Gundam_MX
Stomping Robot
join:2003-06-27
|  Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office
I am supporting an office that has roughly 50 PCs.
The e-mail client consist a mix of Outlook Express and Outlook 2000/2003/2007.
Currently the e-mails are saved locally on the PC.
My supervisor has asked me to come up and implement a plan to back up the e-mails onto the server on a weekly basis.
My requirements:
-E-mails are backed up every week.
-E-mail backup data are kept for two weeks then the e-mail data can be overridden with new backup e-mail data.
-The system must be automated as possible.
-The system must ensure the e-mails are backed up.
Any ideas as to how should I approach this?
Any third party back-up programs can do this?
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port9
join:2006-07-15
Cordova, TN
| Not to sell myself but we do offer a offsite backup utility that basically has a check box for outlook e-mails. Something else to consider would be backup exec with an exchange environment this is relatively easy. Are you looking for offsite, tape, or just hard drive? What kind of budget are you on; non-existent small or large. |
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
 ·Cox HSI
 ·Speakeasy
| reply to Gundam_MX
You're telling us bupkis about what the email server is. That is, "why are you worrying about backing up the email clients when the solution might simply be to rework how your clients interact with the server(s) and back up the server(s)"?
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell |
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Gundam_MX
Stomping Robot
join:2003-06-27
1 edit | reply to Gundam_MX
There is no e-mail server at the office. No MS exchange.
All the e-mails are delivered by a third party ISP.
quote:
Are you looking for offsite, tape, or just hard drive? What kind of budget are you on; non-existent small or large.
I'm looking for onsite backup solution -- through hard drive or tape backup. At most we are looking at a small budget. |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Speakeasy
| Buy a big external HD and connect it to an internal server, or buy a lower-end 'NAS' unit (I'm using and like the Thecus 5200E).
However you connect it, make it a mapped drive on everyone's profile.
Install some free/cheap mirroring/backup/sync software on everyone's machine.
Have that software copy the PST file to the network location inside a unique user folder.
As to what software, I've no real specifics, but these may be good to look at:
»www.rsync.net/resources/howto/wi···ync.html
»www.cis.upenn.edu/%7Ebcpierce/unison/
As well as commercial backup software, like Novanet or maybe even the basic Windows backup software (which I use on one machine and works reliably, but beware the inability to delete old backups if doing incremental).
KM |
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The WeaseL
Premium
join:2001-12-03
Minnesota
1 edit | reply to Gundam_MX
Do you have a file server already in place? You could map a network drive and have a simple batch file do a copy from the local machine to the mapped drive every night at X:XX time.
Or just relocate the .pst files to the file server and change where Outlook looks for these files. Then back them up every night from that single location. Much easier then trying to ensure 50 machines are on and what not to pull data from.
That would be my recommendation.
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How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to. |
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patuuk
Premium
join:2003-07-22
Savannah, GA
| reply to Gundam_MX
Here is a link to a MS PST backup utility that should do what you want...if your using Outlook 2002 or later.
»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···ylang=en
~p |
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Gundam_MX
Stomping Robot
join:2003-06-27
1 edit | reply to The WeaseL
said by The WeaseL  :Do you have a file server already in place? You could map a network drive and have a simple batch file do a copy from the local machine to the mapped drive every night at X:XX time. Or just relocate the .pst files to the file server and change where Outlook looks for these files. Then back them up every night from that single location. Much easier then trying to ensure 50 machines are on and what not to pull data from. That would be my recommendation. There is a file server in place, but it doesn't have much space. That is why backups are only kept for two weeks before it is rewritten.
Though I like your idea of placing all the e-mails on the server and then making a backup from there.
I have see if we can invest in a larger hard drive to do this.
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How much network traffic does Outlook/Express mail use?
