Centrally managed backups
We take backup copies of all data held on the University's central file space. This includes your personal and group file space, as well as the main University web server and the administrative servers. These backups are scheduled so that if a disk on any of the servers is corrupted, damaged or stolen, the data can be restored to a state not more than one day old. For extra safety, the tapes holding the backups are held in secure locations well separated from the computers whose data they contain.
- Making backups of your personal data stored on your own computer is your own responsibility: information on how to do this may be found in the section on viruses and security.
The current management of central backup procedures may be summarised as follows:
- Backup cycles: backups are generally carried out on a weekly cycle, with a full copy made on one day and incremental copies made on other days of the week, to capture changes day by day.
- Retention of backups: tapes are held for approximately six weeks, so that where corruption or damage has gone undetected for some time, it may still be possible to revert to an earlier uncorrupted state.
- Recovery of lost or damaged files: it is possible (but time-consuming) to recover individual files from the centrally managed backup tapes: please contact the Helpdesk if you require this service.
Similarly your email (held externally, within ) is backed up for safety.
