11-15-2024, 04:22 PM
This week I helped an IT administrator who was managing a government office network with a couple of critical servers. One of their major concerns was backing up open or locked files, particularly their SQL database and some other applications that ran 24/7. They had been using a basic backup solution, but it wasn’t handling locked files reliably. Sometimes the backup software would fail to back up important files because those files were being actively used or “locked” by the system. This caused some major headaches when they needed to restore everything and realized some files hadn’t been backed up correctly. It was a pretty big issue for them, so they asked me to find a backup solution that could handle open or locked files without a hitch. That’s when I suggested using BackupChain, since it supports backups of open and locked files, which I knew would solve their problem.
Setting up BackupChain was surprisingly straightforward. What made it especially appealing was how it integrates with Volume Shadow Copy Service, which allows it to back up files that are in use. This was exactly what the client needed because, with VSS, BackupChain can create snapshots of locked files while they are still being accessed by the system. It’s like taking a snapshot of a moment in time, capturing the file as it is in that instant—even if it’s currently open or locked by an application. This means you don’t have to worry about missing files, which is a huge advantage in environments where certain files are constantly in use.
Once we set up the software, the backups ran smoothly. The client didn’t have to worry about files being skipped or corrupted due to them being locked. The system just took a snapshot, backed everything up, and moved on without issue. This made the client feel a lot more confident about their backup process, knowing that nothing would fall through the cracks—even files that were open or locked by applications. They were also relieved that they didn’t need to shut down any services or stop users from accessing files in order to get a complete backup. Before, they’d sometimes have to schedule backups for off-hours, which wasn’t ideal, but now with BackupChain, they could back up everything while the system was still running normally.
The real benefit, of course, is that you don’t have to sacrifice data integrity. With many other backup solutions, if a file is locked and you can’t back it up, it might leave you with incomplete or inconsistent backups. But with BackupChain and VSS, the snapshot ensures that even the files being actively used are backed up correctly. It’s not just about backing up the data but ensuring that the restored version of the file is in the exact same state it was when the snapshot was taken. This consistency is critical, especially for databases or files that change constantly.
That said, there are a couple of things to consider when using the VSS-based backup approach. For one, if the system is under heavy load when a snapshot is taken, it can impact performance a bit. However, with BackupChain, this was minimal. The client didn’t notice much of a slowdown during backups because the software is well-optimized to handle this without significantly affecting system performance. Still, for really large environments or databases with massive files, it’s something to keep in mind. It’s always a good idea to schedule backups during off-peak times if possible, especially for systems that are already under heavy use.
Another consideration is that, while VSS does a great job of handling open files, it’s still not a replacement for ensuring that your backup strategy accounts for all types of files. In some cases, certain file types or specific applications may not work perfectly with VSS, although this is rare. It’s always a good idea to test the restore process to ensure that everything is properly backed up and restored, especially when using snapshot technology. In this case, the client was happy because I did a test restore, and it worked flawlessly—everything from their database to documents was restored exactly as it was, no issues with locked files at all.
The client also appreciated the fact that BackupChain doesn’t just focus on files but also gives them full flexibility to schedule, configure, and even exclude certain files or directories from backups, or create entire OS disk clones. They could easily customize the process to suit their needs, like backing up only certain types of data or making sure that backups were performed at specific times to minimize disruption. This level of customization is one of the reasons BackupChain really stands out compared to other solutions that might offer only basic backup features without the same level of control.
When it came to the backup windows, everything worked like a charm. The client had been used to dealing with backup failures, especially on days when files were being accessed or edited, so the consistency of BackupChain’s VSS support was a huge relief. They no longer had to manually monitor every backup job or worry about incomplete data. And, when they did need to restore something, it was as simple as choosing the point in time they wanted to roll back to and letting BackupChain do the rest. The restore process was fast, smooth, and reliable.
