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02.13.2008 at 02:48PM PST, ID: 23161446
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What is a good backup strategy for Quickbooks Enterprise 2008
Tags: Intuit, Quickbooks, Enterprise 2008
I am wondering what a good backup strategy for Quickbooks Enterprise 2008 would be.  We have it installed on a Windows 2003 server.  The data file is on the same computer.  A user "alwayson" is always logged in to ensure that the data file is in multi-user mode shared from that computer.

While the data files are backed up every night with Windows Backup (to an external disk, then offsite) I am concerned that this backup may not be valid as the file was open when backed up.

Using the Quickbooks backup requires taking the file out of multi-user mode, and requires interactive, manual intervention.  I am looking for something that will run automatically that I can count on to be reliable.

Any recommended solutions?  Preferably ones that have been tested.
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Question Stats
Zone: Software
Question Asked By: beaugrc2007
Solution Provided By: beaugrc2007
Participating Experts: 2
Solution Grade: A
Views: 32
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02.17.2008 at 05:04PM PST, ID: 20916814

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02.18.2008 at 01:03PM PST, ID: 20923409

Rank: Guru

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02.18.2008 at 01:15PM PST, ID: 20923500

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02.18.2008 at 01:20PM PST, ID: 20923539

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02.17.2008 at 05:04PM PST, ID: 20916814
beaugrc2007
 
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02.18.2008 at 01:03PM PST, ID: 20923409

Rank: Guru

Why is the data file open at night when your backups are running? I agree that backing up the data files is a good approach to use, and is the same approach I use (with the built-in NTBACKUP) for backing up clients' Quickbooks data. I have tested this myself and it seems to be very reliable.

Ntbackup should be configured to use the Volume Shadow Copy service in order to perform the backups. (It is by default) In doing this the data files are able to be backup up whilst they are open and in use.

If you are still unsure then undoubtedly the best method to check your backup would be to restore one of your company files from last night's backup to a separate location on the hard disk, then attempt to open it in Quickbooks. Assuming everything is as it should be (i.e. how the Quickbooks users left it last night) then it would appear the NTBACKUP approach is working correctly.

It appears you have no choice but to leave it open, but if you can I would recommend you shut down the Quickbooks company file during backups - who's using it at 2am?!?!
Assisted Solution
 
02.18.2008 at 01:15PM PST, ID: 20923500
Thanks for the comments.  With the Enterprise version, the file has to be open on the server at all times in multi-user mode.  This is so when user A tries to access the file, they are using the sharing built into the Enterprise version, and not opening the file directly.  

I have confirmed that running NTBackup on the file while it is open in Multi-user mode produces a backup that it not viable.

After a long conversation with Intuit, there is no way to back up the file while it is in Multi-user mode, which means that I am going to have to manually log in to the server, put the file in single-user mode, back it up then put it back in multi-user mode.  I can't believe an enterprise product has these limitations.

I was hoping that someone else had come up with some way to get around this limitation, but it appears not.
Accepted Solution
 
02.18.2008 at 01:20PM PST, ID: 20923539

Rank: Guru

I have found when implementing Quickbooks there are all sorts of issues with what is otherwise meant to be an easy yet professional product to use. If Intuit themselves have said there aren't any ways to back the file up then I would recommend against trying to make your own solution since it may not be compatible with Quickbooks and could wreak more havoc on your Quickbooks system!
 
 
03.17.2008 at 01:19PM PDT, ID: 21145744
I've used Quickbooks Enterprise 7.0 for about 6 months now. For the first 5 months I had my server configured as just a stand alone data base manager, without the full installation of Quickbooks on the server. For the last month, I've re-configured it so that the full installation of Quickbooks now runs on the server and hosts the company files from that server. However, the point that I'd like to clarify, is that in neither case does the company file need to be open and/or logged into for other users to have access. For backup purposes, at the end of the day, I have all my users log off the company files they are working in. Then every night, my company files are reliably backed up.
 
 
 
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