We've compiled our disaster recovery and business continuity tutorials on this page. Learn about outsourcing disaster recovery, developing a DR plan for virtual servers, and more.
Requires Free Membership to View
When you register for SearchDisasterRecovery.com, you’ll also receive targeted emails from my team of award-winning editorial writers. As you know, an interruption can threaten your organization at any time – and it’s our goal to ensure you’re armed with the right tips and information to help you ensure a swift recovery.
Rich Castagna, Editorial Director
Bookmark our disaster recovery
tutorial page and check back often to see what's new.
>> NEW! High-availability
systems and disaster recovery planning tutorial
In this tutorial on high-availability disaster recovery planning, we’ll examine another popular
technology disaster recovery technique—high availability—and the role it plays in a DR plan. In
today’s world of very short-duration recovery time objectives (RTOs) and mission-critical systems,
technology must be sustainable in the face of potentially disastrous events. High-availability
systems can help achieve very low or near-zero RTOs.
>> HA
solutions tutorial
In this tutorial, learn about how to choose the right HA solution for your virtual environment.
Learn about the best solutions for VMware, Hyper-V and Citrix environments, and the pros and cons
of each.
>> Remote
replication and disaster recovery tutorial
In this tutorial on replication and disaster recovery, learn about the different types of
replication options, how WAN optimization can work with remote replication, and trends in
replication and disaster recovery today.
>> Using
a virtual private network service as part of a disaster recovery plan
A virtual private network (VPN) allows users to log into a company's network from a remote
location using a home PC, laptop, or, in some cases a smart phone, and use company resources as if
they were in the office. While VPNs were designed with the remote workforce in mind, a virtual
private network can allow users to continue working uninterrupted from a remote location after a
disaster. Virtual private networking services can work well for many companies, but there are a
number of things to consider before relying on a virtual private network in the aftermath of a
disaster.
>> Virtualization
and disaster recovery planning: A guide on storage and server virtualization
In this guide on disaster recovery and virtualization, we'll look at some of the methods
involving both server virtualization and storage virtualization. Our focus is on products and
processes related to VMware Inc.'s vSphere, but many are very similar for other hypervisors like
Citrix Systems Inc.'s XenServer and Microsoft Corp.'s Hyper-V.
>> Data
center disaster recovery planning tutorial on colocation data centers
In this tutorial on colocation data centers, learn whether or not a collocation data center is
the right choice for your company, what to look for in a colocation service, and other data center
disaster recovery planning tips.
>> VMware
Site Recovery Manager best practices
In this tutorial on Site Recovery Manager disaster recovery best practices, learn what you
need in place to use VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager, how to test and execute your recovery
plans, and if Site Recovery Manager would be a good fit for your company's disaster recovery
strategy.
>> Cloud
disaster recovery tutorial
Many vendors are positioning cloud backup as an ideal disaster recovery solution, allowing
users to replicate data offsite and outside of their company's geographic region at a reasonable
cost. And, there are even a number of so-called cloud disaster recovery services on the market
today. But, what does "cloud disaster recovery" really mean? In this tutorial on cloud disaster
recovery, learn about cloud disaster recovery vs. cloud backup; hybrid disaster recovery
approaches; and security concerns with cloud backup and disaster recovery.
>> Local
area network disaster recovery planning tutorial
In this LAN DR planning tutorial, you will learn how to recognize the events that should trigger
your LAN DR plan, how to prevent and mitigate those networking disasters, and the key elements of a
solid LAN DR plan.
>> Data
replication technologies and disaster recovery planning tutorial
In this tutorial on data replication and disaster recovery, learn how to choose the best
replication product, the differences between host-, array-, and network-based data replication, and
about how new technologies like data deduplication and virtual servers are changing replication and
disaster recovery.
>> Virtual
tape libraries: A tutorial on managing VTL technology
If you are saturating your Fibre Channel network links to complete disk-to-tape data backup jobs in
smaller and smaller timeframes, it may be time to consider installing a virtual tape library (VTL)
to implement a disk-to-disk data backup and recovery environment. A VTL can complement your legacy
tape archive system by introducing disk-to-disk backup time and speed advantages.In this tutorial
on virtual tape library technology, learn about buying and managing a VTL, VTLs and data
deduplication, and virtual tape library vendors and products.
>> Disaster
recovery planning and operations tutorial
In our tutorial on disaster recovery operations, learn about how to choose a disaster recovery
facility, failover and failback in disaster recovery operations, virtual servers and DR, and
outsourcing disaster recovery services.
>> Disaster
recovery facilities/operations tutorial: Factoring DR into data center relocation
plans
Relocating a data center for business continuity or disaster recovery purposes is never an easy
task. If you are planning to relocate your data center, many situations could thwart a smooth
on-time move. You'll have critical data assets scattered throughout the environment. In addition,
business mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and major market changes happen all the time, and these
could also affect a move. In this tutorial, learn data center relocation tips and strategies, and
how to avoid common data center relocation problems.
>> Business
continuity and disaster recovery outsourcing tutorial
Outsourcing DR and business continuity (BC) services can save you money and increase productivity
by transferring some IT functions to experienced third parties, but it also has its downsides.
Learn who should outsource DR services, vendors in the DR/BC space, and how to choose a
provider.
>> Developing
a disaster recovery plan for virtual machines
Learn about the various approaches to facilitating disaster recovery in a virtual machine
environment, such as VMware Site Recovery Manager and backup software packages.
>> A
tutorial on preventing disasters from within your company
Disaster recovery planning for facilities and operations is an important part of business
continuity planning. This tutorial will teach you how to prevent internal disasters.
>> A
tutorial on self-healing data storage systems
In this tutorial, learn about self-healing storage systems, vendors in the space, heal-in-place
systems versus fail-in-place systems, and whether or not self-healing data storage is right for
your enterprise.
>> A tutorial
on disaster recovery and business continuity planning strategies for SMBs
SMBs once viewed disaster
recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) planning as an expensive luxury, but all of that is
changing. In recent years, even smaller organizations can no longer to afford to be without a
disaster recovery plan. But SMBs often have less technical expertise and tighter budgets than
larger enterprise shops, and this makes their disaster recovery needs unique. To help you address
these problems, we've collected our best tips on disaster recovery and business continuity for
SMBs. Learn about how to put a disaster recovery plan together, conduct a risk assessment, the pros
and cons of outsourcing DR, and more in this tutorial.
This was first published in April 2009