Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office in No, I Will Not Fix Your #@$!! Computer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19451178 en Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:43:35 EDT Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:43:35 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19521850 izy :
said by Gundam_MX See Profile :

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.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19521850 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:26:11 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19521594 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.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19521594 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:53:44 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19476531 bilbusb : Change from pop3 to imap.

Or even better move to a real email system like exchange]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19476531 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:10:27 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19472169 techjoe : 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.
--
www.clanc.cc]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19472169 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:21:44 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19465558 estover : SBS 2003 sounds like the ticket here. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19465558 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:51:41 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19465502 Gundam_MX :
said by ftthz See Profile :

for locked files i tend to use »ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
Do I have to use this program once or do I have to use the program everytime when a user opens Outlook?

----------

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.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19465502 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:21:59 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19464094 ftthz : for locked files i tend to use »ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19464094 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:09:41 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19463490 Gundam_MX : Anybody know how to backup Outlook files if it is still open by the users?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19463490 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:16:45 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19459339 wildwest : 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.
--
Team Helix Forum - Join Us?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19459339 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:17:53 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19457808 The WeaseL :
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?
--
How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19457808 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:27:52 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19455317 nixen :
said by Gundam_MX See Profile :

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 See Profile :

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.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19455317 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:21:22 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19454884 Gundam_MX :
said by The WeaseL See Profile :

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.

-------------------------

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)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19454884 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:59:07 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19454757 patuuk : 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]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19454757 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:27:01 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19454371 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.
--
How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19454371 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:47:09 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19453649 KoolMoe : 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]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19453649 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:51:32 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19452124 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. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19452124 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:33:46 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19452095 nixen : 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)"?
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19452095 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:29:01 EDT Re: Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19451568 port9 : 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.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19451568 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:17:01 EDT Backing up Outlook E-mail at the office http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19451178 Gundam_MX : 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?

]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19451178 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:10:44 EDT