Guest Jarryd Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Hi, I want to be able to backup open files on WinXP desktops to a tape drive on a Windows Server 2003 server. Is this possible? Ideally ntbackup run from server, but if not then can a WinXP ntbackup instance connect to a remote tape drive located on a Windows Server 2003 server? TIA, Jarryd
Guest JohnB Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Re: Using VSS over the network > I want to be able to backup open files on WinXP desktops to a tape drive > on a Windows Server 2003 server. You can backup files on remote shares. > Is this possible? Ideally ntbackup run from server, but if not then can a > WinXP ntbackup instance connect to a remote tape drive located on a > Windows Server 2003 server? You cannot backup files to a remote drive with NTbackup. The question you're going to be asked is; why aren't the files that are on the workstations on the server. The problem you have here is; VSS is a service on the 2003. It's only going to work for local files. Not the files on the XP Desktops.
Guest Jarryd Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Re: Using VSS over the network Hi, I thought VSS was manually enabled on Volumes on Server 2003 and enabled on XP by default (there is no shadow copies tab in XP, the service just starts manually as needed). The files are on the server. The server is running out of space (email attachments are just growing and growing and GROWING). These pst files are archive stores holding mail older than one year. They do not have to be shared, and the do not have to be accessed remotely. If I can move them to the desktops then I can make use of the abundant diskspace on client machines. The only problem here is I cannot then back them up. So I guess this is not possible then? TIA, Jarryd "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:eW1fl5U0IHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> I want to be able to backup open files on WinXP desktops to a tape drive >> on a Windows Server 2003 server. > You can backup files on remote shares. > >> Is this possible? Ideally ntbackup run from server, but if not then can >> a WinXP ntbackup instance connect to a remote tape drive located on a >> Windows Server 2003 server? > You cannot backup files to a remote drive with NTbackup. > > The question you're going to be asked is; why aren't the files that are on > the workstations on the server. > The problem you have here is; VSS is a service on the 2003. It's only > going to work for local files. Not the files on the XP Desktops. >
Guest JohnB Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Re: Using VSS over the network To be honest, I didn't know XP had VSS. So I really don't know if that would work. The only way to know for sure would be to test it. But I would try and think of another solution to your disk space problem. The reason I mentioned the files would need to be in shared folders is; how else would NTbackup "see" the folders, so that you can select them to back them up(from the server)? That's one of the many problems with using PST's; getting users to close Outlook at night so that they will get backed up. At some point you're going to have to put your foot down on this issue. Have you made management aware of the added cost in supporting unlimited PST files? There's the cost of not only disk space but, your time. Disk space is cheap these days. And that is the option that I would be looking at; adding more disk space to the server. AND making sure management knows how long that takes and how much it costs. Be careful about "always" being accommodating while not showing the consequences. Demonstrate to management that you are "managing" this situation, not just pinching pennies. They also want reliable solutions. "Jarryd" <jarryd@community.nospam> wrote in message news:uTJOPSV0IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Hi, > > I thought VSS was manually enabled on Volumes on Server 2003 and enabled > on XP by default (there is no shadow copies tab in XP, the service just > starts manually as needed). The files are on the server. The server is > running out of space (email attachments are just growing and growing and > GROWING). These pst files are archive stores holding mail older than one > year. They do not have to be shared, and the do not have to be accessed > remotely. If I can move them to the desktops then I can make use of the > abundant diskspace on client machines. The only problem here is I cannot > then back them up. So I guess this is not possible then? > > TIA, > > Jarryd > > "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:eW1fl5U0IHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> I want to be able to backup open files on WinXP desktops to a tape drive >>> on a Windows Server 2003 server. >> You can backup files on remote shares. >> >>> Is this possible? Ideally ntbackup run from server, but if not then can >>> a WinXP ntbackup instance connect to a remote tape drive located on a >>> Windows Server 2003 server? >> You cannot backup files to a remote drive with NTbackup. >> >> The question you're going to be asked is; why aren't the files that are >> on the workstations on the server. >> The problem you have here is; VSS is a service on the 2003. It's only >> going to work for local files. Not the files on the XP Desktops. >> > >
