Is Open File Option Required?

[chifu]

I am going to purchase Backup Executive 8.6 to backup 4 NT servers.

I am going to get the Exchange Option to handle our Exchange database. I am also getting the disaster recovery option to make recovery faster.

Now do I need the Open File Option on top of this. We do not have any other databases (that can not be rebuilt) and users are usually logged off when the back up is done.

Can I fully recover a server with out the Open File Option or will some important NT files be missing? Has anyone done a restore without the Open File Option?

I am asking this because the OFO almost doubles the cost of the software.

 

[polymath5]

Don't bother with OFO. It's flakey. I finally had to give it up on our servers. This is after a lot of Verital tech support help. Save the money. The best thing you're getting is the IDR. That is somehting that can really save you some time.

 

[chifu]

Thanks for that.

 

[Zelandakh]

Buy the Exchange option and you back up the database properly, whether people are using it or not. The integrity is maintained by entering every account and copying every email out of it to tape.

Open file is definitely flakey. Definitely not required for backing up Exchange server.

If you have open files in NT that you can't backup how are you going to restore? You'll need NT on the box you are restoring to, so by definition those files will already be there - why does anyone backup NT when you need it on the new box to restore to. Before getting flamed, there are some bits you need to back up...