Good backup strategy for a mailserver?

Hi,
What would be a good backup strategy for a mailserver and what software would you use. I've got Retrospect right now ...
Thanks a lot.
Jerome

Yeah, ptero, I know. I'm using mailbfr and it seems to work quite fine.
I didn't express myself clearly in this thread, I was in fact looking for the best way to backup a whole MacOS X Server whose primary function is being a mailserver.
I'm backing up the mailbfr via Retrospect on another server, and I'm using Carbon Copy Cloner from time to time to make an image of the whole server. But is that a good idea? I've got a neat program on my Windows servers which makes 'continuous' incremental images of the whole disk while the servers are being used. Is there anything like that for Mac? Or how do you back up the system configuration of your Mac servers?
But perhaps this is the wrong subforum to ask questions like this?
Thanks alot anyway!

Similar Messages

Is this a good backup strategy for a drive with Logic projects on it ?

Let's say you build on a LP9 project, that could be editing regions on the arrange window, adding/ deleting plugins, and saving the project under the same name. Those edits are stored in the project file and now the session is different than the one on the backup disk. Is it a good idea to have Carbon Copy Cloner archive the older project into a seperate folder and copy the newly edited version into the same project folder replacing the older version ? Or re-save the edited project (which I do by habit) on the work disk as a new name to reflect that it is a new version and now this new version will be cloned to the backup. But what if you delete digital audio off the work disk either on purpose or accidental, should the backup task also delete that audio from the backup drive or just move it to an archive folder for just in case down the road ? I am trying to design a new scheme where every day when I leave my studio a Macbook pro and my logic work disk goes with me leaving behind the daily incremental backup. Two events are my concern, the first is while away from studio I might edit or add to a logic project and want that work to be automatically backed up when I get back to studio and dock the laptop. Second if the studio burns down while I'm gone, I will have lost no data because the work drive is in my possesion. I think CCC is a good choice to manage my new back up scheme. Anybody have comments or suggestions ? Thanks much appreciated.

One way of making it more robust would be make a copy on DVD or BluRay, as I have read that several professionals do, for long term archiving, but this might be seen as too much of a *** for a small/non-professional catalogue.
Is one of the hard drives in a RAID setup? This would increase the safety factor and mean that it would take a three fold failure for pictures to be lost. Additionally, the use of professional quality hard drives built for a hard life in NASs etc,like the WD Red Pro, would give a meaningful increase in life expectancy over consumer level disks.

Long-term retention backup strategy for Oracle 10g

Hello,
I need design a Archivelog, Level 0 and Level 1 long-term retention backup strategy for Oracle 10g, It must be based in Rman with tapes.
¿Somebody could tell me what it's the best option to configure long-term retention backups in Oracle?, "CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 1825 DAYS;" It's posibble ?
Regards and thanks in advance

Hello;
RECOVERY WINDOW is an integer so yes its possible. Does it make sense?
Later My bad, this is Oracle 11 only ( the gavinsoorma link ) . Getting harder and harder to think about 10. Don't think I would use RECOVERY WINDOW.
I would let the tape backup system handle the retention of your rman backups.
Using crosscheck and delete expired commands you can keep the catalog current with the available backups on tape.
Oracle 10
Keeping a Long-Term Backup: Example
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14191/rcmbackp.htm#i1006840
http://web.njit.edu/info/oracle/DOC/backup.102/b14191/advmaint005.htm
Oracle 11
If you want to keep 5 years worth of backups I might just use KEEP specific date using the UNTIL TIME clause :
keep until time 'sysdate+1825'More info :
RMAN KEEP FOREVER, KEEP UNTIL TIME and FORCE commands
http://gavinsoorma.com/2010/04/rman-keep-forever-keep-until-time-and-force-commands/
Best Regards
mseberg
Edited by: mseberg on Dec 4, 2012 7:20 AM

Backup strategy for ebs R12?

