TROUBLESHOOTING

Backing up the Domino server
You have two choices for backup procedures. You can use the traditional method of making backup copies of files, or you can use transaction logging.

Guidelines for backing up a Domino server

Back up all IBM® Lotus® Domino™ server data files including databases, template files, the NOTES.INI file, and ID files. Following your company's standardized backup procedures, back up files directly to tape or to a file server and then to tape. Never rely only on replication as your method of database backup. A damaged or accidentally changed database may replicate, and then your only recourse is to recover the database from a server backup tape.

Follow these guidelines to back up a Domino server:

1. Domino requires that these files be open when it runs: LOG.NSF, NAMES.NSF, MAIL.BOX and the server ID file. If your backup utility cannot back up open files, you must shut down the server before you create the backup file.

2. Copy the server ID file to a disk, and store the disk in a secure place.

3. Make a replica of the Domino Directory on a workstation and keep it up-to-date by replicating the local replica with the server replica. Then if the Domino Directory becomes corrupted, you can quickly restore it by creating a new replica from the local workstation replica. Even if you do this, continue to back up the Domino Directory to tape. Never do this when transaction logging is used.

4. If your system uses a shared mail database, back up the shared mail database(s) along with user mail files.

See also