I'm not saying NOT to use OFS, it's available if you need it.
But I don't recommend rolling it out to all Windows systems if there is no
documented need for it.




On 1/17/08, Elana Samuels <elana AT tier1datasolutions DOT com> wrote:
>
> So how would you recommend to backup open PST files?  Unfortunately in the
> SMB space, most desktops are running Outlook and the users typically leave
> their mail open at night.
>
>
> Elana Samuels
> Tier 1 Data Solutions Inc.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf 
> Of
> Wanda Prather
> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:26 PM
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] Windows Client question...
>
> Agreed.
> I tell my customers NOT to install OFS unless they have a reason, and only
> on systems where they know what the reason is.
> It triggers a LOT of unncessary and pretty unintelligible VSS errors, and
> is
> usually doing nothing worthwhile.
>
> Look at your TSM daily reporter output on clients without OFS installed,
> check the "missed file details".  You'll find that 90% of the files that
> are
> missed are in the category of "usual suspects".  You may want to sit down
> with a Windows admin and get them to help you identify the missed files.
>
> Many will be ntuser.dat or ntuser.log files, or other parts of the user
> profile.  You rarely need backups of these unless you are backing up
> desktops, and then the profiles are included in teh backup of System
> State.
>
>
> Most of the rest will be files that are clearly identifiable as DB parts
> belonging to apps like SQL or Oracle.  OFS support does not necessarily
> give
> you good backups of a data base, because there is no interface with the DB
> journal/logs.  So even if people THINK they are getting backups this way,
> you probably shouldn't count on using them - the appropriate solution for
> DB's is using a TDP client.
>
> Once you identify the missed files, you'll usually find there is nothing
> on
> the client that needs the OFS support - exception would be a locally
> developed application.  But I still wouldn't count on OFS being the
> answer,
> until somebody explains to me how the app works and what kind of backups
> will give you appropriate restore and DR capability.  (ANd then TEST to
> make
> sure the restored version is viable.)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 1/16/08, Zoltan Forray/AC/VCU <zforray AT vcu DOT edu> wrote:
> >
> > FWIW, I don't think it has ever been installed on any of our > 200
> Windows
> > systems we backup.
> >
> > FYI, installing either of these WILL REQUIRE a reboot since it installs
> a
> > service/low-level driver.
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------
> > Zoltan Forray
> > Virginia Commonwealth University
> > Office of Technology Services
> > University Computing Center
> > e-mail: zforray AT vcu DOT edu
> > voice: 804-828-4807
> >
> >
> >
> > Ben Bullock <BBullock AT BCIDAHO DOT COM>
> > Sent by: "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
> > 01/16/2008 12:15 PM
> > Please respond to
> > "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
> >
> >
> > To
> > ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> > cc
> >
> > Subject
> > [ADSM-L] Windows Client question...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Howdy,
> >    I recently switched jobs and now am managing TSM in a mostly Windows
> > environment (instead of the Unix world where I am comfortable). A new
> > challenge... anyways....
> >
> > On the Windows TSM client, there is the option to install the "Open file
> > support" and the "Image Backup" support. Does everyone install these?
> > Does it depend on what kind of DR you might have to do on the windows
> > host? Forgive my Windows ignorance,
> >
> > I've read the manuals and it looks like the upside is the ability to
> > backup open files, but the downside I am seeing is that there seems to
> > be a lot of errors with the way it interfaces with the Windows native
> > VSS service. It also looks like if these are installed and you want to
> > upgrade the TSM client, it requires a reboot of the Windows client to
> > get it done. Nobody wants to reboot a production server to upgrade its
> > backup software.
> >
> > So what is everyone's opinion?:
> > - "The Open file support is worth the hassle and should be installed on
> > all TSM clients"
> > - "The Open file support should be installed on certain systems" (if so,
> > what is your criteria).
> > - "The open file support is to much pain and should not be installed."
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ben
> >
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