Hi,
I have a couple of questions regarding to backup strategy for ebs R12.
Let's say that we have one application server and one database server running, and we would like to have a backup periodically for both servers.
This means that we want to have the exactly same backup of configurations and other files for the application server and the database server in case of any fatal crashes in the servers.
I went through some discussion threads and it seems common way is to use RMAN for the data of database and file system copy for application and database servers. But, I would like to know what's the best way or recommended way for the backup strategy for data and server files of Oracle e-business suite.
Do you guys have any suggestion for this?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
SH

Hi SH;
I suggest check first our previous discussion
backup and recovery startegy for EBS
Re: Backup System
Backup Policy for EBS can
If you make search you can find many other thread which is mention same question
For your issue basicly what we do
1. For our prod db, if possible we take weekly cold backup(sunday) and take rman backup also daily(full backup, but it depends system you can prefer to take incremental)
2. For our system we take file system backup weekly(OS base)
3. For application we take backup every sunday(for some system 15 days or 30 days period). The most important point here if your system prod, and if you need to apply patch to your system you need to have valid backup and also need backup for after patching
One other important issue is we run preclone sh before take backup for apps and db tier
Regard
Helios

What is the backup strategy for your rpool?

Hi all,
May I know what is your backup strategy for rpool? like how to integrate with the netbackup or any other backup software
Is it using zfs send a data stream to a file and backup that file using backup software??
Aside the above method, can we also use the UFS method?
     backup software to backup entire / /var.......... etc....
     1. re install the OS
     2. install the backup client
     3. create a zpool (rpool-restore) using a 2nd disk,
     4. mount the new zpool (rpool-restore) to /restore
     5. restore all the file in /restore
     6. install boot blk,
     7. boot from 2nd disk
Any more idea?

HI Willy,
According to the Flash Archives limitation stated in Oracle website, if the OS is with a child zone, it will not work right?
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19253-01/821-0436/6nlg6fi8u/index.html
I am thinking that using the traditional way to do it.
Use a backup software, for example, networker, TSM, netbackup.. to back up the following:
/rpool
/export/
/export/home
     1. re install the OS
     2. install the backup client
     3. create a zpool (rpool-restore) using a 2nd disk,
     4. mount the new zpool (rpool-restore) to /restore
     5. restore all the file in /restore
     6. install boot blk,
     7. boot from 2nd disk
will it still works?

How to find a good AI strategy for a survival game?

Hi, I'm a college student here developing a tank survival game for the finals. I have had very little experience in AI strategies, so I wonder if anyone here can give me a hint or two to start.
Thanks.
The game's description is below:
Goal:
Develop a good AI strategy for survival.
��
Game Name: Tank Survival
How game starts: All tanks will be placed on the board in random position
How game ends: When we have only one tank surviving, that's the winner
When does a tank die? When the energy of a tank is zero, it dies.
Game environment: A 15x15 closed environment, like a chess board
Participants: 5 teams, 3 tanks per team
��
Game Basic Rule
For each tank, only 1 action is allowed each turn.
A tank can move with a shield on, but shield costs energy.
When one tank destroyed another one, it takes all the energy left of the victim
tank. *(Bonus from kill � 1000 + (1/2)*Enemy energy before kil)
The tank's weapon can only shoot in continuous linear way.
��
Facts about the tank
Initial Tank Energy - 10000
Life Support Energy cost �- 50
Missile yield multiplier - � 3
Shield multiplier - � 5
Radar Cost = [(distance * accuracy) ^1.3] * 3 + 100
Missile Cost � yield + accuracy * distance * 7
Movement Cost = (distance^1.4) *50
Shield Cost = multiplier * Energy shielded
Maximum movement - distance � 5 (any direction)
Bonus from kill -� 1000 + (1/2)*Enemy energy before kill
Missile accuracy -� not disclosed
Radar Accruacy �- not disclosed
��
Key problems
� I only have 3 tanks. . .
� I have to survive among the other 15 tanks.
� None of the actions, misile, radar, or shield are 100% working. There are always chances that they don't work.