Guest Jarryd Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 Re: Using VSS over the network Hi John, At the moment we have Exchange 2003 SE with a 75GB limit. Total of Exchange mailboxes and PSTs is 71GB - too close for comfort if I was to hvae all email data in the mailbox store. So all email older than one year is archived to a PST file on a network share, and these files are accessible to users via Outlook. The system as it is works fine. I get your point about unlimited PSTs and I would LOVE to simply dump data from the dark ages but they don't want to hear about it. EVERYTHING MUST STAY. Honestly, when I suggested deleting old emails I got a response from the FD claiming "Why, just the other day I had to look up a thread of email correspondence from 1997. If it wasn't available I would have lost a very important argument." You see what I am up against? Yes more space I can do. Just buy two 75GB SCSI drives in the drive cage @ £300 and configure as a mirror and we're off. It just seemed a waste a HDD space on desktops which isn't being used. If it is not a reliable backup solution, then yeah of course, I can't use it. It was just an idea, and the idea of upgrading servers that are going to be binned in +/- 4 months again seems like a waste. I am not too much of a penny pincher, but one does like to find an answer with the things at hand if it is possible. And yes, management do want reliable systems and that is why I haven't done it yet and posted my thoughts to gauge what was possible and what caveats got with it. Just exploring options is all. Thanks for your reply. Regards, Jarryd "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:ei9jsnX0IHA.416@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > To be honest, I didn't know XP had VSS. So I really don't know if that > would work. The only way to know for sure would be to test it. > > But I would try and think of another solution to your disk space problem. > The reason I mentioned the files would need to be in shared folders is; > how else would NTbackup "see" the folders, so that you can select them to > back them up(from the server)? > > That's one of the many problems with using PST's; getting users to close > Outlook at night so that they will get backed up. > > At some point you're going to have to put your foot down on this issue. > Have you made management aware of the added cost in supporting unlimited > PST files? There's the cost of not only disk space but, your time. Disk > space is cheap these days. And that is the option that I would be looking > at; adding more disk space to the server. AND making sure management > knows how long that takes and how much it costs. Be careful about > "always" being accommodating while not showing the consequences. > Demonstrate to management that you are "managing" this situation, not just > pinching pennies. They also want reliable solutions. > > > > "Jarryd" <jarryd@community.nospam> wrote in message > news:uTJOPSV0IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> Hi, >> >> I thought VSS was manually enabled on Volumes on Server 2003 and enabled >> on XP by default (there is no shadow copies tab in XP, the service just >> starts manually as needed). The files are on the server. The server is >> running out of space (email attachments are just growing and growing and >> GROWING). These pst files are archive stores holding mail older than one >> year. They do not have to be shared, and the do not have to be accessed >> remotely. If I can move them to the desktops then I can make use of the >> abundant diskspace on client machines. The only problem here is I cannot >> then back them up. So I guess this is not possible then? >> >> TIA, >> >> Jarryd >> >> "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message >> news:eW1fl5U0IHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>> I want to be able to backup open files on WinXP desktops to a tape >>>> drive on a Windows Server 2003 server. >>> You can backup files on remote shares. >>> >>>> Is this possible? Ideally ntbackup run from server, but if not then >>>> can a WinXP ntbackup instance connect to a remote tape drive located on >>>> a Windows Server 2003 server? >>> You cannot backup files to a remote drive with NTbackup. >>> >>> The question you're going to be asked is; why aren't the files that are >>> on the workstations on the server. >>> The problem you have here is; VSS is a service on the 2003. It's only >>> going to work for local files. Not the files on the XP Desktops. >>> >> >> > >
