[DUG] Disaster recovery - was API to Windows explorer

[Willie]

So just out of interest, and also because we're discussing our disaster recovery plan here at present, I'd be interested to hear what other companies/individuals have implemented, if anything? 

Anyone care to contribute???


Also just as an aside my experience to date seems to indicate it doesn't seem to matter how well you plan it, Murphy's law especially applies to disaster recovery as well, 2 examples, backup diesel generators for power cuts...

1: Company one had an on-site generator that was supposed to kick in when there was a power cut, although the factory there couldn't operate with no power the IT was centralised and several satellite sites required that the computer systems/network remained running. Sure enough the power went off, the generator didn't kick in - the issue was that one of the guys had swapped the battery out of it into a tractor, and replaced it with the tractor's dodgy one, not enough juice to start the generator.... So it was made abundantly clear to all concerned that that was not to happen again. All good until a few power cuts later, this time the generator started OK but only ran for several minutes then stopped. On this occasion "one of the guys" had siphoned off the diesel a few days earlier, again for a tractor, and forgotten to replace it.

2: Company two had a state of the art Container sized backup generator fitted down in their car-park basement (much to the chagrin of the person who lost his park). This was done when Auckland CBD went through that horror rolling blackouts phase some years back). There was a power cut (I believe a car took out a power pole and transformer just down the road) and we all sat in the dark waiting for the lights/equipment to come back on. After a few minutes of darkness they went to investigate why the generator hadn't kicked in. They found it happily running down in the basement - somebody home but no lights on. It turned out the generator was routinely checked, to the point that a power cut was simulated to ensure it started and ran as required, apparently when they do this check the generator had to be isolated from the lines it was going to be powering and the last time they did the check they had forgotten to "unisolate" it.   




-----Original Message-----
From: delphi-bounces at delphi.org.nz [mailto:delphi-bounces at delphi.org.nz] On Behalf Of Jolyon Smith
Sent: Friday, 13 May 2011 8:55 a.m.
To: 'NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi List'
Subject: Re: [DUG] API to Windows explorer

I think perhaps the point (being made quite lightly imho) was that improvisation - kiwi or otherwise - is not a laudible substitute FOR a robust disaster recovery plan.  If nothing else positive comes from events in ChCh, it should at least be a wake up call for businesses who are choosing to worry about such things only if/when they happen (and essentially are banking on never having to worry about it at all).

In this case, a bit of ingenuity and quick thinking (the UPS wasn't going to run forever) saved the day - it's a neat story, but it's not "a cool idea for emergency backup".



-----Original Message-----
From: delphi-bounces at delphi.org.nz [mailto:delphi-bounces at delphi.org.nz] On Behalf Of John Bird
Sent: Thursday, 12 May 2011 22:18
To: NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi List
Subject: Re: [DUG] API to Windows explorer

Good grief lighten up! From what I heard - using a WiFi connection from the 
street was not a plan for disaster recovery, it was good kiwi improvisation.

The point I was making was that in Christchurch in 2011, as happened in 
Greymouth around 1986 with floods,   I dealt with firms where the office was 
destroyed, and the supposedly safe offsite backups also was unavailable.

In Christchurch in an equally damaged and inaccessible network providers 
office, in Greymouth in a flooded bank vault.

Extra redundant backup options are a great idea.

John


Aside – I heard of one firm that had a server and a Wifi router on a UPS
> that had their network guy park outside with a wifi laptop and copy stuff
> from the server before the UPS died.   Couldn’t go in because the the
> front of the building had fallen out into the street.   Thats a cool idea
> for an emergency backup after the event.
>
> John
>
With respect, it's one of the silliest ideas I've heard in a long time
because:
a.) if your business continuity depends on that data being available then
you need to take backup's and DR seriously, and
b.) because endangering your staff like this shows you really don't get
it, and
c.) sitting outside a collapsed building will block access  needed by the
emergency services, and
d. etc

Cheers

David


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