Can Anyone Recommend Backup Software for Outlook?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter D
  • Start date Start date
P

Peter D

There's lots out there that will backup, restore, copy, migrate, etc. All
good stuff. But here's the kicker - it has to backup while Outlook is open.
If it can backup over a network as well, that would be sweet. All I've been
able to find that can do the job and is reliable is the Veritas product at a
whopping $800 US. Too rich at that price.

Any suggestions welcomed.
 
Peter D said:
There's lots out there that will backup, restore, copy, migrate, etc. All
good stuff. But here's the kicker - it has to backup while Outlook is
open. If it can backup over a network as well, that would be sweet. All
I've been able to find that can do the job and is reliable is the Veritas
product at a whopping $800 US. Too rich at that price.

Any suggestions welcomed.
Click to expand...

Where is your mail store? What format?

-Frank
 
Where is your mail store? What format?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. If you mean where is the PST,
etc. It's on the local HD.

The workstations are networked, so the thought is to regularly backup to the
server across the network or to a locla folder and then use a batch file or
local backup routine to copy to the server at intervals.
 
Peter D said:
There's lots out there that will backup, restore, copy, migrate,
etc. All good stuff. But here's the kicker - it has to backup while
Outlook is open.
Click to expand...

Not possible if you use a PST. As long as OUtlook is running the PST is
opened for exclusive read/write access and no backup program can reliably
make a copy of any file opened that way.
 
Hello,

Try using Mobiliti's(www.mobiliti.com) product Continuity@work. It is
designed to backup outlook pst files even when they are open. The first
time backup has to be a closed pst full copy. Next time onwards you can
leave the pst open and it will do an incremental backup. You can
download a free trial copy from their website. Its easy to setup and
use and comes with loads of good features.

Good luck!
 
Hi Peter,
It may be simpler to create a personal archive folder that is stored on the
server (or remote machine on your network if you don't use a server)
Its all controlled by your archive settings.
 
jaf said:
Hi Peter,
It may be simpler to create a personal archive folder that is stored on
the server (or remote machine on your network if you don't use a server)
Its all controlled by your archive settings.
Click to expand...

I thought of that, but there are two issues:

1) I haven't field-tested it,but I recall there was a problem backing up an
"in use" PST file even if it was on the server. I can fiddle with the file
settings, but the PST backup becomes corrupted (makes sense if Outlook
writes to the original while it's being copied) making it useless.

2) I've heard there are reliability issues with Outlook PSTs over a network,
that they can become corrupted (even if not backing them up). I've not found
any hard evidence -- or any explanation that makes sense! -- but I'm not
willing to take the risk with a PST that could exceed 500M of data.

Essentially, the backup software has to be able to handle backing up a file
with record/field locking. It's much like backing up an open database. The
backup software has to be able to let the database software know it is
copying that part of the database and not to change it until it's finished.
 
Where is your mail store? What format?
I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. If you mean where is the
PST, etc. It's on the local HD.
Click to expand...

Well, I was asking if your server was Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or whatever. If
you are using a PST file your server is using POP3.
The workstations are networked, so the thought is to regularly backup to
the server across the network or to a locla folder and then use a batch
file or local backup routine to copy to the server at intervals.
Click to expand...

Well, it doesn't sound like you want to backup a server. You want to backup
your PST mail store. Outlook is a client, not a server.

As others have pointed out, normally you cannot backup a PST file if it is
in use. However, some of the third party suggestions sound interesting.
I've never tried any of 'em myself. I just copy the PST while it is not in
use for a backup.

-Frank
 
Frankster said:
Well, I was asking if your server was Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or whatever.
If you are using a PST file your server is using POP3.


Well, it doesn't sound like you want to backup a server.
Click to expand...

Quite (I didn't say I did)
You want to backup your PST mail store.
Click to expand...

Quite. I did say that I did -- though I didn't use the term "mail store".
Outlook is a client, not a server.
Click to expand...

Quite. Though a distinction that doesn't seem to provide anything useful.
:-)
 
Peter, here is your initial post to which I responded... see comments in
line...

-------------
There's lots out there that will backup, restore, copy, migrate, etc. All
good stuff. But here's the kicker - it has to backup while Outlook is open.
If it can backup over a network as well, that would be sweet. All I've been
able to find that can do the job and is reliable is the Veritas product at a
whopping $800 US. Too rich at that price.

Any suggestions welcomed.
---------------
Quite (I didn't say I did)
Click to expand...

You message tittle said specifically that you wanted backup software for
Outlook. You never said exactly what you wanted to backup. Could have been
Outlook itself. If you want to backup your mailbox, the methods differ
depending on what type of mailbox you have. I don't care if you call it a
mail store or a mailbox or whatever. But calling it Outlook doesn't work.
Quite. I did say that I did
Click to expand...

No Peter, you did not.
Quite. Though a distinction that doesn't seem to provide anything useful.
:-)
Click to expand...

You might want to read the subject of your post again and see if you can
tell what it says you want to backup.

Also, I took your "Any suggestions welcomed" literally. Shouldn't I have?

-Frank
 
Dear Frank
My apoligies if my somewhat tongue in cheek response offended. It was
unintentional. I realize I could have worded the subject line better, but in
my small defnese others understood what I meant. I'll work on trying to be
clearer in the future. I didn't understand your first response and the term
"mail store" wasn't understood by me. Regardless, I do appreciate all the
input received and it looks like the mobilit product will do the job. I'll
let people know how things progress with this product so others can benefit
from my experiences.
 
Peter D said:
Dear Frank
My apoligies if my somewhat tongue in cheek response offended. It was
unintentional. I realize I could have worded the subject line better, but
in my small defnese others understood what I meant. I'll work on trying to
be clearer in the future. I didn't understand your first response and the
term "mail store" wasn't understood by me. Regardless, I do appreciate all
the input received and it looks like the mobilit product will do the job.
I'll let people know how things progress with this product so others can
benefit from my experiences.
Click to expand...

I'm glad that you found something that will work. My questions were designed
to ferret out the information you ultimately provided in your responses
(i.e. PST file). No problem.

-Frank
 
Back
Top