Guest JohnB Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 Re: Using VSS over the network Just giving my 2-cents on things.... but it sounds like you have a good understanding of the "big picture". "Jarryd" <jarryd@community.nospam> wrote in message news:eas6qbe0IHA.5472@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > Hi John, > > At the moment we have Exchange 2003 SE with a 75GB limit. Total of > Exchange mailboxes and PSTs is 71GB - too close for comfort if I was to > hvae all email data in the mailbox store. So all email older than one > year is archived to a PST file on a network share, and these files are > accessible to users via Outlook. The system as it is works fine. I get > your point about unlimited PSTs and I would LOVE to simply dump data from > the dark ages but they don't want to hear about it. EVERYTHING MUST STAY. > Honestly, when I suggested deleting old emails I got a response from the > FD claiming "Why, just the other day I had to look up a thread of email > correspondence from 1997. If it wasn't available I would have lost a very > important argument." You see what I am up against? > > Yes more space I can do. Just buy two 75GB SCSI drives in the drive cage > @ £300 and configure as a mirror and we're off. It just seemed a waste a > HDD space on desktops which isn't being used. If it is not a reliable > backup solution, then yeah of course, I can't use it. It was just an > idea, and the idea of upgrading servers that are going to be binned in +/- > 4 months again seems like a waste. > > I am not too much of a penny pincher, but one does like to find an answer > with the things at hand if it is possible. And yes, management do want > reliable systems and that is why I haven't done it yet and posted my > thoughts to gauge what was possible and what caveats got with it. Just > exploring options is all. > > Thanks for your reply. > > Regards, > > Jarryd > > > "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:ei9jsnX0IHA.416@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> To be honest, I didn't know XP had VSS. So I really don't know if that >> would work. The only way to know for sure would be to test it. >> >> But I would try and think of another solution to your disk space problem. >> The reason I mentioned the files would need to be in shared folders is; >> how else would NTbackup "see" the folders, so that you can select them to >> back them up(from the server)? >> >> That's one of the many problems with using PST's; getting users to close >> Outlook at night so that they will get backed up. >> >> At some point you're going to have to put your foot down on this issue. >> Have you made management aware of the added cost in supporting unlimited >> PST files? There's the cost of not only disk space but, your time. Disk >> space is cheap these days. And that is the option that I would be >> looking at; adding more disk space to the server. AND making sure >> management knows how long that takes and how much it costs. Be careful >> about "always" being accommodating while not showing the consequences. >> Demonstrate to management that you are "managing" this situation, not >> just pinching pennies. They also want reliable solutions. >> >> >> >> "Jarryd" <jarryd@community.nospam> wrote in message >> news:uTJOPSV0IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>> Hi, >>> >>> I thought VSS was manually enabled on Volumes on Server 2003 and enabled >>> on XP by default (there is no shadow copies tab in XP, the service just >>> starts manually as needed). The files are on the server. The server is >>> running out of space (email attachments are just growing and growing and >>> GROWING). These pst files are archive stores holding mail older than one >>> year. They do not have to be shared, and the do not have to be accessed >>> remotely. If I can move them to the desktops then I can make use of the >>> abundant diskspace on client machines. The only problem here is I >>> cannot then back them up. So I guess this is not possible then? >>> >>> TIA, >>> >>> Jarryd >>> >>> "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message >>> news:eW1fl5U0IHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>> I want to be able to backup open files on WinXP desktops to a tape >>>>> drive on a Windows Server 2003 server. >>>> You can backup files on remote shares. >>>> >>>>> Is this possible? Ideally ntbackup run from server, but if not then >>>>> can a WinXP ntbackup instance connect to a remote tape drive located >>>>> on a Windows Server 2003 server? >>>> You cannot backup files to a remote drive with NTbackup. >>>> >>>> The question you're going to be asked is; why aren't the files that are >>>> on the workstations on the server. >>>> The problem you have here is; VSS is a service on the 2003. It's only >>>> going to work for local files. Not the files on the XP Desktops. >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
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