ScottM,
The best backup software made for support, reliability and cost (it can get costly if you do the addons, but with 2003 you will have VSS so that saves there) is Backup Assist,
www.backupassist.com I have used it for years and it uses the ntBackup engine for backups. You can ask Adam and Leslie about it. This is simply what you buy -- period. If you don't like it, I will personally refund your money. (Well, at least for shipping). I simply don't know how much more strongly I can put it. I wouldn't even look at any other backup software. $249.00 - done. Support = 10 out of 10. Backup Assist will do imaging for 2008 products. The SQL add-on will allow every one minute backup of SQL Server so you would, in effect, never lose a note, although I run mine every three hours. This is on top of the nightly backup.
Click on the products button at the top. Nevermind, you won't find one. Backup Assist makes one product, and it is for servers. It has nine modes as far as what you want to back up to. You can mix and match. Compare this with Acronis which has TI home, TI this and that, TI server, TI for SBS. They keep adding more and more products, it is overwhelming. And, for some reason, they feel the need to change the name each time. The only downside to BA, is it is too inexpensive. I email them about that every now and then.
Speaking of Acronis, best imaging software ever. Great support 8.5/10. For your server, it would be $849.00 I would definitely not use clone. You would want to use backup. I will say this. Acronis has always been, the easiest, most efficient, easy to use imaging program ever. Simple. Perfect. In six years, it has NEVER missed a backup. Their last version was awesome. $699.00 and support was 10 out of 10.
Now, they have changed, and I emailed them to let them know that. Newest upgrade (and they are the ones to tell you the new upgrade is out and you should get it) IMO is horrible. The Acronis True Image for SBS or Servers was perfect. Now they switched to Acronis Backup and Restore 10.0 for SBS or Server. Just my opinion, but I hate it. Much more difficult. I uninstalled it immediately. But, in the end, it is Rock Solid. Remember, it has pretty much left Ghost and Drive Image in the dust. I do like the way they organize all your products, supoort time and serial numbers online.
So, which one to buy? Remember, the Patriots owner who said, "I liked it so much, I bought the company," when referring to Gillette? Well, I like them so much I have both.
But, for the money, support and everything else, get Backup Assist. Today. And both, of course, have trial versions.
(The inital setup for BA can be just a tad tricky -- not hard -- just have to be meticulous) I can walk you through it as can Adam for sure, don't want to speak for Leslie. Or, I will remote in to your PC and set it up for you if you would like.
Oh, and since you alluded to backup reports, the backup report for Backup Assist which is emailed to you daily has to be the the most detailed, logically formatted and best overall I have seen. Call me crazy, but I read it every day with my NY Times and coffee because it is so pretty. It's actually perfection. If you had email listed in your profile, I would email a copy to you.
