4 replies to this topic

[steveweissmusic]

I'd like to start a thread dedicated to backing up MOM.

How do most people deal with backing up open files? Is anyone using Volume Shadow Copy in Windows Server 2003 to backup open files throughout the day? I am currently doing a full backup each night (with no open files), and am using Volume Shadow Copy throughout the day incase of database corruption. Our server has a hardware RAID mirror. Does anyone see any problems with this method? I am not extremely familar with Volume Shadow Copy.

[Videoflicks2004]

I'd like to start a thread dedicated to backing up MOM.

How do most people deal with backing up open files? Is anyone using Volume Shadow Copy in Windows Server 2003 to backup open files throughout the day? I am currently doing a full backup each night (with no open files), and am using Volume Shadow Copy throughout the day incase of database corruption. Our server has a hardware RAID mirror. Does anyone see any problems with this method? I am not extremely familar with Volume Shadow Copy.

Hi Steve,

We use Win2K server and Raid 1 SATA drives which are hot swappable.
Further, I backup the MOMWIN folder nightly onto a seperate hard drive and burn a copy onto DVD-R each morning.

Note" I find that I get an error on FOXUSER.DBF if I try to copy the MOMWIN Folder while users are in MOM. However, I have restored a copy of MOMWIN and applied an old FOXUSER.DBF and it worked just fine.

TIPS:

Backup onto a seperate drive (external USB is easy to use and affordable)
Backup onto media that does not stay on location. DVD-R is a nice alternative at approx. a buck a disc.
Backup daily. Especially if you have just finished processing a large batch of transactions.

[steveweissmusic]

Further, I backup the MOMWIN folder nightly onto a seperate hard drive and burn a copy onto DVD-R each morning.

Do you run a script to make sure your users are logged out before attempting to copy the backup to an external drive? Do you reindex as part of a script, or do you do this manually?

Does anyone have experience with Volume Shadow Copy?

[steveweissmusic]

In Windows Server 2003, I believe I've successfully backed up an open version of MOM using the included backup utility and volume shadow copy. I've tested this by backing up MOMWIN while making changes in MOM. I then restored the backup to an alternate location, and opened MOM from that location. Everything seems to work....

Can someone else with Server 2003 try this out and let me know if they think it works correctly?

ntbackup backup D:\Momwin /J "MOM Backup" /F "D:\backup.bkf" /SNAP:on

I am a little confused, because articles that I've found say that the included backup utility does support Volume Shadow Copy, but most of them also include a line that says something like "To take advantage of open-file backups, purchase a backup application that works with the Volume Shadow Copy service."
http://www.ntbackup....file-backup.htm

[Videoflicks2004]

Do you run a script to make sure your users are logged out before attempting to copy the backup to an external drive? Do you reindex as part of a script, or do you do this manually?

Does anyone have experience with Volume Shadow Copy?

Hi Steve,

I don't have a script that tells me if anyone is in the system. I check the old fashion way by trying to to re-index. They system won't allow you to re-index if other users are in the system.

I don't however reindex unless absolutely necessary. In my personal experience, re-indexing is like buying a lotto ticket. You just never know if you are really fixing your db or marking valuable data for deletion.

Best,

Videoflicks2004