Backing Up and Restoring Data

Backing Up Your Data
Administrative Data Backups
Pod Backups
UNIX (NetID) Account Backups
Restoring Lost Data

Backing Up Your Data

ITS recommends performing regular system backups from which software and data files can be restored if those are lost or destroyed. You can perform backups on all desktop platforms using devices such as tape media, zip drives, USB thumb drives, CDs and DVDs.

Following are more tips for backing up your data:

Test for viruses first, so you backup virus-free data. See ITS' Virus Protection page for more information.

Keep several generations of backups to safeguard against the loss of the backed-up information due to media deterioration.

Make more than one copy of major backups, and store one in a separate location from your computer.

Remember to backup files after those are updated, to avoid having to re-enter data later.

Keep hard copies of backed-up documents so you can verify versions.

Administrative Data Backups

ITS backs up administrative systems data, databases and data warehouses on ITS' mainframe and shared systems nightly, in some cases more often. Applications running on departmental LANs that interface with administrative applications are also backed-up nightly.

Pod Backups

ITS does not backup pod systems because pod systems are intended only for temporary data storage. System software images, however, can be restored easily.

NetID Account Backups

ITS backs up NetID account files (including associated UNIX files) nightly. Note: NetID email is NOT backed-up. To prevent loss of data, copy important email messages to a folder on your desktop computer.

Restoring Lost Data

ITS keeps nightly backups for 13 months. Data from the last 14 days is backed-up on disk, and can be recovered using the UNIX command snapshot.

Data lost more than 14 days ago may be recoverable from ITS' taped backups.
Note: It could take five to 10 working days to restore data from tapes, and some data may not be recoverable. Requests for data recovery from taped backup are limited to a single date. Contact ITS Computer Accounts at 277.8130 for further assistance.