Backup and recovery is an important part of ClearCase administration. While you can always devise these methods after ClearCase is operational, it is best to make these considerations part of the ClearCase architecture and planning process. Registry and view backup are fairly straightforward, but VOB backup and recovery can become quite complex. Create and dry run some backup/restore scenarios during the ClearCase implementation planning phase. This might take a bit more time at the beginning but will bear many fruits after the product is implemented and developers actually are using the product.

View backups are appropriate for some environments in which files might not be checked in on a regular basis or a large amount of view-private data exists and needs some level of protection. The procedures for view backup and recovery are fairly simple and straightforward. However you choose to implement a backup/restore strategy, rest assured that it will be necessary at some time in the future. Take your time, plan well, and then rest easy knowing that loss of data will be minimal at worst, and nonexistent at best.