Unity Backup - how to get a good full backup

[dori.griffith]

We are looking for good backup procedures for Unity.

If you want to get a full backup - configuration and messages - for Unity, can you do a cold backup once a month or so? We're thinking about shutting down Unity in the middle of the night and using Veritas to capture the backup. Is that the best way to do it?

I saw a few posts about ghosting. We have a large user base (1000+). Can we ghost a spare hard drive and get a full backup?

We can use DIRT for remote sites because they are much smaller but DIRT doesn't seem like the best solution for a system our size.

Advice please?

Thanks.

D

[Hin Lee]

I know this does not answer you question directly but I think it's important that you review this doc:

Backing Up and Restoring a Cisco Unity System, Versions 4.0(1) Through 4.0(3)

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/voicesw/ps2237/products_white_paper09186a00801f4ba7.shtml

[dori.griffith]

Thanks. I have seen that document and scanned it for information but my boss is still trying to find out if we can ghost (for sure) and do cold backups.

Thanks.

[Hin Lee]

With Veritas Exchange and SQL agents, you should be able to backup the entire server while Unity is running.

I realize that this is slightly off-topic but the information still applies:

Veritas Backup and Restore for Cisco Unity (3.1.5, 4.0) on the ICS7750

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/voiceapp/ps967/products_tech_note09186a008011a978.shtml

If you are considering DiRT, and you think 1000 subscribers is a problem, I have to ask if exchange is offbox. If it is, DiRT for the Unity server will be relatively quick if DiRT didn't have to backup the mailboxes.

As for Ghost, TAC does not support it and you will not find a doc on CCO that reads that it is supported. As such, consider this option carefully.