rsync to 2000/NT servers?

[Dr. Poo]

That's actaully a good idea! and sooo simple. right? Just sync (backup) the 
important and functional data... not the whole OS..because EVERYONE has the 
original copy of the windows software used when the software was 
installed.... Which all that can then be restored if need be. DUH! and the 
data (configurations, customizations, user stuff, ect) can be restored then 
by means of the sync.

	Thanks a bundle,
	-Chris

On Friday 13 December 2002 05:30 pm, Steve Mallett wrote:
> Craig Barratt wrote:
> >>Watch out for pagefile.sys (i think!)... it's won't copy. (let me know
> >> about any other's)
> >
> > Most important files won't copy.  The registry files are locked and
> > can't be read by rsync/cygin (nor are they served by smb).
> >
> > Similarly, the outlook.pst file used by Outlook (which contains all
> > the email, attachments, calendar and address book info of an outlook
> > user) is locked whenever outlook is open (which is most of the time).
> > Exchange databases, SQL databases will be locked too.  Any file open
> > by a windows app is likely locked too.
> >
> > So you can get 99% of the files, but the 1% you miss are the most
> > critical.
> >
> >>Now, can you think of a way to sync the win 2000 OS? (the WHOLE flippin'
> >>system) so that if it were to go down one could restore the full
> >> installation (bootstraps, bootloader, ect!!?) by means of the rsync'ed
> >> "backup". please? thank you. ;-)
> >
> > I wish this was possible, but I don't know how to do this.
> > Commercial products use an OFM (open file manager) to allow
> > locked files to be accessed.  Products are sold by companies
> > like St. Bernard or Columbia Data Products.  Apparently Veritas and
> > Legato bundle this product with their commercial backup products.
> >
> > See for example
> >
> >     http://www.stbernard.com/products/docs/ofm_whitepaperV8.pdf
> >
> > What we need is an open source OFM that is compatible with rsync.
> > Then bare-metal WinXX recovery would be possible.
> >
> > Craig
>
> I'm thinking more along the lines of those files that someone wanted
> backed up being put in a file for a scheduled backup rather than ssh'ing
> in and getting them directly.
>
> Steve Mallett