hot/warm/cold backup systems

[mulquem]

For you that do not know I am writing an article on hosting for the Webhostdirectory. I'm performing a little background research on hosts first hand experiences, with hot and cold backup systems.

If you can let me have any information relating to the above terms and their benefits, it would be a big help.

TIA
Emma

[Jaiem]

Emma,

Typically a "cold" site backup means you have the backup machines and hardware someplace else but they're in storage. They need to be turned on, setup etc. It also typically includes storage of period backups of your system data. In terms of recovery it means it will take time to setup and restore your system And you may not have the most recent data to recover with.

A "hot" site backup means the backup hardware/equipment is setup, on and running 24/7. Usually includes a continual automatic backup of your data to the hot site system. Therefore, recovery is much more rapid and accurate.

[Mr Chunder]

A warm backup system is somewhere in between :)

[Jaiem]

Originally posted by Mr Chunder
A warm backup system is somewhere in between :)

Right. A "warm" backup would be something like having the machines unpacked and working but need to be configured and have backup data installed. Faster to recover than a cold backup but not as quck as a hot backup.