Recently at the TDD Labs we had a chance to evaluate a new backup appliance called LifeLine-DVD by Backlot Technologies.

This concept behind this device is simple… it attaches to your network and monitors specified computers and servers for files that are added or updated. When it detects these new or modified files, it backs them up to its internal hard drive unit. Additionally, it then burns DVD discs to permanently backup that data on an as needed or at minimum, weekly basis. It even burns two copies of each DVD, one for onsite and one for offsite storage. It keeps it simple by even telling you how to label the DVDs.

As readers of the TDD Times will know, we here at TDD stress the importance of offsite backup for business continuity in case of a data disaster.

Upon receiving the unit, we were pleased with the ease of setup. In fact, there is only one page of setup instructions. You simply plug the LifeLine-DVD unit into your network and then log into it's web based management panel using Internet Explorer to set up the computers and/or servers you wish to backup. It only took about 10 minutes before the LifeLine-DVD unit was operational and backing up our data.

We did have an issue of the LifeLine DVD burning multiple bad DVDs which according to the manufacturer, may be a result of this unit being an evaluation unit with a lot of miles (and shipping bumps) on it. They assured me that if this was a purchased unit, the DVD drive would be swapped out without delay.

We were very pleased to see that although, there was a substantial gap in burning DVDs, that the specified backup operations went on uninterrupted. This is very important in the business world in case of DVD drive failure or a week or so where the user may run out of blank DVD media.

Overall, we are very pleased with the unit and its ease of operation and could see this appliance serving it's clients well. It's a device that seems to have all the bases covered, onsite and offsite backup that allows for quick restoration of data as well as historical archives should you need to go back in time.

Startup costs begin at $3,495, depending on the unit chosen and amount of internal hard drive storage. This may seem a little high, but when you compare the cost of a tape drive or hard drive based cartridge system, they quickly balance out. As time goes on, the costs would be even more attractive as DVD media is very inexpensive when compared to tape and hard drive cartridge media costs.

If you would like to know if your organization would benefit from the LifeLine-DVD unit, contact us here at Turcotte Data & Designs and we can help you come up with a data recovery plan that suits your needs.