If the traffic is a lot then it would degrade the server performance. (One server only) |
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy
| reply to Gundam_MX
said by Gundam_MX :There is no e-mail server at the office. No MS exchange. All the e-mails are delivered by a third party ISP. Have you contacted your ISP to find out what your options are with/through them? Yes, I know your supervisor wants "on site", but some things really are better done at the server - waiting to do things at the client is prone to lossage. Not to throw gas on your fire, but... depending on what your 50-PC business is, your company may already be breaking state or federal email retention laws. So, such client-side solutions might really not be acceptable.
said by Gundam_MX : quote:
Are you looking for offsite, tape, or just hard drive? What kind of budget are you on; non-existent small or large.
I'm looking for onsite backup solution -- through hard drive or tape backup. At most we are looking at a small budget. Before you architect your solution, figure out what your legal requirements are. You may only want to "small budget" but legalities may dictate otherwise. Just something to ALWAYS be aware of when dealing with things like email backups for businesses.
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell |
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The WeaseL
Premium
join:2001-12-03
Minnesota
| reply to Gundam_MX
How much network traffic does Outlook/Express mail use?
If the traffic is a lot then it would degrade the server performance. (One server only) This I do not know.
What are the specs of this server? What is your e-mail traffic like in and out every day? What other uses does this file server have?
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How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to. |
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wildwest
join:2002-03-24
Stockport, IA
clubs:
1 edit | reply to Gundam_MX
Do you want to keep each user backup separate or can you back up the entire days incoming and sent e-mails?
We have a third party e-mail also and they archive it for us per each day (all incoming and sent e-mails).
I then log in once a month and download the entires months e-mail to one of my Terabyte NAS Devices and then archive to DVD for firewall proof storage.
If I need to restore a e-mail I load the days file in Thunderbird and do a header search for the appropriate sender, title, etc.
I just discussed it with our provider and they wrote the script for us to perform it server side for better accuracy and less impact on us.
Another factor that comes in to play with us is I am virtually out of backup time at night so this allows me to pull it down manually when time allows.
Just something to think about.
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Team Helix Forum - Join Us? |
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Gundam_MX
Stomping Robot
join:2003-06-27 |  reply to Gundam_MX
Anybody know how to backup Outlook files if it is still open by the users? |
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ftthz
If love can kill hate can also save
join:2005-10-17 | reply to Gundam_MX
for locked files i tend to use »ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/ |
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Gundam_MX
Stomping Robot
join:2003-06-27
1 edit | Do I have to use this program once or do I have to use the program everytime when a user opens Outlook?
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The other idea I have is to send a warning message to the client that Outlook will close in 30 seconds to perform the backup.
Is there a way to send out a remote message to the client computers?
Is there a way to remotely control the computers?
Note I don't know the names of the 50 PCs there, so I can't type in each name in Windows built-in Remote Manage. |
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estover
join:2004-03-16
Valencia, PA
clubs: | SBS 2003 sounds like the ticket here. |
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techjoe
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Schererville, IN
| reply to Gundam_MX
Move to Exchange...
Aside from that advice, I highly suggest not bothering trying to house PST files on a file server. Outlook hates that. I've tried mapped drives and UNC paths in many cases, 100% local users (no vpns or anything), stable network, etc, and Outlook will still fail to open it on occasion, starting with a blank new PST file instead. Tested in Outlook 2000/XP/2003 with bad results every time.
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www.clanc.cc |
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bilbusb
join:2003-04-10
Tucker, GA | reply to Gundam_MX
Change from pop3 to imap.
Or even better move to a real email system like exchange |
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Gundam_MX
Stomping Robot
join:2003-06-27 | reply to Gundam_MX
Moving to exchange is nice but a massive undertaking. (E.g. Setup, installation, merging the PST files with exchange.)
The IT staff is only 2 guys. |
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izy
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Naples, FL
| said by Gundam_MX :Moving to exchange is nice but a massive undertaking. (E.g. Setup, installation, merging the PST files with exchange.) The IT staff is only 2 guys. Not a massive undertaking if you have the enthusiasm. A logon script or two and the user will never know the difference. |
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