Mail Servers
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Stop the PowerShare mail server application before backing-up any mail data. Because the mail server is always routing messages, it is not possible to get a "snap-shot" without quitting the application. Backup all the data in the PowerShare Mail Data folder. To restore, quit the mail server application, remove all the data in PowerShare Mail data folder, restore to this folder, and restart.
Catalog Servers
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To backup a catalog server in single server environment, the server application must first be stopped. Then, all the data in the PowerShare Catalog Data folder can be backed up. To restore, bring down the server, remove the data in the PowerShare Catalog Data folder, restore to this folder, and restart.
In most multi-server environments, backup and restore can be handled via PowerShare replication services. Replication allows copies of folders to exist on many machines. As long as each folder is replicated on at least one other system, a synchronized backup is always available. If any machine is lost, the folders it manages can be replicated back onto it, when it is brought on-line.
However, if an off-site backup is required, a bit more planning is needed. For smaller systems, one catalog server must be a master catalog server maintaining all the folders. A backup of this system can be performed by stopping the catalog application and backing-up all the data in the PowerShare Catalog Data folder. In larger systems, where multiple catalog servers might have to be used to store the entire catalog, backup copies of the catalog data is needed on each machine.
If any one server goes down, use replication to bring it back on-line. If multiple servers are damaged, and one good copy of a folder is not available on any server, then the catalog must be restored onto a master server from tape. Replication can be used to update all the other servers, bringing the system back to operating level.
As long as one catalog server remains up during the backup or restore process, users have access to the system. Even when a folder is missing from a system, they can still have access to any other folder that is available on a running server.
Here are rules for backup and restore in a multi-server PowerShare environment.
1) Make sure that a copy of every folder exists on tape, another server, or both.
2) When backing-up, stop (Quit) the application. Backup the data in the PowerShare Catalog Data folder.
3) When restoring to a server that has crashed, remove all the data in the PowerShare Catalog Data folder. Restore from tape or use replication.