Can OSS backup be taken using Symantec or HP DP

[blason]

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to know if HOT Backup is possible for Zimbra Open Source version using HP Data Protector or Symantec BackupExec rather than using Scrioting which stops the services for sometime?

[raj]

Fundamentally.. NO
it’s the Mysql, LDAP, Index, open files and stuff which is never consistent when services are running and you take backup using any software.

Zimbra's own backup does lots of tricks to get around this.

Raj

[blason]

So, to minimize the downtime in OSS, can I follow below method and no harm in doing that?

i.e Run rsync first and take complete back up while the services are running then stop the services and run rsync again for incremental backup??

What consequences do you see there?

[raj]

Yes..you are correct..but do the following not just simple 2 step

hot rsync ..exclude active folder (db, index and others as rsync will get stuck)
hot rsync ..exclude active folder (db, index and others as rsync will get stuck)
hot rsync ..multiple hot rsync to reduce final insremental rsync time
stop services
final rsync full
final rsync full
start service

this backup can only be used as a disater recover full restore.

search the forums it has lots of scripts to do this for you with good logging.

Raj

[blason]

OK - Then perform store bakup separately which just would backup the messages in case of any exigency?

[raj]

no no ..there is no seprate backup
you backing up whole of zimbra (/opr/zimbra)
and will restore whole of zimbra (/opr/zimbra)

there is no seprate backup and stuff..this is full backup of everything

Raj

[blason]

Nah I got that... since you know stopping the services would definitely bounce the messages which would receive during that period, I was thinking to run full backup once a week and backup the messages directory backup everyday?

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by blason

Nah I got that... since you know stopping the services would definitely bounce the messages which would receive during that period,

It wouldn't 'bounce' them (it couldn't do that as your services will be stopped ), the sending server would re-queue them for future delivery.

[blason]

Agree, foreign domain wouldn't bounce and local users wont be able to connect neither will be able send/receive any email during that period.

So safest way is to rsync-HOT then stop the services and rsync-COLD incremental.