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What is open file backup?
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Many files cannot be backed up while a program that uses these files are running. Normal backup software does not allow the backup of these files. Open file backup allows you to backup these in use and locked files. |
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What's the difference between a locked file and an exclusively opened file?
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Files can either be locked or exclusively opened. An exclusively opened file cannot be backed up at all. When the backup software tries to open the file to back it up, they will get a permission denied error. A locked file however, means that a byte range in the file cannot be accessed. For example the middle of the file may only be locked. The backup software by default can backup the start and the end, but not the middle in this case. It's possible for a file to be both exclusively opened and locked at the same time. |
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Will open file backup work on Exchange?
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While Microsoft has said ‘no’ in the past, if you are using the right backup software, the answer is yes. This is because Microsoft Exchange Server locks its database files so any program that cannot handle open file backups will not work.
A backup program that can handle Exchange open files will allow emails to continue to be sent and received while still backing up Exchange and keeping its log file and database in sync to avoid corruption.
There are 3 ways to backup Exchange while it is running:
1) Use a program that makes use of the ESE API.
2) Use a program that makes use of MAPI.
3) Perform a flat file backup while using an open file manager such as File Access Manager. For more on open file backup, see File Access Manager from VisionWorks: http://www.vwsolutions.com/FAM
All 3 of these methods will work for open file Exchange backup. The first 2 methods are talking to exchange through an API, so there is no question. The third method uses a special mechanisms to backup all files in an inactive period of time. All files that are backed up can be put in a batch and synchronized atomically.
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