LAN-Free Backups Using the Sun StorEdge Instant Image 3.0 Software
Introduction
As data grows in size and backup windows shrink, performing backups across the LAN is no longer the ideal method. LAN-free backups should be used when the amount and importance of the data increases. This method enables the data and applications to remain available, while supporting shorter backup windows.
This document contains overviews of LAN and SAN backup practices and includes procedures for performing LAN-free backups.
LAN Backups
Currently, administrators perform backups across a network. They use products such as VERITAS NetBackup or Legato NetWorker_, but as the product names imply, they are designed to back up data across the network. These products are robust, and procedures for network backups are already in place.
Performing backups across the LAN is fine for small amounts of data, but as the data reaches the multi-terabyte range, the network is no longer the most effective method for large enterprise-wide backups. The SAN backup method takes advantage of these existing products and procedures to move the data across the SAN instead of the LAN.