Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Security and Technology : RSYNC / Windows 2003 & Vista / Open Files

[iTISTIC]

Does anybody know how I can force RSYNC to backup open files on Windows 2003 Standard and Vista Ultimate?

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[bqinternet]

If you need to back up open Windows files, you'll want a backup program that supports shadow copies. The Windows port of Rsync won't be able to handle it.

For proper Windows backups, check out R1Soft:
http://www.r1soft.com/

[gbjbaanb]

You want vshadow.exe, which is a sample app provided as part of the Volume Shadow SDK from MS.

This will create temporary shadow copies that you can then rsync to whereever. The only problem is that it is a bit tricky to use - mainly because the shadow copy only remains for as long as the vshadow exe is running.. so you put it in a recursive batch file.

A quick google says... http://lists.samba.org/archive/rsync...er/016272.html

Which has a specially set up script just for rsyncing!

Also..
http://lists.samba.org/archive/rsync...ry/017215.html

[iTISTIC]

BQInternet is now offering an integration w/ R1Soft's product for $35/month for 100gb. Can't beat that. I just wrote in to ask a few questions, but if any of you could answer them for me before I get a response from the vendor that would be terrific!

#1. Is there a copy of the image or sub-set of the images stored locally on the server in addition to the one stored remotely on your servers? Once in a while we'll need to restore a select few files and I'm just curious if this is possible or not with the R1Soft.com product.

#2. My server is leased through a dedicated provider (ThePlanet.com - formerly EV1Servers.net). Should my server crash they would provide me with a newly imaged server very close to spec to my existing server which I would be able to access remotely. I do *not* have physical access to the server. How could I initiate a restore remotely without physically inserting a CD-ROM into the server to boot from? This is very important.

#3. How does R1Soft.com's product handle image restoration to a machine with new hardware (different I/O controllers, larger hard drive, etc.)?

[bqinternet]

Just to answer a few R1Soft-specific questions:

Originally Posted by ITISTIC

#1. Is there a copy of the image or sub-set of the images stored locally on the server in addition to the one stored remotely on your servers? Once in a while we'll need to restore a select few files and I'm just curious if this is possible or not with the R1Soft.com product.

The software stores the backup images offsite. You can restore
individual files or folders using their control panel interface, so there is no need to restore the entire server.

Originally Posted by ITISTIC

My server is leased through a dedicated provider (ThePlanet.com - formerly EV1Servers.net). Should my server crash they would provide me with a newly imaged server very close to spec to my existing server which I would be able to access remotely. I do *not* have physical access to the server. How could I initiate a restore remotely without physically inserting a CD-ROM into the server to boot from? This is very important.

If you have a fresh server, then you can install the backup software
again, and choose specific files and folders to restore. You only need
CD-ROM access for a complete re-image.

Originally Posted by ITISTIC

#3. How does R1Soft.com's product handle image restoration to a machine with new hardware (different I/O controllers, larger hard drive, etc.)?

The backup software is not concerned with hardware. As long as the hard
drive has sufficient space, it will restore an exact image. The rest is
up to the operating system, since it's as if you took your hard drive
and plugged it in to a new server. As long as Windows contains drivers
for the hardware, it should work properly.