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If you run a small business, chances are you’re saving important files to a server. But what happens when disaster strikes? How are you ensuring that your files won’t be lost? Many people fail to realize that the loss of files could cripple their business. You can insure your office and equipment, but you can’t insure files. You can’t repair or buy back lost files. Ipso facto, they are lost!
This brings us to the concept of disaster recovery. What is disaster recovery? If you’re thinking that disaster recovery is about frantically trying to get back data that’s already been lost, then you’re already behind the 8-ball! Disaster recovery is about safeguarding your organization’s data so that it can be safely restored in event of a crippling disaster. And having an industry-standard file backup strategy is undoubtedly the most important part of disaster recovery.
What you have to do is ensure that all files on the server are backed up to another storage medium — tape, removable hard disk, NAS device, and so on. Most businesses choose to use tape. Let’s look at how you can set up a tape backup strategy for your own business.
1. Tape — the perfect backup medium
Isn’t tape an anachronism in the age of optical disks, removable hard drives and a plethora of whiz-bang, random-access storage media? Tape is indeed a dinosaur in relative terms, but it’s ideal for backup. Tape is slow, but can store a lot of data… one mid-range tape should be enough to backup your entire server. Plus, tape is extremely cheap — mid-range tapes cost around $20 each.
2. When should you backup?
Typically, tape backup is performed at the end of each day. Just put in the tape and let the backup process run overnight. If your server ever suffers a catastrophic disaster, you have at least saved all your files from the previous day.
3. Tape Rotation
The ideal tape backup solution would involve using a new tape for each backup. This means purchasing a new tape for every day of your business’s operations. This is hardly cost-effective for your business. Tape is cheap, but not that cheap!
This is why we speak of tape rotation. Tape rotation means to reuse tapes from previous backups. The simplest tape rotation scheme is to have one tape for each day of the working week. Tapes are labelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
You can restore data from any one of the tapes in your library, or in this case, any day in the past the week. This strategy requires only five tapes, but only provides one week’s data backup history.
4. Grandfather-Father-Son — A Case Study
The grandfather-father-son schedule is the most widely used method, and involves backing up data in the following way:
* daily — on the “son tapes”
* weekly — on the “father tapes”
* monthly — on the “grandfather tapes”
This system is far more powerful than the five-tape rotation, but requires more tapes.
This strategy provides you with the ability to restore data from the last week, plus any Monday over the last month, plus any month for as many monthly tapes as you have. Variations on this scheme are available, and provide a trade-off between the number of tapes required, and the number of monthly tapes available.
5. Different types of backup
Different types of backups are available in backup software.
* Full — all files, system data
* Differential — all files added or changed since the last full backup
* Incremental — all files added or changed since the last full, differential or incremental backup
* Daily — all files added or changed on the day of the backup
A Full backup will copy all files and system data to the backup media. It allows for the complete restore of all data from one single tape.
Differential, Incremental and Daily are partial backups are designed to reduce amount of data backed-up to the media, resulting in faster backups. To restore data using one of these backups, the last Full backup tape will also be required, along with any other partial backups since the last Full backup.
6. Tape backup software
At this point you may be thinking that performing tape backup is a complex task. Tape rotations, incremental backups… sure, you can try to do this manually, but this would make the backup process hiddeously difficult and prone to human error! The solution is to invest in a good piece of server backup software that will manage and schedule your tape backups for you.
What should you look for in tape backup software? For many small business owners, the price is crucial. Many brands of backup software are just too expensive — in the $1000+ range — and contain features that you’ll never need. Look for a backup utility that’s designed specially for small business instead. It should be simple-to-use, reliable and affordable. Choose a good tape backup software and you’ll be well on your way to safeguarding your files and data.
Archive → February, 2011
An Introduction to Tape Backup
P90x
So you’ve seen the commercials, heard about it from your friends or colleagues, but you want to know what P90X REALLY is about. Not just “Oh man…it’s EXTREME!” Pull up a chair and I’ll give you an in depth look at the workout program that WILL change your life.
Let’s get right down to it and start with the workouts. Have you ever bought a workout video that was a half hour or forty-five minutes of a more talk than working out? Then the workout you do get is for beginners, or is better suited for your 12 year old? Yea, me too, but P90X is not it. First of all, they give you a full DVD on how to get the most of the workouts. The trainer, Tony Horton, gets serious, and gives you serious motivation to get the change in your body you are looking for. Then, they give you a whopping TWELVE DVDs. That’s twelve hour-long workouts! These guys are nuts! Not only are they twelve workouts, but also if you are not in shape like a professional athlete, you WILL NOT be able to finish the workouts. I’m serious, and so are the workouts. Their strength workouts are based on circuit type training. The strength workout DVDs are: chest and back; shoulders, triceps, bicep; back and legs; chest, shoulder, triceps; back and biceps and finally the “Ab Ripper X”, as they like to call it. Each one starts with a warm up and stretch, and each one has a cool down period…so you are completely done in 1 hour.
