Just had a hard drive failure, and as a result also discovered our Max backup didn't work! (nice way to improve your vocabuary, let me tell you!).

Anyway, I've been backing up using MS-Backup and everything restored OK except our main Max database. It appears that it has NEVER backed up successfully. I'm not sure if this is related, but frequently (read: every time I check) in Max Administrator it shows live users in Max companies, yet everyone is off the system. In some cases a user's name can appear twice.

My theory is that Pervasive or Max is somehow failing to close some files in these instances, so MS-Backup is skipping them.

Anyway, what external backup tools & strategies are people using to back up Max data on their servers? Will Veritas work? If so, are specific modules required? What else do people have working?

FYI - We're running 8 users on a Terminal Services system using Pervasive.

TIA - R.

Best bet is to incorporate a Maximizer backup into your routine. Do a Quick Backup at the end of every day and generate another backup on another drive at the end of the week.

I've done that more or less regularly for ages and have never had a problem.

Can't tell you about any of the other backup technologies, though.

We ran a pos program utilizing the pervasive engine and they told us to wait a few minutes after closing the program in order to give enough time to close the file locks. Go figure.

We run a nightly offsite backup to NetStore, which works fine. Occasionally, e.g. once or twice a month, it reports that one or two Max files were in use, and so "snapshotted" them. As no-one is logged on at that time, I think this is due to the Pervasive engine not closing all connections correctly every time.

It is worthwhile, when you first set up a backup schedule and then every six months or so, to rename your entire Max database folder, and then to restore it. The restored version should work EXACTLY the same as your old. If not, delete it, and rename your original version to get it back, and then find out what's wrong.

- Pasta!

Pervasive has a backup tool they sell now, I have not tried it because i use the SQL product but it may be worth looking at.

http://www.pervasive.com/backupagent/

If you like or do not like it maybe tell the rest of us about it.

Many thanx, PillPopper!

I've forwarded this to our IT guys and we'll factor it into the mix. Will definitely report on what we decide to use.

Thanx again - R.