Readers share their simple rules for disaster recovery

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: MIKE KARP ON STORAGE IN THE ENTERPRISE
07/12/05
Today's focus: Readers share their simple rules for disaster
recovery

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Reader suggestions for stress-free disaster recovery planning
* Links related to Storage in the Enterprise
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Readers share their simple rules for disaster
recovery

By Mike Karp

Last week, I mentioned some correspondence from a reader who
re-emphasized the wealth of expertise that exists among my
readership. One result of that column was that I asked you to
suggest your favorite practical guidelines for preparing for
disaster recovery.

Long time reader and correspondent Robert Pearson has obviously
done this drill many times. Here's how he has maintained his
sanity:

"You have been selected as a participant in a trip to a distant
planet. It is a one-way trip. Upon arrival at the distant
planet, you will be required to recreate a working version of
the IT infrastructure you left behind. This will be created from
locally available resources and is not required to be a
technical duplicate. Due to severely limited energy resources,
only you, your body and your knowledge, can be transported. What
knowledge do you need to accomplish this mission?"

From reader Thomas W. Burdine, Jr., of SunGard:

"Besides 'test it', which is very important, the other single,
simple, essential rule for disaster recovery, as well as IT in
general, remains: Backup, backup, backup, and backup..."

Finally, this excellent list from Jeff O'Hare of Cendant:

* Disaster recovery is a program, not a project, it's part of an
  overall and ongoing business resilience effort.
* Develop and maintain a mature disaster recovery philosophy in
  your production environment - policies, processes, procedures,
  architecture, planning, etc. This work is continual and
  significant.
* One undocumented change in production can crater your disaster
  recovery effort.
* Plan on key technical/operations personnel NOT being available
  when a disaster takes place.
* Don't forget to design your network for disaster recovery.
* Disaster recovery exercises (or tests) are not pass or fail,
  they are meant to mature your program, and if you aren't
  continually finding problems, you aren't exercising hard enough.

So what do we take away from all these suggestions?

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

What's your simple rule for disaster recovery planning?
Network World, 07/05/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlstorage3203

Microsoft encroaching on storage territories
Network World, 07/11/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlstorage3204
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Mike Karp

Mike Karp is senior analyst with Enterprise Management
Associates, focusing on storage, storage management and the
methodology that brings these issues into the marketplace. He
has spent more than 20 years in storage, systems management and
telecommunications. Mike can be reached via e-mail
<mailto:mkarp@enterprisemanagement.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle
Grid Glossary

Grid computing is a vehicle to extend the life of existing
assets, not to end the life of existing infrastructure assets.
The Oracle Grid runs applications faster than the fastest
mainframe. You can adopt Oracle Grid technologies with minimal
investment, zero disruption, and fast ROI. Learn more about the
specialized set of terms and acronyms that define Grid
technologies with this comprehensive glossary. Download the
Oracle Grid Glossary now!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108327
_______________________________________________________________
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Breaking storage news and analysis:
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Here's a ten step guide you can follow to curb the spyware
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