Zip drives: This is a fast and economical way to create off-
site storage of your database file. You can utilize the “Backup to Hard Drive” functions in Database
Maintenance to facillitate this process.
2.
Backup to magnetic tape: You can purchase tape drives and tape casettes. Included with the tape drive
is operational software that can be used for backup. Each manufacture and model of tape drive has its
own proprietary software that you must use for copying files to tape. You can select to copy individual
files or the entire hard drive. Most tape drive software also includes automation, which copies files
without operator intervention.
3.
RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks): This is a more elaborate method of database backup. It
uses special hardware, software, and multiple disk drives. There are five options (RAID 0 – 5)available
with this process. Two are described here:
a)
Simultaneous data writing on a backup drive (termed “disk mirroring”). Using this scenario, the
RAID system keeps an exact image of your working hard drive onto a secondary hard drive.
Should the main drive fail, your secondary drive should contain operational software and data for
a speedy recovery.
b)
Disk Drive Array where two or more (usually 8) disk drives are all operational as your “Main
Drive”(termed “disk striping”): Each drive contains 1/8th of the data. Using this scenario, you
can actually remove a faulty drive and replace it with a new drive during live operation. The
special software operates without the missing drive until the new one is installed. It then brings
the new drive up to date with its 1/8th of the data, fully restoring operation. This type of backup
would be utilized by the largest companies that have minimum tolerance to down time due to
hardware failures.
Note: The RAID scenarios are available from hardware vendor such as RAID, Inc.. We have no direct
experience with either concept, but have read documentation in technical manuals and on the internet. If you
contemplate RAID, you should contact your local small business software provider for purchase and
implementation.
HVAC Office is a unique computer program that is operational on over a thousand computers nationwide. The
testing of the software to confirm its reliability and stability was completed before the first release was shipped.
Software is never complete! We will be producing enhancements and features for the foreseeable future to keep
HVAC Office the standard of the industry. Each release is exhaustively tested in our office, then at selected
customer’s offices before release. This insures that our users will not be plagued by ineffective or inoperative
software while trying to conduct their businesses.
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