The core of a COEXPANSIVE Active Rescue for Data solution is supplied as an appliance package (an APP PACK). This package contains all the hardware and software needed to convert any PC or server, meeting the minimum specification, into a full-time, dedicated, Active Rescue backup system.
Our clients need to provide a host PC or server for the APP PACK. The minimum specification is relatively modest and can easily be purchased on the high street for less than £300, or you may prefer to use a spare system you already own.
In addition to the APP PACK, operation requires a number of portable disks and a cloud data storage facility. Our clients are welcome to supply these requirements, however we offer inclusive packages to make it easy to get up and running.
Our DATA PACK provides 3 portable rescue disks, with carry cases, pre-formatted and encrypted and ready to be used.
Our SUPPORT PACKS will provide your online cloud storage space and a support and monitoring service. We will check your logs daily to make sure there are no urgent issues, and we will conduct regular extended reviews of the operating logs so we can provide advice and recommendations on operation and tuning. We support Active Rescue for you because we are the experts in its use.
APP PACK
The APP PACK is all that is needed to turn any client provided PC or Server (that meets the minimum specification, please see below) into a disaster recovery, backup appliance. The APP PACK consists of:
- 1 x USB Memory stick, pre-loaded with Active Rescue for Data appliance boot firmware
- 1 x 500 GB(*) mains-powered, USB, application disk drive
- 1 x Active Rescue for Data software licence with software pre-installed on application disk drive
- 1 x pre-recorded Active Rescue for Data recovery disk
- 2 months STANDARD support pack subscription starting from day of purchase
(*) Exact equipment supplied may differ, this is a representative illustration.
DATA PACK
The DATA PACK provides the required backup data storage space on encrypted, portable, USB disk drives, a powered USB hub and security memory sticks holding the disk encryption keys. The DATA PACK consists of:
- 3 x 500 GB(*) bus-powered, portable, USB rescue disk drives, pre-formatted and encrypted and ready for use. Each disk can store approximately 450 GB of backup data after deducting formatting overhead plus Active Rescue for Data working space.
- 3 x protective carry case for the rescue disks when being moved to and from the off-site storage location.
- 1 x 7 port powered USB 2 hub allowing all 3 rescue disks to be connected simultaneously for bulk updating.
- 2 x security memory sticks holding encryption keys for rescue disks. One for recovery plus a second as a spare.
(*) In line with disk vendor practice: 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes.
(*) Exact equipment supplied may differ, this is a representative illustration.
SUPPORT PACKS
Support packs may be purchased for each licensed installation of Active Rescue for Data and provide the following benefits:
- 10 GBytes of online cloud storage.
- "How do I?" and "What does this mean?" assistance on Active Rescue installation and operation from trained support engineers via email for standard support, via email and phone for enhanced support.
- We will check client operating logs for errors each business day and we will proactively get in touch to assist with any critical issues.
- We will conduct an extended review of your appliance log files every month, or every 2 weeks for enhanced support. This means we can proactively offer advice on tuning and make recommendations to you and warn of potential upcoming issues.
- Hardware supplied in an APP PACK or a DATA PACK is covered by a quick exchange replacement scheme via COEXPANSIVE in addition to any manufacturer warrantee.
Regardless of whether you purchase a support pack or not, we will assist any COEXPANSIVE client with a valid Active Rescue for Data licence on any issues that appear to be due to defects in the application software, although we only offer response time commitments to clients with support packs.
There are two main support packs available, in both cases support hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays.
| Level | Contact via | Response Target(*) | Extended Log Review |
| STANDARD | Web & Email | 8 Hours | Monthly |
| ENHANCED | Web, Email & Phone | 4 Hours | Every 2 weeks |
(*) Response target is the maximum time we will take to place you in communication with a support engineer, not the time to resolve your issue. Target hours are only counted during the support window.
Examples:
A STANDARD support pack email request for information or assistance is sent at 9pm on a Monday. The 8 hour clock starts running at 9am Tuesday morning, the customer will receive a reply by email no later than 5pm Tuesday.
An ENHANCED support pack telephone call is logged at 3pm Tuesday. The customer will receive a call back from a support engineer no later than 11am Wednesday.
CUSTOM OFFERINGS
We are pleased to discuss any client requests on a case by case basis. We can quote for additional services such as:
- On-site installation of Active Rescue
- Recovery planning based on mobile rescue server and 3G mobile phone network internet access
- Provision of network file server
- Set up of client PCs and servers to backup files to network file server
- Active Rescue filter tuning
- Disaster recovery tests and exercises
- Extended support hours or extended support coverage for key events
MINIMUM SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
The system must have a minimum specification of:
- A dual core CPU of at least 2.4 GHz.
- At least 2 GB of RAM.
- A 100 Mbit network interface and wired network connection.
- The connected network to have internet access with at least a 2 Mbit/sec download speed and 256 Kbit/sec upload speed.
- Five USB 2.0 ports on the system. ( Keyboard + Mouse + 3 USB ports for Active Rescue. )
- A monitor that will display status messages during and after execution.
- A DVD writer if the archive function is to be used.
- The system BIOS can select the Active Rescue firmware memory stick as primary boot device.
It does not matter what sort of disk is inside the system, how big it is, or even if there is an internal disk at all because Active Rescue does not use the system internal disk. We can assist with advice on changing the BIOS to set the USB firmware key as primary boot device.