Using SnapManager Backup

Ways to access SnapManager Backup

You can access SnapManager Backup in two ways:

From the SnapManager Backup Wizard in the SnapManager interface
From the SnapManager Backup tab in the SnapManager interface

Requirements for running SnapManager Backup

To run SnapManager Backup

You must have administrator rights on the Domino server.
You must have administrator rights on the filer.
Caution
In some instances of Domino server 5.0.11, you might get a notice that nlogasio.exe is launched in a DOS console window reporting Transaction Logging messages similar to the following:
"Found archived extent #### to rename, not in active array."
and/or
"Could not find available archived extent."
When this error is generated new extents are being created and archived ones are not being reused. Closing the window might result in a server crash.
This console does not affect the server as long as the window is open. Closing the DOS window can place the server in a hang condition.
SnapManager online backups should not be scheduled during the same time as a scheduled Domino compact (ncompact.exe). Databases that are being compacted cause the online backup process to fail. Please check your Domino server's program documents, and the notes.ini to ensure that both events do not occur at the same time.

Backing up the Data directory for the first time

At the end of the Data directory and transaction log migration process, SnapManager prompts you to restart your Domino server to commit the changes in the migration path to your Domino server. Network Appliance recommends that you take an immediate snapshot of the Domino Data directory after you verify that the migration was successful.

Managing the snapshot limit during backups

The maximum number of snapshots you can keep online is 31. SnapManager Backup fails if you already saved 31 snapshots of the Data directory on disk (that is, if you have completed 31 SnapManager Backups and does not remove any of the resulting snapshots). Snapshots not created by SnapManager also factor into the snapshot count.

You can specify the number of snapshots to retain using the "Delete Oldest Snapshots in Excess Of #" field. When the "Delete Oldest Snapshots in Excess Of #" field is enabled, SnapManager Backup deletes older snapshots that exceed the number you want to preserve.

Note
If you reach the snapshot limit of 31 on the filer volume, there is no way to delete the snapshot through SnapManager. In this case only, delete the snapshot either through the filer console or using SnapDrive.

Note
In an online Domino environment, snapshots should only be taken using the SnapManager application. Taking snapshots from the filer console or SnapDrive is not supported and results in an inconsistent snapshot image of the online Data directory and transaction logs. However, you can use SnapDrive or the filer console to take snapshots of Domino Data directory and transaction logs that are offline.

Frequency of backups

You do not have to perform multiple SnapManager backups every day, but the more you do, the fewer Domino transaction logs need to be played forward at restore time. At a minimum, you should perform one SnapManager backup and backup set verification every 24 hours.