Public folders backup

[sergiost]

Hello,

how could i do a public folders's backup? need i copy some specifics files or directorys? can i do with a windows tool?

actually i do the backup with a software of backup named ARCServe (we have a tape library also), but this software and Exchange 5.5 produce many problems with permissions.
In a few months we will migrate our systems to native mode (in this case exchange 2000) then probably the problems with permission don't exists, but now i need to copy without backup's software that we have.

Thanks,

Sergio Sánchez

 

[SimonDavis]

It's more complicated than that.

The public (and private) directories aren't really files in the sense we're used to, they are databases.

Backing them up isn't as simple as copying the file, because they are in constant use.

There are also files called log files - these files contain data about recent changes to the file, and every so often have to be read by Exchange, and the changes made to the database.

You can do it manually, as long as you know what you're doing, and get all the correct files, AND know which ones to use if you need to restore. There are ways to get Exchange to tell you all this, but at the end of the day, it is simpler to use a proper backup agent.

I'd suggest the better way is to get the Arcserve problems solved. Arcserve is a very well known product, and does work with Exchange very well.

You might consider technological progress too - tape libraries are becoming rather obsolete (watch the flames start!). Hard disks are cheap and reliable nowadays, and are a workable alternative to tape. I go rid of my tape streamer last year, and just back (using arcserve) up to a set of cheap hard disks. It's much easier.