We have about 200 GB worth of data in our Vault system� most files are
stored as only one version. Our current backup procedure takes more
than 4 hours to perform.

Since we are planning to add one more location in our organization, the
size of the file store will probably double or triple in next two or
three months. With the anticipated growth, the backups will take even
longer. Is there a way to implement an incremental or a differential
backup procedure?

A faster hardware could help. I would also recommend to use the �DBSC switch in the ADMSConsole line to exclude the standard content libraries from the backup process.
Or you can use standard system (non-Autodesk) backup methods employing incr/diff methods -- just make sure you stop your ADMS for such backup process.

You can mirror network stations so that any thing on one is on the
other too. This basically happens with real time backup. Since my IT
guys work on it, no idea how it works.

It is unclear whether Productstream ADMS and Vault ADMS 2008 supports incremental/ differential backups or not. 

Productream does (the IBR tool), simple Vault does not.

What are you using to perform the backups? What is your total backup
window? Is this all going to be in one location or in multiple
locations as far as different servers?

Actually we need to implement an incremental or a differential backup procedure. And that too in multiple locations.It sounds like something might not be configured quite right. Since one of my partners had recently copied ~200GB to a fresh (empty) usb drive and it didn't take anywhere near as long. I was surprised to hear that. Now, I am trying to re-configure.

Incremental &
Differential backups take less time, each day, compared to a total backup, but
restoring the files requires A LOT of time.

If you were to mirror, as previously mentioned, or clone or image your HDDs,
you would have everything backed up, & you could recover in 1 swell foop.

Are you using 10 / 100
hardware & cabling or gigabit hardware & cabling?

                     

Is the data stored on the
computer with the fastest CPU, most ram, and fastest hard disk drives? If not,
that could be part of your problem.

 

Have you evaluated the
network for load balancing?

 

A router that utilizes SPI (Stateful
Packet Inspection), a firewall based protocol, can reduce network efficiency.

Have you tried Riverbed's Steelhead
appliance product (www.riverbed.com)? They accelerate VAULT services over slow
WANs and make sharing CAD data as fast as it would be on a LAN.

My preference is to expend time on the
front end [creating the backup], rather than on the back end. Acronis True Image Echo Workstation
creates an exact disk image of your office desktop and allows you to backup key
data files and folders. You can run backup jobs on multiple machines simultaneously
on both 64-bit Windows and 32-bit Windows systems with the centralized remote
management capabilities.

We have three
offices that are sharing project files and our only solution was Riverbed
Steelhead. It's true that they are expensive but the amount of time and
headache that is saved is worth every time.

There are some unsupported ways to
backup the vault using standard enterprise backup tools but you need to be
careful as to how you go about this - the biggest concerns are:





 1) Do not backup the SQL database when it's live2) And make sure to test your disaster recovery scenarios

I equally versify with what George is sharing for
Riverbed�s Steelhead appliances. They are performing well in accelerating VAULT
services over slow WANs. They have rattling awful solution.

The
reviews for Riverbed are positive from all sides. The solution they provide
looks very promising. In the test trial, we found that it addressed all the
issues that we were facing, especially sharing large graphic and design files.Looking forward to get these products
in, in the coming time.