Backing up your ASIP Mail Database

This page describes an AppleScript applet that backs up your Mail Database and the Users & Groups File. The primary purpose of this script is so that when the server is backed up (usually by Retrospect), clean copies of the file will be backed up instead ones that are in use and may not be in a restorable state.

(These instructions assume you are using Retrospect because let's face it, there isn't anything else out there!)

System Requirements

• AppleShare IP
  • Version 5 or 6 should work, but has only been tested on 6.1
• AppleScript
• Jon's Commands Scripting Addition
  • This is necessary because we are going to be copying the Users & Groups Data File. AppleScript is "blind" to this file due to security reasons.
• Backup Mail Files applet
• A timed launching system.
  • MacAT or cron work fairly well. There may be others.

Setup

You need to teach the applet where the 3 principal items are:

• - The folder you want to the files backed up to.
  • I suggest making a folder called "Backup Mail DB"
• - The Mail database file you want backed up.
• - The Users & Groups Data File
  • The applet only stores the name of this file in case it is localized. It will always go to the current preferences folder of the current startup disk.

You do this by dragging these items onto the applet. Through the magic of persistence, it will remember where these files are when it comes time to run.

Be aware that if you open up the script with Script Editor it is very likely that the values you gave it to remember will have been lost. You will then need to teach the applet where your items are again in order for it to run properly.

Usage

Setup your scheduling program to launch this applet with enough time before your Retropsect backup script starts to duplicate your mail database file. 15 minutes is usually a good number for moderately sized files and nominal servers and disk speeds. You may need to adjust this time based on your server conditions.

Written by Brian Blood

Version History

v. 1.0 - First release

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