Full Server Backup and Restore of “open source version”

[bjquinn]

Any updates on the hot backup script? What's the status of this and restoration of a hot backup?

[czaveri]

Originally Posted by bjquinn

Any updates on the hot backup script? What's the status of this and restoration of a hot backup?

Hi bjquinn,

I am out of town last 2 weeks+ and trying to find a place to live in

Don't know if anyone else is working on the script.

[bjquinn]

What's the status of the hot backup script as of when you last worked on it? Does it work fairly well? Where would I get a copy of your latest script?

Thanks for the help, and good luck with finding a new place!

[phoenix]

Information available on the wiki: http://wiki.zimbra.com/index.php?tit...ckup_Procedure

[bjquinn]

Yes, but I'm interested in the work that's been done on the hot backup scripts. The cold backup scripts don't really do me any good. The link you provided only discusses cold backups.

[jholder]

Originally Posted by bjquinn

The cold backup scripts don't really do me any good.

Hi bjquinn,
The folks at zimbra have really good deals on the network edition. Trust me.
I fought with my final breath before giving into buying the NE, but now that I have it, I will not live without it.

I was one of those who originally documented the backup procedure for the OSS, and there is a problem:
Zimbra will continue to evolve, and the backup scripts (unless we get some community members who put in time) will die.
A good example is the transition from 3.1 to 4.0 - ZCS changes A LOT! A lot of stuff changed.

I suppose my point is this: If backups are so important, then just spring for the NE. There is nothing better than knowing that I have zimbra support on my side.

Now, I'm not slamming the OSS. It is AWESOME! However, for any company to run it on a mission critical system is kinda risky.

For example- Depending on how you do a hotbackup, you might backup the PIDs. If you do, and try to extract it, you will have a heck of a time getting it up and running. That's why it's just easier to stop zcs, and then backup.

Now, if you must do hotbackups, then I would STRONGLY recommend rsync.
Just set up a cron john to rsync it, then tar it.

In any case, good luck. I hope this thread realizes that I'm not slamming OSS Backups. If the posters of this thread can get together and come up with a good script, then more power to you. That would be great! That's what this community is all about.

Just keep in mind, zimbra will evolve (including the upcoming release). You have to make the script evolve as well.

[danfluidmind]

Originally Posted by wannabetenor

I suppose my point is this: If backups are so important, then just spring for the NE.

That's fine if you're a business and have the money to spare. But what about a simple home user who just has a personal server for himself and a few friends and family? Or a non-profit organization that is barely scraping by as it is?

I can certainly understand charging a price for the kinds of features that big businesses will need (clustering, storage management, multiple domains, branding, tech support, even the mobile stuff), things that small groups of 10 or 20 users aren't necessarily gonna need.

But BACKUP is a basic need for anyone using an email server, business or personal. It doesn't seem right to label backup as an "Enterprise" feature. For that matter, working with Outlook and Apple iSync seems like a basic need rather than an "Enterprise" feature.

--Dan

[mcevoys]

>>But what about a simple home user who just has a personal server for himself

I agree. I'd gladly pay a reasonable amount to run NE instead of OS (and support Zimbra) for my home server (<10 users), but $250/year just isn't going work for my situation.

Perhaps Zimbra could find a way offer a personal edition at a lower price point, with 'forums only' maintenance (to lower the burden cost).

This would allow me to financially support a product I believe in (and have both recommended and installed in the field for others...resulting in $$), without becoming a support burden myself.

[danfluidmind]

Originally Posted by mcevoys

I'd gladly pay a reasonable amount to run NE...for my home server....This would allow me to financially support a product I believe in (and have both recommended and installed in the field for others...resulting in $$), without becoming a support burden myself.

I agree. I could easily ask my friends and family to pitch in 5 bucks per year for a really nice mail server with full backup and that would work with their Macs or Outlook. But I can't exactly ask them to pay $25/year for use of my personal server. I'm not giving them 24/7 support, after all. If the server goes down for a day or two, it's tough doodoo for them :-). But it IS important to me that I DON'T lose all their (or my) email if the hard drives die.

And that's a good point about personal users recommending and installing it for businesses. We've been using Exchange at my office for the past few years (about 160 users). After I get Zimbra up and running on my personal server, we'll be able to evaluate it in actual use to see if it will do all we need it to do for our business. Unfortunately I won't be able to evaluate how well the backup, Outlook/iSync and mobile phone features work. ALL things that we currently use extensively with Exchange and that we'd need to make sure still worked as well if we made the switch.

--Dan

[tyco]

I woud have a different suggestion:

I was very pleased that stalker gives away a free version of their mailserver for 5 users. thats really a good idea and would solve the folllowing scenarios:

- admin/tech person wants to run his own server at home with the full feature set. 5 emails should be way enough. if you need more go with the open source version or buy the network edition.

- you buy a network edition but you always need a hand full of accounts to do administrative stuff. so they would be free of charge. i always discusse with people, why do we need additional licences we are just using 23 and have a 25 user licence.

zimbra what do you think?

regading the backup functioality i totaly aggree, if you want hot backups buy it or use the 5 user free version zimbra offers so much in the open source version. its really amazing.

i am myself a opensource user but i will get the network eddition. the only think i dont like is that readhead is the only supported os atm. i am really looking forward to the 4.5 vmware virtual appliance. that sounds like a killer idea.

go 4 it zimra. i was a communigate admin for 10 years and you made me switch i like it.