I think the first stage is to work out what constitutes a "state" and a "move." A state is the current board positions with all the tank energies and other parameters. A move is a transition from one state to another. Can you move around? Can you fire the gun and move the tank at the same time? If you fire the gun, does it miss sometimes?
You then have to have a way to evaluate a state. For instance, if you move closer to an enemy tank, does that put you in a better position or a worse position?
You can then draw a Moves Tree. This starts from where you are, shows all the moves you could make and the states you could end up in after one move. You can attach a value to each state.
Then you can extend the state tree by adding all the counter moves your enemy could make, and the states in which those moves would leave the game. Thus the transition from your state now, to your state after the enemy has moved, will show a gain or a loss, depending on whether you or the enemy gained more or lost less.
The strategy that wins the game will be the one that takes you from the start state to the goal state in such a way that your enemy cannot stop you. There are two possible strategies for choosing moves, Minimax and Maximin. Minimax means minimise your maximum loss; Maximim means maximise your minimum gain.
Try it first with a simple game like Nought and Crosses. The state tree grows very rapidly in the number of moves, so you may need some algorithm for pruning it or for generating only part of it at a time, as modern chess playing algorithms do.
Write in a computer language that is good at handling state trees. I used to use Prolog but some programmers swear by Lisp. You won't be able to solve the problem in a crap language like Basic, Pascal or anything like those.
You will need to read around the subject. If Alan Bundy has written anything recently, look at that first: he is an excellent writer and a very skilful practitioner as well.

Backup strategy for my new computer

I have a PPC mac mini that my kids use and I use a powerbook. I'm about to buy a macbookpro for me and update the kids to leopard. They also need more storage so I will give them an external firewire drive. I haven't used leopard yet and I'm trying to plan my backup strategy. I want to have regular backups so time machine looks great but do I really need to have a bootable copy of my system? Can I just backup my data and then access my files via the kids machine if necessary? A separate drive would give me more flexibility but is the quality going to be as good as the server quality drive in time capsule?
Also, should I buy an external drive (which one?) that I can connect to an airport extreme if i want in the future - or a time capsule from the word go? We run two airport networks in the house so could I back up via wifi and then access my files via wifi using the kids computer?
Sorry to ask all these questions but its hard to know the best policy before I've started using leopard - and if I don't do it straight away it will inevitably be too late by the time I do!

Rachel Taylor wrote:
I want to have regular backups so time machine looks great but do I really need to have a bootable copy of my system?
Well, if you ever get stuck and can't boot from your internal drive, you will. Drives are just mechanical devices and are prone to failure. You can use SuperDuper for free cloning.
Rachel Taylor wrote:
A separate drive would give me more flexibility but is the quality going to be as good as the server quality drive in time capsule?
It depends what you want. Actually, wireless is the slowest speed on transfer -slower than USB.
Rachel Taylor wrote:
Sorry to ask all these questions but its hard to know the best policy before I've started...
It's very wise to ask about backup. I can't believe how many folks use their Macs for their livelihood and have no backup at all.
-mj

Time Capsule backup strategy for multiple drives and OS

I'd like a backup strategy based on Time Capsule but have a few twists from a straightforward situation and would appreciate any guidance with setting it up. My hardware situation is:
- Two MacBooks, on 10.5, one with an 80 gb drive, the other with a 120 gb drive.
- One G4 iMac, on 10.4, with a 60 gb drive
- One LaCie NAS drive, used primarily as the storage space for music and video, and currently not backed up anywhere (making me nervous!)
Ideally I'd like each of these four units to be backed up on Time Capsule; and my configuration questions are in two areas:
1) Backup software: I'll use Time Machine to backup the MacBooks, but not sure about the G4 and NAS drive. These could be backed up on a more ad hoc basis (I don't need hourly updates). Is this best handled with a third party app like SuperDuper to allow for incremental backups?
2) Partition/disk image: is it wise (or indeed necessary) to create partitions for each of the above sources (I gather from reading other posts is seems the best way to achieve a partition is to create a disk image). I'm not sure if there would be any unintended consequences by doing so (or not),and if so if a sparse image disk image is better than a sparse bundle disk image given the above, so any guidance to help make sure it's set up as flexibly as possible from the outset would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

