Open Files Window: backing up open files

 

The Open Files Window is where you can configure setting to backup open or in-use files encountered during the backup process. BackupAssist provides two methods for backing up open files:

  1. Snapshot Technology (using Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy or the BackupAssist Advanced Open Files Add-on)
    Open files are backed up from a live snapshot of your data which is created using snapshot technology. Snapshot technology, however, cannot be used on network share volumes.
  2. Conventional File Copy (no additional software required)
    Open files that are not exclusively locked on Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and SBS are backed up by making a copy of any open files to a temporary location. The copies of open file data are then backed up from this temporary location to your backup device. This method can be also be used for backing up live data (without exclusive locks) on network shares.

Both snapshot technology and conventional file copy can be used together to ensure that you have complete open file data protection.

To access the Open Files Window:

  1. Click Jobs in the navigation bar
  2. Select the job to be edited and click Edit at the bottom of the window.
  3. Click Open files on the left menu.

Snapshot manager selection
Select an appropriate snapshot manager which is used to take a snapshot or ’picture’ of data at a particular instant in time. A backup application can then backup from this snapshot, rather than the original data files that may be open and inaccessible to backup requests.

Conventional file copy
Enable or disable Conventional File Copy to backup open files when snapshot technology is not available, or to backup open files (without exclusive locks) stored on network shares.