best device type for large backups

[Larry Clark]

Hello,
Thank you for taking my question. Can you please describe why one would choose one type of disk target over another? I need to create a large storage area (I have a 8 terrabye storage array which is completely empty) I will be using all of it for backups and I will want to divide it up as I need it. So what should I do? I use Windows Servers and want to mirror it to another server. Just use physical disk device? Standard image Device? VHD Image Device? You say in the help file "the image file allows quick data migration, backup and restore, so it is suitable for most of situations. " how does it do this? In other words, why is backup or migration faster that using physical disk device?

Also, I found I could create a standard image file that is bigger than the physical partition that it is located on. Is this correct?

Thank you.

[Olivia (staff)]

Hello,
Thank you for taking my question. Can you please describe why one would choose one type of disk target over another? I need to create a large storage area (I have a 8 terrabye storage array which is completely empty) I will be using all of it for backups and I will want to divide it up as I need it. So what should I do?
Thank you.

If you want to devide it to several targets you can create the same number of application for mirroring.

I use Windows Servers and want to mirror it to another server. Just use physical disk device? Standard image Device? VHD Image Device? You say in the help file "the image file allows quick data migration, backup and restore, so it is suitable for most of situations. " how does it do this? In other words, why is backup or migration faster that using physical disk device?

iStorage Server is designed more flexible, so these device can be created as mirror, standard image file device is a little better performance than the others, but the most important thing is that it is a file, you can copy it from one server to another server very easily.
Use VHD device you need to know it has size limitation (2040 GB).

Also, I found I could create a standard image file that is bigger than the physical partition that it is located on. Is this correct?

If you use Thin Provisioning (sparse file or dynamic VHD file), it is correct.