SSCC Linux and Windows networks serve almost ten terabytes of disk space for home directories, project directories, temporary space, and data distribution. The purpose of this document is to describe how the integrity of these data is safeguarded.

Goals of Backups

Files on the Linux and Windows systems, including users' files in permanent storage space, are regularly backed up onto magnetic tape by SSCC staff so that they can be available in case of disastrous disk failures.

On Linux, /home and /project directories are considered permanent storage space and are backed up by SSCC staff. /temp30days and /tmp are considered temporary storage and are not backed up.

On Windows, home directories (mapped as the U: drive) and any project directories (mapped as the X: drive) are considered permanent storage space and are backed up by SSCC staff. SSCC staff are not responsible for backing up any files stored locally on users' PC hard drives, files stored locally on the terminal servers, or files stored in the temp30days Y: drive on the terminal servers.

Excluding Restricted-Use Data from Backup

SSCC members sometimes acquire data that contains confidential information and are required by the data distributor to agree to specific practices in the handling of these data. Sometimes this includes a restriction that the data may not be backed up. If users have data of this type, they need to notify SSCC staff (Dan Bongert for Linux data and Andrew Arnold for Windows data) if they do not want these data included in SSCC's backup.

Note that all SSCC staff are required to sign and abide by a privacy standards agreement written by the SSCC Steering Committee.

Frequency of Backups

SSCC follows the same backup procedure for both Windows and Linux. A full backup is done every two weeks with nightly incrementals between each full backup. During a full backup, every file in permanent storage space is copied to disk and then off-loaded to magnetic tape. During an incremental backup, any file in permanent storage space that has changed since the last incremental is copied to disk and then off-loaded to magnetic tape.

Effective January 1, 2010 SSCC will keep backup copies of email for one month rather than one year like we do all other files backed up on SSCC's network.

Storage Location and Storage Period

All biweekly full backups and nightly incrementals are stored for one year in one of two locations: SSCC's Computer Room in 4411 Social Science and DataKeep, Inc. at 2538 Daniels Street, Madison, approximately five miles from the Social Sciences Building. The Computer Room is locked permanently and equipped with a Halon Fire Suppression System. Only SSCC staff have access to the Computer Room. DataKeep, Inc. provides a controlled environment vault with a 4-hour fire wall and a separate fire suppression system.

Note that back up copies of email (up to one month) are stored on disk and never off site.

Worst Case Scenario

Under a worst case scenario in which all data had to be restored from the off-site storage facility, recovered data would at most be four weeks old.