File Services

All data in the ISPS file share environment are backed up on a regular basis.  ISPS routinely performs file recoveries regularly, on scales ranging from a single file to many folders and subfolders.

Files are backed up using a hybrid of methods: snapshotting (keeping the last view versions of a file on hand) and tape backup (recording data to high-capacity magnetic tape media).

Snapshots are taken regularly on our servers, usually every few hours during the day, and are kept for a short period of time.  These snapshots help us meet the majority of requests which usually ask to restore a file that was just deleted or overwritten a few minutes or hours ago.

Tape backups are used as an archival medium to protect against data loss over a much longer period of time, usually many months.  If a request is made to restore data which is too far into the past to be done with snapshots, we will attempt to locate the information in the tape backup library and restore from there.  While tape has the benefit of going much farther into the past, the downside is that since the backups are taken at less frequent intervals the precise version of a file that is desired may not always be available.

Generally speaking, any data that have any value to the University (that is, any data that would cause problems if lost) should be placed in an appropriate location on your department's file share.  Normally this means the H:, R: or S: drives on your desktop.