Kerio Connect supports back-up of the following items:
user mailboxes,
public folders,
mailing lists,
the
users.cfgandmailserver.cfgconfiguration files,licenses,
SSL certificates,
SpamAssassin database.
For these purposes, any removable or network disk can be used.
Backups of user folders include various settings. To configure backups, go to the Backup tab under :
- Enable message store and configuration recovery backup...
This option allows backup and its configuration.
If you do not wish to use Kerio Connect's backup functions, disable the Enable message store and recovery backup option. If you remove all items in the backup schedule and leave the option active, the default backup schedule is downloaded and applied upon the next restart of Kerio Connect.
On the Backup tab, backups can be scheduled in details. Two backup types can be scheduled:
Full backup — full backup of all files.
Differential backup — a partial backup, including all new files and files changed since the last backup. These backups are not so bulky. Typically, partial backups complement a full backup. If multiple differential backups in row are scheduled, the newest backup always rewrites the previous one. This means that at most one differential backup can be saved on the backup disk besides the full backup.
Note
If the method of differential backups is used, the most recent full and differential should be used in case that a backup recovery is performed.
The backup schedule is defined by backup tasks. Each task includes settings for time when the particular backup will be performed and selection of a backup type (see above). To add a new backup task to the schedule, click . A backup schedule definition window is opened (see figure 15.4 A backup task) that includes the following setting options:
- Description
This is an optional item, it is used for better reference.
- Schedule
The box includes two entries where day and time are selected for the backup. It is recommended to perform backups at night (especially full backups) since backups might overload the mailserver.
- Backup type
Selection of either the full or differential backup type.
The button opens a definition of a new backup task. You can also click the button to edit a corresponding task or to remove a task from the schedule.
Both backup types can be combined by using multiple tasks. Any number of backup tasks can be defined. This depends on the user. Number of backup tasks may depend on:
Size of the data store which influences how long each backup takes and on its size. Both problems might be easily solved by using differential backups.
Importance of data which might be lost. This implies that backups are typically more frequent in companies where email communication and message storing is important. If backups are performed frequently, minimum of data is lost in case of the server's failure.
Click for advanced settings (see figure 15.5 Backup advanced options):
- File settings
Backups are saved in compressed files (
.zip) where the maximal size of 2 GB is allowed. This box allows you to split the backup to several files of smaller size. The maximal file size for splitting is set to 2 GB by default. If a file exceeds the value set in the dialog, the file is not backed up.- Rotation
Each backup of user folders is very space-demanding and it might be desirable to often remove these backups. It is possible to set rotation where old backups are removed automatically. Just specify number of backups to be kept in the Keep at most ... complete backups. Whenever the number is exceeded, the oldest backup is rewritten by the new one.
- Backup directory
The full path to the backup directory (in accordance with conventions of the operating system on which Kerio Connect is running).
Enter the path in the text field or select it upon clicking on .
The default backup store is in the directory where Kerio Connect is installed:
Kerio\MailServer\store\backupWarning
It is recommended to change the backup directory by setting the path to the corresponding removable disk or another media where the backup will be stored if available.
Warning
Make sure that there is enough space in the backup storage directory (minimum 4GB) — if space is lacked, backup will not be performed.
If Kerio Connect is running on Windows, the path must be specified as UNC (see figure 15.6 Backup directory specification).
If Kerio Connect is running on Linux or Mac OS X, the following options are allowed:
Connect the backup server as a directory and specify the path to this directory in the Backup Directory entry. Here is an example of a result:
/mnt/server-backupSave the backup in a local directory and then, send it to the server (e.g. by using the
rsyncsynchronization utility). Here is an example of a result:/backup/kms/backup
- Network disk authentication
In addition to saving backups to removable media it is also possible to store save backups to a network disk. If access to the disk is secured, authentication by username and password must be enabled (a user with access rights to the network location must be used).
Username and password for authentication to the network disk can be used only if Kerio Connect is installed on MS Windows.
- Warning
Specify an email address where notifications about the backup status will be sent by Kerio Connect.
In addition to backups set in the schedule, it is also possible to make so called backup copies. The copy is a kind of full backup. The copy can be enabled by the button. The current status of the backup process appears next to the button. In case of a backup recovery, the copy is considered as a standard full backup and it is used for the recovery if it is the most recent copy performed.
For cases when a problem regarding backups occurs and needs to be solved, Kerio Connect allows logging of backups:
Go to section Logs and select Debug.
Right-click on the log pane to open a context menu, and select Messages.
In the Logging messages dialog box, select Store Backup.
Confirm changes by OK.
Once your problems are solved, it is recommended to disable the logging.