Now, I want to tell you about the chest and back a bit more. Basically, you rotate a chest exercise, then a back exercise. It starts out with pushups, then pull-ups. You will rotate regular grip, then wide grip then narrow grip and finally reverse grip (pull-ups). Tony then has you doing some decline and incline pushups, bent over rows, back flys and some crazy military push ups that the Navy SEALS have a hard time doing. There are of course a couple other exercises that I didn’t mention, but they are all variations of the above. So, with about 15 seconds rest in between each exercise, you finish the first round and you are SPENT! Then he says….”This is where most programs are finished….but not us! We’re not done!” And you look at the TV screen like..”Are you kidding me right now..I can’t even lift my arms over my head…..and you want me to get back on the pull up bar”??? Yea…that’s right…get back up there. But, don’t worry, about half way through the 90 days….you’re yelling back at the TV screen going…….bring it harder old man!!! (Oh yea..Tony is the most ripped 48 year old guy you have EVER seen….EVER!)
So, that about covers one DVD. The rest are more of the same torture (at first, then you realize you are a friggin’ animal, and begin to love that stuff). But wait, I’m not done! There are cardio workouts! Plyometrics, Yoga, Cardio X, and Core Synergistics. All of which will have you scraping the floor with your tongue if you are not already a marathon runner. Oh yea….I know someone who IS a marathon runner, and he STILL had trouble with these babies when he first started! Yea, these workouts are serious, so you should be too if you want to tackle them and get in the best shape of your life! Did I mention they give you a calendar and a workbook to track your progress and a 40-page guide to all of the workouts in addition to the DVDs? Yea…they do.
Let’s talk about the P90X nutrition plan now. So unless you are a professional athlete (actually….professional athletes can benefit from this nutrition guide too) you need this nutrition guide. It’s really like getting a masters degree in how our bodies work. After you read the P90X nutrition guide, you will want to sue someone every time you see the crap on TV and in the news about how to lose weight. Everyone is feeding us misinformation!! It’s crazy that the owners of these companies are not sent to jail!!! Because it’s a crime!! The P90X nutrition guide shows you IN DETAIL how EXACTLY to burn YOUR fat, and build YOUR muscle, not someone else’s fat and muscle. They take you step by step, calculate your energy requirements for rest, for exercise, for everything, then give you a solid number to hang your hat on, so you know every single day, that you are either losing fat, or not. In addition, they give you meal plans, down to the last calorie, carbohydrate and protein, so that you know EXACTLY what is going on in your body. No more guessing if you are losing weight because the scale might be wrong. The hell with the scale! You don’t need it! It’s throwing you off! Calculate your weight loss!! Then, in one month, look at it in your pictures….you will be astonished! In addition, P90X puts you on three different phases of your nutrition plan: a fat burning phase, a strength phase and an endurance phase. You can watch you body change each week in the mirror….it is totally crazy!!! They even give you an entire 90 days worth of meal recipes. If you don’t like those, they have a “Portion Plan”, so you can chose your own foods and still follow the plan. Of course, the online website has tons more recipes from other people that went through P90X who have submitted so others can benefit. This is the most complete, real, and healthy way to get super-fit that you will find anywhere…..I can guarantee that!!!
Evening Dresses – Ways to Look Elegant
Dressing up is probably every woman’s passion and while there may be those who prefer the more casual look, there would be times when the casual-wearing woman would have no choice but to comply to what the occasion is asking for – such as when there is a wedding or a formal function at work. Invitations to these events will specifically require guests to dress a certain way. These formal events call for a more proper way of dressing and if you are the type who remains clueless when it comes to picking the right evening dress, then this article will help.
Much care and thought is needed in deciding on the right dress for you. In fact, there are a number of factors that you need to consider to be able to match the dress with the person that you are.
The first thing you need to consider is the event. Determine what type of dress is required and make sure to conform. The people who invited you have prepared for this, and as a guest you should respect that.
- White tie events are the most formal dress code possible. It requires women to wear full-length gowns with a crinoline underneath it.
- Black tie events are a little less formal, requiring women to come in straight gowns and men in black tuxedos.
- Semi-formal and cocktail events are rather informal events wherein women are expected to come in knee-length dresses and the men in dark suits.
The next thing you need to consider is your body type. The key to looking good in evening dresses is to be able to pick one that compliments your body.
- Are you having some problems hiding your tummy? If this is a problem then you should make sure to stay away from satin and silk garments. You should also avoid wearing very tight-fitting gowns but instead consider a style that flares, or perhaps one with an empire-cut.
- Are you worried that you have no slender waist? Deflect the attention from your figure and wear straight cut gowns with very thin shoulder straps. Once again, an empire-cut dress will hide your figure perfectly, so consider this style when finding your dress.
- Do you have a wider chest area? If you do, the square-neck low cut dress is best for you. Bring attention to your arms instead of your chest so get a dress with very thin straps.
- Are you having problems with your buttocks? Are they big and very hard to avoid? Once again, and empire-cut dress can best hide your figure, but apart from this, make sure to avoid loud prints and dresses that are cut very low from behind.
