Backup and update schedule for Windows-based network.
I would like some input on my backup/update schedule ? please advise.
In use:
Windows Server 2003
WSUS
Windows XP workstations
Galaxy Express software
Symantec Antivirus
Our company is open seven days a week: M-Sat 10AM-9PM; Sun 1PM-5PM. I?m looking for a logical way to backup and run updates. Here are my thoughts.
2 Week backup schedule for under 200Gig:
Week1 (Using tape set 1):
Sunday ? Full Backup at 7PM
Monday through Saturday ? Differential backup at 10PM
Symantec updates daily at 11PM
Windows updates weekly on Monday.
Week2 (Using tape set 2):
Sunday ? Full Backup t 7PM
Monday through Saturday ? Differential backup at 11PM
Symantec updates daily at 11PM
Windows updates weekly on Monday.
How often should I run Windows Updates? I am going to be using a WSUS and I believe I have to approve the updates. It is a good idea to update everything the day after the full backup in case one of the updates is faulty? Hopefully I have given enough information.
Thanks in advance.
Software/Hardware used:
Software/Hardware used:
ASKED:
October 18, 2006 11:34 AM
UPDATED:
February 3, 2009 3:55 PM
Answer Wiki:
your backup scheme is simple and will work fine. the system we moved to is storserver which makes a full backup of all systems once, then only backs up files that have changed since then and recreates it's own full disaster recovery backups from the backup tapes. that way there are no long full backups again unless you tell it to. that cuts WAY down on backup time. we even backup servers across our 256k lan lines and it works fine. expensive though.
the one thing that I noticed is your windows updates. you might want to run them on tuesday since MS's updates are on a tuesday every month. if it comes out on tuesday you will have almost a full week before your systems get patched. if the updates are critical then you will be vulnerable for 1 week. you don't have to run them every week since patch tuesday is only monthly. BUT, it is a good idea just to CYA. As seen just recently MS does rarely put out patches off of schedule if they are critical enough.
hope this helps!
later,
Buddy
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Buddy,
Thanks, that helps a great deal. I will switch the computers to update on Tuesday. Does MS always release them on the same Tueday? Like the first tuesday of the month or second… or just on a Tuesday?
MS updates schedule is Tuesday. You may want to look at your WSUS settings and GPOs. My WSUS synchronizes nightly after hours, this provides full current updates within 24 hours of release. I also have a GPO that has machines checking WSUS nightly for updates, in a detect only mode. This allows you to test patches before automatic rollout. All you need to do is change the status of the update when you are ready to deploy.
Sorry…. The above should be 2nd Tuesday. But it is still important to sync daily, as has been the case for revised or interim updates that have been released off cycle.
spadasoe,
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into my GPO and WSUS settings. I will see how it goes…
J