Availability Of Backups; Network Connectivity To The Backup Site; Backup Site Staffing - Red Hat ENTERPRISE LINUX 3 - INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION Administration Manual

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single item must be identified. Often organizations work with manufacturers to craft agreements for
the speedy delivery of hardware and/or software in the event of a disaster.

8.3.4. Availability of Backups

When 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 at
•
the backup site)
Tip
In 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 as
soon as possible.

8.3.5. Network Connectivity to the Backup Site

A data center is not of much use if it is totally disconnected from the rest of the organization that
it serves. Depending on the disaster recovery plan and the nature of the disaster itself, your user
community might be located miles away from the backup site. In these cases, good connectivity is
vital to restoring production.
Another kind of connectivity to keep in mind is that of telephone connectivity. You must ensure that
there 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 telephone
conversation; so plan on more telephone connectivity than might at first appear necessary.
8.3.6. Backup Site Staffing
The problem of staffing a backup site is multi-dimensional. One aspect of the problem is determining
the staffing required to run the backup data center for as long as necessary. While a skeleton crew
may be able to keep things going for a short period of time, as the disaster drags on more people will
be required to maintain the effort needed to run under the extraordinary circumstances surrounding a
disaster.
This includes ensuring that personnel have sufficient time off to unwind and possibly travel back to
their homes. If the disaster was wide-ranging enough to affect peoples' homes and families, additional
time must be allotted to allow them to manage their own disaster recovery. Temporary lodging near the
backup site is necessary, along with the transportation required to get people to and from the backup
site and their lodgings.
Often a disaster recovery plan includes on-site representative staff from all parts of the organization's
user 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 available
for them, as well.
Chapter 8. Planning for Disaster