Choosing the colour and design will be the easiest decision you will have to make. Usually, a fair skinned person will best avoid light coloured dresses to avoid fading into the scene. Similarly, a dark-skinned individual will have to stay away from dark fabrics as they will look their best in evening dresses of lighter shades.
All these tips will help you become more confident whilst in a normally embarrassing situation. Remember that the right attitude can brighten an outfit even more, so look good and feel good, and everything else will follow.
Colgate Coupon And Toothpaste Coupons -free Printable Colgate Toothpaste Coupons
Get a colgate coupon to save money on your favorite Colgate Toothpaste purchases or print Colgate Toothpaste coupons to use at your local store.Considering the current state of the economic climate we are all looking for ways to save money and this can be achieved by cutting down on our bills.One of the most effective ways to do this is by using free coupons to reduce your final bill at the checkout of your local store or online retailer.Below you will learn where to find coupons for Colgate Toothpaste.There are many, many products to choose from, but where can you find coupons ? Of course you can always ask your friends and family to look out for these coupons. If they don’t use them, they can always pass them on to you.But that’s time consuming and unreliable. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to instantly receive coupons before you make a purchase? Is this possible you ask? Well the answer is simple.Yes it is! Just visit the blue link below and complete the simple steps. Not only that you will get the latest coupons but you will also gain access to thousands more coupons than can save you a fortune on the long run. Just imagine having coupons for anything you would like at your fingertip without having to search Google every time when you want to make a purchase.
A whitening toothpaste that is “Clinically-proven to whiten in 14 days”. Its whitening ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which gradually bleaches the teeth. It utilizes two separate chambers that contain a whitening agent and a cleaning gel.Although most of the brands use sodium fluoride, the Colgate Cavity Protection variety instead contains Sodium monofluorophosphate as the active ingredient.Colgate Total contains the anti-microbial ingredient along with Copolymer Gantrez that enhances substantivity of triclosan upto twelve hours along with 1000ppm of fluoride, which reduces the number of bacteria that cause gingivitis, cavities and halitosis.
Buying a Townhome
Buying a townhome does not only mean owning an enclosed area with four walls and whole of its interior air space but it also means buying the homeowner association. First time buyers have tons of questions in their mind when they lookout for a townhome. If you are the first time buyer, then be sure to examine all the homeowner association documents, including its latest financial statements, to determine if one is buying into a money pit or a gold mine. Following are some questions that a buyer should always consider and fetch answers for.
How financially sound is the homeowner association: To determine this, ask for and read copies of the following documents: Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), By-Laws and Regulations, Meeting Minutes for the last year, HOA Financial Statement. These documents will tell you about special assessments being planned to address the deferred maintenance, capital improvements that are planned for future execution, amount of cash reserves, whether the association had ever been sued and history and likelihood of dues that might increase soon.
Monthly dues: This question is very important as answer to this, would determine your monthly dues. Check if your monthly dues include payment for water, cable connection, ground maintenance/ garderners, trash pick-up, sewer services, insurance, professional management fees, pool, spa or fitness centers, roads and sidewalks, assigned or underground parking, gate access, etc.
Who manages the complex: Larger complexes require professional management. Initially it would cost more to hire a professional company, but in the long run it tends to save money. Professional managers wield more bargaining power when negotiating for services such as bids for gardeners or general maintenance because they represent such a larger number of complexes.
How many units are rented: Generally people do not prefer renting their townhomes. It’s not that tenants are bad people but there is a belief among people that renters don’t take care of the property in the same way that an owner occupant would care for it. In addition, some lenders does not loan money to a buyer if more than 25% of the units in the complex are rented out. Some homeowner associations refuse to let owners rent their unit for more than 30 to 60 days, if at all.
How calm are your surroundings: Asking the neighbors will give prospective buyers only an idea of the noise factor, but so will driving the area late on a Saturday night. It’s best to buy a corner unit because fewer common (adjoining) walls means less noise. However, soundproofing doesn’t help much if your next-door neighbor enjoys blasting Pink Floyd every Sunday at 2 AM.
Closely examine the available amenities, parking and pet restrictions (if any): Talk to the people who lives near by. Their feedback would be the best resource for you to help you find out the hours of use for pools, spas and recreation areas such as tennis courts or game rooms and check to see that those times work with your schedule. Check how is guest parking handled, and how many parking spots are provided with each unit? Is it possible to rent an extra parking space, if required? How much will you be charged to replace a lost key for the security gate or clubhouse? Also check how many pets can you have? Are there size restrictions? Are you allowed to bring pets through the lobby on a leash? Make sure you check all these points before you decide to buy a townhome.
Pull into the parking lot or garage in the late afternoon when homeowners are coming home from work. If they hate the homeowner association, they will tell you in no uncertain terms what is wrong with it. Better to find out the sentiment and reasons behind it before you buy than afterward. HOA or Home Owners Association have the power to regulate and monetarily penalize owners for violations like never before, so make sure you completely understand what you are buying into before you sign on the bottom line.