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Creating a Backup of Archive Store Database

Author: Timothy Parker Updated

Overview

This article describes the process of creating a backup of an Archive Store. Depending on the type of Database in use different Archive stores will require different levels of backup. The directions will back up the: 

  • Archived email metadata
  • Compressed email binary source
  • Search index entries

Prerequisites

For SQL Based databases SQL Management Studio is required

Solution

Current Archive Store

NOTE: If making a backup of the currently in use database follow these steps first to disable new mail from being added while in the backup process. 

  1. Open the Archiver Console
  2. Navigate to Configuration > Mail Servers to Archive
  3. Disable all data sources under [Configuration > Mail Servers to Archive]
  4. Wait until all items from the data sources (journal mailboxes) have been downloaded and processed
    • Wait until the following folders on disk are empty:
      • ..\GFI\Archiver\Core\Pickup
      • ..\GFI\Archiver\Core\Queue
      • ..\GFI\Archiver\MAIS\Pickup
      • ..\GFI\Archiver\MAIS\Queue
  5. After performing the steps below, return to Configuration > Mail Servers to Archive and re-enable the sources to restore the flow of mail from the Journal mailbox to the Archive Stores. 
    • NOTE: Restoring the data sources should only be done if you are continuing to use the same server. If this backup is being performed to move to another server, do not re-enable the data source on the original server.

 

Match the database type in use to the steps below for the type in use. Follow the steps detailed below to back up an Archive Store.

SQL Server

NOTE: All variants, Express, Full, with/without File Storage

  1. From GFI Archiver, navigate to Configuration > Archive Stores.
  2. Select s20.png
  3. Take note of the following information for quick reference:
    • Server
    • Database
    • The path to email binary source (if in use)
    • The path to the search index
      NOTE      : Move the pointer over the path to view the full path.
  4. Launch the Services Management Console by navigating to Start > Run and type services.msc.
  5. Stop all GFI Archiver services.
  6. Using the paths determined in step 2, back up the Archive Stores’ email binary source and search index, either by manually copying and pasting the folders or by using a backup utility.
  7. From the Microsoft® SQL Server, launch the Microsoft® SQL Server Management Studio and back up the database noted in step 2. To back up a database, right-click on the database and select Tasks > Back up…
    s21.png
    NOTE: A maintenance plan can be created in Microsoft® SQL Server to schedule periodic backups of the archive database. For more details visit Creating Maintenance Plan for Microsoft SQL Database.
  8. Return to the GFI Archiver server and, from the Services Management Console, restart all GFI Archiver services.

 

Firebird

NOTE: Should be used for Evaluation Purposes only

  1. From GFI Archiver, navigate to Configuration > Archive Stores.
  2. Select s19.png
  3. Store the following paths for quick reference:
    • Path to Firebird database
    • Path to Email Binary Source
    • Path to Search Index
      NOTE: Move pointer over the path to view the full path.
  4. Launch the Services Management Console by navigating to Start > Run and type services.msc
  5. Stop all GFI Archiver services.
  6. Using the paths determined in step 2, back up the Archive Stores’ database file, binary files, and search indexes, either by manually copying and pasting the files in a backup location or by using a backup utility.
  7. From the Services Management Console, start all GFI Archiver services.

 

Testing

After the steps above have been taken you should have a copy of the files ready to be moved, in most cases to another server to be restored and used again. Verify the files exist in the location you manually backed them up to, or within your backup utility.