One of the most important parts of any disaster recovery plan is the documentation you keep on your servers and networks.
This documentation needs to include the logical and physical configuration of all the servers, network routers, switches and individual desktop configurations. Write down any patches that have been applied to the server and the applications each server runs. Create images of each type of workstation and store them away. Also, make sure the name and contact information for each person responsible for supporting your network devices is documented and readily accessible.
Also, document the backup process and how data and configurations are to be restored. Write down the frequency of backups, how they are performed and where tape cartridges will be stored. Do you do a full backup every night or only incremental backups of data that have changed? Review how you get tapes to remote sites. Also determine how long it will take you to get tapes back in the event of a failure. At some point, in a leisurely business period, test the backup and recovery process.
Store the disaster recovery plan in a number of onsite, as well as off-site locations. But most importantly, keep your documentation up-to-date.
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Deni Connor is a senior editor at Network World covering storage, SANs, Novell and Novell-related products. You can reach her at dconnor@nww.com.
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