Virtual backup devices for ArcserveIT NT 6.61 workgroup

[Norwich]

Hi,

I'm wondering if there is a facility in ArcServerIT 6.61 for NT (workgroup edition) to allow for virtual backup devices.

Specificlally, I have two copies of 6.61 NT workgroup. One installed on a SQL server and another on an exchange box. The exchange box has the Exchange 5.5 Agent installed and the SQL box has the SQL agent installed. However, the SCSI DLT tape is installed on the SQL box and the exchange box is IDE only.

As we have workgroup editions - rather than advanced or enterprise - the acrserve installed on the SQL server with the DLT tape will not connect to the exchange agent.

The reason for this setup is due to permenent failure of the previous exchange box - which was recovered to an IDE based system without a tape in the short term. However, we now realise that we cannot remotely use the exchange agent against the SQL Server ArcServe install.

In the medium/short term, we will be rationalizing the setup and backup solution. However, in the very short term we need to get the exchange box backing up properly. What we can implement is a batch script to stop Exchange processes and copy the store files to another location - which are remotely backed up via an NT client agent. However, I was wondering if ther is any way to implement a virtual tape device that ArcServe on the Exchange box will recognise as a suitable device to use (so we can run the exchange agent) - which dumps to a file on the local file system. This in turn being backed up on the SQL server using an NT client agent?

Any thoughts and ideas welcome.

 

[ARCserveGuru]

Backing it up to the SQL server using an NT client agent wont work as it is once again attempting to back up remotely with only a workgroup edition. If you were to try that with stopping the exchange services you may be able to get away with it by backing up locally on the SQL box (through a mapped drive) onto the exchange box, and then in essence the information store and what not.

Sounds like a heck of a lot of mucking around, you can fake a tape device, but you can't write to it, nor will it dump any information whatsoever anywhere, so I don't see the point in it.

hope this helps,

g