Data Validation - Site and Process Review
The Apollo Data Validation service has been designed to provide a number of benefits.
- Ensure that backups are being managed in line with best practice techniques.
- Ensure that after the review, everything expected to be on a backup tape will appear on a backup tape.
- Advise the client of what is being copied and how to verify standard backup error logs.
- Ensure that the client is best placed, with immediate availability of all media, licences and configuration tools, to assist engineers in the most rapid recovery from system failure.
A key part of this service is the collating and publishing of all the information gathered into a formal report.
The main function of the data validation process is to ensure that data, once backed up, can be read back in. To do this we need to be able to check the tape contents against known parameters. This information is gathered whilst on site at a clients.
The review necessitates a visit from a senior engineer to review and collate information regarding the machine and the software to be validated. This information is presented in a single unified document.
The items listed below show the main subjects covered by the survey.
Full Machine Survey
Current disk configuration and volume usage.
Operating system specific settings
Database and company configuration.
Backup Process review
Media rotation
Media storage
Process training and user awareness
Advise on best practice techniques
Implementation / installation media check
Locate and record installation licenses
Locate all installation media
Identify missing elements
Snapshot performance monitor
- Monitor Operating System / Hardware performance and advise if required
- Monitor Database performance and advise if required.
- Advise on potential bottlenecks
In Summary.
This simple and low cost test could save your business. A backup that doesn’t work can lead to catastrophic data loss, the cost of which is incalculable. In the real world problems do arise and sometimes can be fixed with little effort. We want to make sure that regular tests reduce the probability of either procedural / technological failure causing the business to lose information. It’s best to identify and fix a problem before it becomes a problem !