Mac Lion email server network backup

[kmcclure]

I have a client who asked me to set up a Lion email server for 20 users all over the world. It is running open directory for the user accounts and has a wiki set up on it as well. I have been researching backup solutions for it. The server runs in a remote data center environment and it is the only mac on the network. There are other Linux and windows machines on the same network as well. I would like a backup solution for the email and open directory database that doesn't require stopping the email service (if possible), and I would like to back up over the network (if possible).

What would be the best way to back up this server considering it needs to be in service 24/7? I am open to both free and commercial solutions. Any thoughts or comments would be very much appreciated.

 

[kmcclure]

How to backup a Mac Lion over the network

I have a client who asked me to set up a Lion email server for 20 users all over the world. It is running open directory for the user accounts and has a wiki set up on it as well. I have been researching backup solutions for it. The server runs in a remote data center environment and it is the only mac on the network. There are other Linux and windows machines on the same network as well. I would like a backup solution for the email and open directory database that doesn't require stopping the email service (if possible), and I would like to back up over the network (if possible).

What would be the best way to back up this server considering it needs to be in service 24/7? I am open to both free and commercial solutions. Any thoughts or comments would be very much appreciated.

Does anyone have a network backup for a production Mac server? If so, I would like to hear what solution was implemented. Thanks!

 

[matspekkie]

There are several options here and even combinations. The simplest would be to add an backup drive to the server and set timemachine to do the backup and just exclude what you don't need. Another option is to use an iscsi device and set an volume as a timemachine backup or you could go with a commercial product like retrospect http://www.retrospect.com/products/mac
As far as my knowledge timemachine does not interrupt email services etc.