G'day Michael,
Sounds like it is time to buy OS X Server!!!!
I think you are on the right track. As a "left field" suggestion, why not get two big drives, and use one of them as a file server. Get everyone to use the file server for any critical documents that they want backed up centrally/continuously. Then back the file server system up onto the other big drive using TM.
This reduces administration somewhat, and privacy can be retained with careful username management across the network.
Assuming that the three MacBooks are similarly configured from a system perspective, there is not a lot of point in having full bootable clone's of each one. Perhaps create a bootable clone from one of them each week - and clone the other two into disk images (which are not bootable, but are restorable) as frequently as needed.
Cheers,
Rodney

Backup strategy for Oracle E-Business Suite

Hi guys,
I am administrating an EBS (E-Business Suite 11i) System with two Application servers and two database servers running in RAC mode. At the moment, the system has just been backed up at database tier by using rman. Now, I also want to backup application tier. So, here is my questions:
- What is the most important thing which I must care when I backup the application. Because I am new at EBS so, more details and specific is, better is.
- Is a good approach if I back up entire the current system data (include binary file, class file, misc files, forms, reports,...)
Finally, anyone can share some experiences when do backup these systems?
Thanks and best regards,

Hi,
- What is the most important thing which I must care when I backup the application. Because I am new at EBS so, more details and specific is, better is.
- Is a good approach if I back up entire the current system data (include binary file, class file, misc files, forms, reports,...)
Finally, anyone can share some experiences when do backup these systems?Your questions were asked and answered many times in the forum before, so please see previous threads for similar discussion.
Regards,
Hussein

Advice needed for backup strategy for office

My office is switching from PC to Mac (yay!) and I'm in charge of setting up the system. We'll be using 4 iMacs and a Mac Mini Server with ethernet connections. I'd like to ask what is recommended for backing up these computers.
My thought would be to back up the iMacs separately from the server - is this definitely the way to go?
I'm thinking to get a 3TB Time Capsule for the 4 iMacs so that Time Capsule will do automatic backups.
- Is it OK to have 4 iMacs backup to one Time Capsule like this?
As for the Mac Mini server, I'm not sure how to best back it up.
Since it has two 1TB drives, I'm thinking of using one drive for data and having it automatically backup to the other internal drive. Any thoughts on this idea?
Or, it is possible to connect an external USB drive to the Time Capsule's USB port, and have Time Machine backup the server to the external drive?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

The TC is really a home solution.
For business I think you should consider something extra.
Although 4 computers and a server is not a big setup, it is worthwhile doing a more professional backup and use something more professional than Time Machine.
For instance..
http://www.retrospect.com/au/products/mac
I have not used it.. but I see it recommended in business / larger installs. It is not cheap but well worth considering.
I would not use the internal disk of the server for backup.
As for the Mac Mini server, I'm not sure how to best back it up.
Since it has two 1TB drives, I'm thinking of using one drive for data and having it automatically backup to the other internal drive. Any thoughts on this idea?
You can raid the two disks if you don't need the capacity.
But backup to a USB drive plugged in.. USB3 drives are cheap and speedy. Much more reliable than using network drives.
Raid for integrity of working data.. backup to separate change over disks.
So weekly you change over the USB drive for backup and store the other one at home.
I'm thinking to get a 3TB Time Capsule for the 4 iMacs so that Time Capsule will do automatic backups.
- Is it OK to have 4 iMacs backup to one Time Capsule like this?
You can do this.. It is fine to have 4 Macs backup to it. But if you are not using the wireless router it is a waste.. you can just backup over network to the server.. TM works fine on network.
You can buy another 3TB USB drive for backup of the clients.. normally though you want all the working data on the server and back that up. You are thinking a more peer to peer model.. once you introduce the server you can work on a more server client model where the current files are held on the server.

