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Last Post
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Apr 29, 2008 8:35 PM
by: Andrew Shepherd
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28
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Sep 28, 2005
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Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Mar 29, 2008 5:53 PM
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I'm needing to set up backup on my Advanced Server, but am aware Time Machine doesn't deal with Open Directory.
The question is - will Carbon Copy Cloner 3.1 work fine? I'm very impressed with it's recent update, scheduling et al, so I'm leaning towards that.
Of course, I need to ensure that it's going to be able to back up everything so a cloned drive can just be stuck in for a failover.
On a related note, is it possible to run Time Machine on an Advanced Server - but just to back up user and group directories, and email?
I know that on Standard and Workgroup, Tim Machine can stop the mailserver for long enough to snapshot the database - something mightily useful in my view. This would be great, but if Time Machine just won't play ball, what else (preferably open source and free), will do all this?
Macs. They're fun. :)
Mac OS X (10.5.2)
PCs. They're not. :(
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Posts:
168
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May 28, 2003
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Mar 30, 2008 11:06 AM
in response to: Andrew Shepherd
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I second this. Would love to know what people are using for advanced server backup. We have retrospect but they have been slacking for a long while now.
I saw the carbon copy cloner update too and I'm going to give it a try.I have read about too many problems with people backing up anything on OS X server using time machine so I'm kind of staying away from that for now. I wonder the same - in that can carbon copy cloner properly backup the entire server drive properly? What about apple mail Databases and SQL?
If not I may have to use Retrospect... Which seems to work but doesn't backup time machine data so I have o do everything through retrospect then =(
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Posts:
4,307
From:
UK
Registered:
Oct 31, 2005
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Posts:
168
Registered:
May 28, 2003
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Mar 30, 2008 1:18 PM
in response to: Antonio Rocco
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Hi,
Thanks for the response. Silly me, I completely forgot about (And have used) BRU. I used it with an old client and it worked fine (That was 10.4.x).
I emailed each company to inquire about pricing. We're an education institution so as you know pricing is always a deciding factor and budget can be tight 
With your BRU and / or netvault setup, does it backup live database like SQL and Apple mail store without any issues?
ps: I had seen the new retrospect X page but I'll believe it when I see a finished product, I share your distrust for retrospect. It was good once upon a time and we have a license so that's why it is considered but I personally would like to avoid it
In any case, I think the new carbon copy cloner can backup the server boot volumes just fine but that doesn't solve client and the data on raid volume such as mail store / SQL databases, etc. I am leaning towards BRU at this time but we'll see who comes with the best price for EDU =)
Thanks again Tony.
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Posts:
4,307
From:
UK
Registered:
Oct 31, 2005
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Mar 30, 2008 2:52 PM
in response to: Shane Depner1
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Hi
I have some knowledge of one site where MySQL DBs are being backed up funnily enough using Retrospect. Its not a large DB and as far as I know its at a testing stage. Things may have moved on a since then. As far as I know no issues. This is a 10.4.10 Server however.
As for backing up a Mail Server? There has been some discussion regarding this over on the Mail Forums. My personal feeling is any backup of a constantly changing Mail service has the potential for being a problem.
Alex (Pterobyte) has something which might be useful to you here:
http://osx.topicdesk.com/content/view/41/41/
I've not used this personally but many people have with no complaints. Beyond Apple's built-in Mail Server there are alternatives. One I am familiar with is Kerio:
http://www.kerio.com/kms_home.html
This has a built-in Archive and Restore facility that backs up all Mail to another volume (network or local) and zips the resulting file. This Archive can be backed up further using anything you like, even Retrospect. Another alternative to Apple's Mail Server is Communigate Pro, from what I've seen its very similar to Kerio.
Tony
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Posts:
28
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Sep 28, 2005
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Apr 7, 2008 9:59 PM
in response to: Andrew Shepherd
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I've started to back up the server every 2hrs using Carbon Copy Cloner 3.1's integrated scheduler and an incremental backup.
It seems to be going swimmingly, however I'm aware it's likely to not be backing up either Open Directory or MySQL without running preflight scripts (which I couldn't get working in CCC, to the point of deciding to leave it without instead of tearing my head out).
After discussions with management, they're happy to do OD backups twice a week  manually through Server Admin.
Does Server Admin's Open Directory Archive window back up everything, including LDAP 'n' stuffs? I'm a little unsure at this point on what it does. If someone answers "everything you'll see in Workgroup Manager", I'll be quite happy 
Macs. They're fun. :)
Mac OS X (10.5.2)
PCs. They're not. :(
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Posts:
1,261
From:
New Jersey
Registered:
Feb 6, 2007
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Apr 7, 2008 10:29 PM
in response to: Antonio Rocco
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I just got bakbone, expensive yes, but the best out there for the Mac / unix world!
Used retrospect and hated it! The logs were horrible, no email function unless you created some script. Its 2008 EMC get on the ball!!
ACTC, ACHD, ACDT, ACPT
Mac OS X (10.4.11)
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Posts:
168
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May 28, 2003
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Apr 7, 2008 11:34 PM
in response to: Andrew Shepherd
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I'm going with BRU. Their support has been quite helpful (Understandably as I am using the Trial but if all goes well I'll roll it out to our entire department).
They have been helpful in setting up the pre/post jobs to shut down and start up services / databases before and after backing up. This kind of service (Before purchasing the product) is what is going to seal the deal for me.
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Posts:
215
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Apr 11, 2007
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Apr 8, 2008 1:50 PM
in response to: Andrew Shepherd
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I would like to add that I've had glitches with servers installed off firewire drives, so I've learned that it's best to install fresh OS on bare metal.
I back up user data with rsync and that has worked very well for me.
Server services can be backed up from server admin application, and then restored onto the new install.
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Posts:
28
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Sep 28, 2005
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Re: Advanced Server - Backup Solutions
Posted:
Apr 29, 2008 8:35 PM
in response to: Andrew Shepherd
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Thank you all for your valued input.
I've kept with CCC, and have been quite happy with it - despite it creating quite large backups every hour, storage is so cheap nowadays that there's really no point in complaining!
There have been some changes in my client's situation now, and they're requesting a backup run once a day, and they want to make subsequent manual backups themselves. For this, I've begun developing some PHP pages which integrate seamlessly with the Wiki theme they use, to execute a CCC backup via a nice, simple web page.
Macs. They're fun. :)
Mac OS X (10.5.2)
PCs. They're not. :(
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