Red Hat ENTERPRISE LINUX 4 - INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION Administration Manual

Also see for ENTERPRISE LINUX 4 - DEVELOPER TOOLS GUIDE: Installation guide Installation guide Tuning guide Installation guide Manual

Contents

172 Chapter 8. Planning for Disastersingle item must be identified. Often organizations work with manufacturers to craft agreements forthe speedy delivery of hardware and/or software in the event of a disaster.8.3.4. Availability of BackupsWhen a disaster is declared, it is necessary to notify your off-site storage facility for two reasons:• To have the last backups brought to the backup site• To arrange regular backup pickup and dropoff to the backup site (in support of normal backups atthe backup site)TipIn the event of a disaster, the last backups you have from your old data center are vitally important.Consider having copies made before anything else is done, with the originals going back off-site assoon as possible.8.3.5. Network Connectivity to the Backup SiteA data center is not of much use if it is totally disconnected from the rest of the organization thatit serves. Depending on the disaster recovery plan and the nature of the disaster itself, your usercommunity might be located miles away from the backup site. In these cases, good connectivity isvital to restoring production.Another kind of connectivity to keep in mind is that of telephone connectivity. You must ensure thatthere are sufficient telephone lines available to handle all verbal communication with your users.What might have been a simple shout over a cubicle wall may now entail a long-distance telephoneconversation; so plan on more telephone connectivity than might at first appear necessary.8.3.6. Backup Site StaffingThe problem of staffing a backup site is multi-dimensional. One aspect of the problem is determiningthe staffing required to run the backup data center for as long as necessary. While a skeleton crewmay be able to keep things going for a short period of time, as the disaster drags on more people willbe required to maintain the effort needed to run under the extraordinary circumstances surrounding adisaster.This includes ensuring that personnel have sufficient time off to unwind and possibly travel back totheir homes. If the disaster was wide-ranging enough to affect peoples’ homes and families, additionaltime must be allotted to allow them to manage their own disaster recovery. Temporary lodging near thebackup site is necessary, along with the transportation required to get people to and from the backupsite and their lodgings.Often a disaster recovery plan includes on-site representative staff from all parts of the organization’suser community. This depends on the ability of your organization to operate with a remote data center.If user representatives must work at the backup site, similar accommodations must be made availablefor them, as well.