New to sap - need help in configure backup strategy for SAP XI server.

hi gurus
being a netweaver guy, recently i have been given the responsibility of few basis activities.like database backup.
can any one tell me clear procedure to take both daily online and weekend full offline backup of oracle in to disk first and then to tape. i have seen in the internet material few discussing about brbackup and few about sap DB13. i am totally confused which one to use, and which is good. please help
akhil

Hi,
welcome on board as SAP Netweaver guy,
don't be confused both DB13 and BRtools are the same both of them will call brbackup.
to configure the brtools you have to change in your brtools profiles located at %ORACLE_HOME%/dbs
please before changing any thing take backup from that folder.
- to take the backup to disk then to tape you will need extra backup software, because using the SAP slandered tools you have to select either Disk or Tape.
Thanks
Sherif

Can I move Itunes from a pc based external hard drive on to a Time Capsule linked to Macbook Air? Is Timecapsule a good backup option for a 'silver surfer'?

I have a Macbook Air, iPod and old pc with external hard drive. My iTunes is on the pc which I sync with my iPod. I am thinking of buying a Timecapsule for backing up Macbook. At the sametime would it make sense/be easy to move iTunes library on to new Timecapsule and access it from Macbook? Or would I have to store the iTunes library on Macbook internal drive? (pc is getting old and will eventually be binned). Thanks in advance

speachmusic wrote:
if I ran an eithernet cable through my flat
you could do that - or you could employ a pair of *powerline adapters* _*such as these*_.
either way, as William pointed out, it will boost syncing speed and improve reliability.
Or can I attached an external hard drive to the time capsule, set it us as a network drive and then set that drive in the iTunes preferences as where to where its media folder is?
yes. my test iTunes library lives on an external HD hanging off my TC and, using a hardwired connection, data transfer speeds are more than sufficient for what you intend to do.
in fact, i would recommend the external drive connected to the TC over using the TC itself. one reason is that you will not be able to backup what is on the TC's drive using time machine. also, if the TC croaks and needs to be replaced, it will be difficult to retrieve the data from it.
an external HD, otoh, could be connected to you Mac periodically and backed up to another external HD using free apps such as _*Carbon Copy Cloner*_.
JGG

Simplest Backup Strategy for Full IMAP server

Hi,
I have just reorganized all of my mail for the last few years on to my university Exchange server (IMAP) and of course it is full. I want to preserve my old messages and reduce my emails to the most recent ones on the Exchange server. What is the simplest approach to saving the old emails? Do I copy them to my "on the mac" and then copy them to CD, or is there a simpler solution?
Grant

Hi Grant.
Mail stores most preferences and all the account settings in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist (except the passwords, which are stored in the keychain). Everything else, including all your messages and mailboxes, is stored in ~/Library/Mail/.
Similarly, Address Book (whose data you should back up as well) stores the settings in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AddressBook.plist and the data in ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/.
These files can be backed up just like any other data files. The affected applications shouldn’t be running while making the backup.
Actually, while you’re at it, you might as well back up your entire home folder...
For IMAP accounts, if Mail > Preferences > Accounts > Advanced > Keep copies of messages for offline viewing is set to All messages and their attachments, Mail keeps a local copy of those messages on your hard disk that becomes part of any backup that includes the ~/Library/Mail folder.
Selected messages can be exported in standard mbox format by doing File > Save As in Mail and choosing Raw Message Source from the Format popup menu. Standard mbox files can be imported into most mail clients. In particular, they can be imported back into Mail doing File > Import Mailboxes and choosing Other as the data format. Using this format, however, would cause some status flags to be lost (e.g. whether a message has been replied to).
Locally stored mailboxes can be copied to the Desktop or anywhere else by just dragging them there from Mail itself (for server-stored IMAP mailboxes, copy the messages to locally stored “On My Mac” mailboxes in Mail first). These, however, are *.mbox folders (not standard mbox files), where messages are stored in individual *.emlx files that other mail clients don’t know or care about. They can be imported back into Mail doing File > Import Mailboxes and choosing Mail for Mac OS X as the data format.
Andreas Amann’s Mail Scripts has an Archive Messages script that you may also find useful.
Finally, there are several backup/archiving solutions for Mail available out there:
http://www.hawkwings.net/plugins.htm#archive
Note: For those not familiarized with the ~/ notation, it refers to the user’s home folder. That is, ~/Library is the Library folder within the user’s home folder, i.e. /Users/username/Library.

