Configuring a Backup Server

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When configuring a Windows 2000 backup/restore server, be sure to configure physical hardware according to the software and the demands that are to be placed on the server (that is, the number of tape drives). Wherever you can, configure as much physical memory as possible, which allows products such as ARCServe, BackupExec, NetBackup, NetWorker, and REELbackup to use and further adjust memory as required.

Also keep in mind that performance can vary according to the type of data that is being written or read from tape. For example, a file that is 100 MB can, in most cases, be written to tape faster than 100 files of 1 MB each.

The Windows 2000 default configuration is also limited to a maximum block size of 64 K when writing data to tape. However, this can be increased to 128 K blocks using the variable block size technique. Higher block sizes typically aren't allowed because of host bus adapter (HBA) restrictions.