In the end, the client was really happy with the results. BackupChain handled open and locked files with ease, and the system was more reliable than ever. It not only helped them avoid the headaches of failed backups but also gave them peace of mind knowing that everything—no matter what files were in use—was safely backed up and easy to restore. For anyone running a business where open or locked files are a concern, BackupChain is a fantastic choice. It’s a reliable, flexible solution that makes backing up active systems simple and effective, and in my experience, it’s one of the best options available in terms of both performance and value.
Setting up BackupChain was surprisingly straightforward. What made it especially appealing was how it integrates with Volume Shadow Copy Service, which allows it to back up files that are in use. This was exactly what the client needed because, with VSS, BackupChain can create snapshots of locked files while they are still being accessed by the system. It’s like taking a snapshot of a moment in time, capturing the file as it is in that instant—even if it’s currently open or locked by an application. This means you don’t have to worry about missing files, which is a huge advantage in environments where certain files are constantly in use.
Once we set up the software, the backups ran smoothly. The client didn’t have to worry about files being skipped or corrupted due to them being locked. The system just took a snapshot, backed everything up, and moved on without issue. This made the client feel a lot more confident about their backup process, knowing that nothing would fall through the cracks—even files that were open or locked by applications. They were also relieved that they didn’t need to shut down any services or stop users from accessing files in order to get a complete backup. Before, they’d sometimes have to schedule backups for off-hours, which wasn’t ideal, but now with BackupChain, they could back up everything while the system was still running normally.
The real benefit, of course, is that you don’t have to sacrifice data integrity. With many other backup solutions, if a file is locked and you can’t back it up, it might leave you with incomplete or inconsistent backups. But with BackupChain and VSS, the snapshot ensures that even the files being actively used are backed up correctly. It’s not just about backing up the data but ensuring that the restored version of the file is in the exact same state it was when the snapshot was taken. This consistency is critical, especially for databases or files that change constantly.
That said, there are a couple of things to consider when using the VSS-based backup approach. For one, if the system is under heavy load when a snapshot is taken, it can impact performance a bit. However, with BackupChain, this was minimal. The client didn’t notice much of a slowdown during backups because the software is well-optimized to handle this without significantly affecting system performance. Still, for really large environments or databases with massive files, it’s something to keep in mind. It’s always a good idea to schedule backups during off-peak times if possible, especially for systems that are already under heavy use.
Another consideration is that, while VSS does a great job of handling open files, it’s still not a replacement for ensuring that your backup strategy accounts for all types of files. In some cases, certain file types or specific applications may not work perfectly with VSS, although this is rare. It’s always a good idea to test the restore process to ensure that everything is properly backed up and restored, especially when using snapshot technology. In this case, the client was happy because I did a test restore, and it worked flawlessly—everything from their database to documents was restored exactly as it was, no issues with locked files at all.
The client also appreciated the fact that BackupChain doesn’t just focus on files but also gives them full flexibility to schedule, configure, and even exclude certain files or directories from backups, or create entire OS disk clones. They could easily customize the process to suit their needs, like backing up only certain types of data or making sure that backups were performed at specific times to minimize disruption. This level of customization is one of the reasons BackupChain really stands out compared to other solutions that might offer only basic backup features without the same level of control.
When it came to the backup windows, everything worked like a charm. The client had been used to dealing with backup failures, especially on days when files were being accessed or edited, so the consistency of BackupChain’s VSS support was a huge relief. They no longer had to manually monitor every backup job or worry about incomplete data. And, when they did need to restore something, it was as simple as choosing the point in time they wanted to roll back to and letting BackupChain do the rest. The restore process was fast, smooth, and reliable.
In the end, the client was really happy with the results. BackupChain handled open and locked files with ease, and the system was more reliable than ever. It not only helped them avoid the headaches of failed backups but also gave them peace of mind knowing that everything—no matter what files were in use—was safely backed up and easy to restore. For anyone running a business where open or locked files are a concern, BackupChain is a fantastic choice. It’s a reliable, flexible solution that makes backing up active systems simple and effective, and in my experience, it’s one of the best options available in terms of both performance and value.