Backup strategy for FULL recovery model

Hi,
We currently have a DB that is in a FULL recovery model and is Synchronized (mirrored) to a DR site. For extra safety, we are told to take regular backups of this db. Now is it possible to take a weekly FULL backup and then differential throughout
the week. OR have two FULL backups (Sunday and Wednesday) and then differential on other days.
Does the recovery model affect how a backup can be taken. Will this affect the log file (it is currently set to restricted growth by 400mb)
System: SQL Server - 2008 R2
Thanks.

Thanks Ashwin and Prashant. Based on your responses and the acceptable RTO i have the below backup plan.
Sunday and Wednesday FULL backup
Everyday - Differential
The transaction log done every hour.
For example:
Sunday 11:50pm - FULL backup done
Differential done daily at 1:00 am
So if the DB crashed or corrupted on Wednesday @ 6:am , I would have to restore with the below ?
-- Use the Sunday FULL backup
-- Use the differential from Wednesday @ 1:00 am
-- Use the transaction logs from 1:00 am to 6 am.
Would that work?

Backup strategy

Hi,
short story:
Due to the structure of the library I have the "originals" and "modified" images, when edited some. When importing a library into another without copying them I have some/many thumbnails twice. How do I prevent iPhoto to use the original thumb when a modified exists?
Long story:
I'm looking for a working backup strategy for iPhoto. I'd like to collect fotos over the time and when the library reaches some GByte I'd like to copy it to two external drives in a software raid set (mirror). I know that I can merge the two libraries (one on raid, one on MacBook) with some piece of software. So far so good.
Now I'd like to have the thumbnails of the fotos on the ext. drive on my MacBook as well. I can import them to a library with the option not to copy the images but leave them where they are (on ext. drive). When I'm on the go I can access the thumbnails. When viewing them I am asked to insert the drive.
But now comes my problem: Due to the structure of the library I have the "originals" and "modified" images, when edited some. So I have some thumbnails twice. How do I prevent iPhoto to use the original thumb when a modified exists?
Thanks a lot.

What you really need to use isMedia Expression. It creates catalogs containing thumbnails of the cataloged photos and the catalog can be used without the source file being available.
You can add keywords and other identifiers to the photos while just using the catalog and then when you get back and have the source files available the new metadata can be applied to the actual file.
Expression Media appears to be available for the upgrade price of $99 if you are using iPhoto as shown here:
$99 (Full Version $199)
For qualifying owners of:
Licensed copy of an earlier version of Expression Media or any iView Multimedia product.
OR
Any licensed photographic software, including Windows Photo Gallery or iPhoto
That info is from this site: http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Upgrade.aspx and by clicking on the "here" link on that page. I've emailed the developers to see if I've intrepreted that page correctly.
In the meantime you can download and run the demo. You can also catalog your iPhoto library with EM and write all metadata entered in iPhoto back to the original files. Steps 1-7 of Old Toad's Tutorial #1 describe how. That page is in revision since iView is no longer available and Step #2 is slightly different with the EM demo. It should be changed by the end of the day today.
I use it in conjunction with iPhoto. EM is my primary DAM (digital asset management) application and I use iPhoto for projects like books, calendars, slideshows, etc.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Good backup strategy for a mailserver?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for