Keeping mail on servers

G

Gene Rayburn

As part of my backup plan in case of database corruption, I turned the
feature on to keep emails stored on the server for seven days before
they are deleted. In case the database were to go south, I could
restore to the last week's Entourage archive and then redownload the
emails that arrived within the week (and then at the end of that week I
will make the new Entourage archive for the next week).

Hopefully I haven't confused you too much, and if I haven't then my
question is: Will this setup work? My main doubt is whether or not
Entourage will redownload the emails off the server if I were to back
up to the archive. Does Entourage detect what emails it has in its
database and then download whichever ones on the server it doesn't
have? And finally, is this seven day count based off the time received
(by the server) or from when it is downloaded by Entourage onto my
computer?

Thanks
 
D

Diane Ross

As part of my backup plan in case of database corruption, I turned the
feature on to keep emails stored on the server for seven days before
they are deleted. In case the database were to go south, I could
restore to the last week's Entourage archive and then redownload the
emails that arrived within the week (and then at the end of that week I
will make the new Entourage archive for the next week).

Hopefully I haven't confused you too much, and if I haven't then my
question is: Will this setup work? My main doubt is whether or not
Entourage will redownload the emails off the server if I were to back
up to the archive. Does Entourage detect what emails it has in its
database and then download whichever ones on the server it doesn't
have?
Click to expand...


It's a good plan. Your backup archive does not know you downloaded the
messages so yes, Entourage will download them again. You can always select
in the Accounts Options tab to download all messages left on the server.

The only flaw that I see is your archives could be corrupt so you will be
downloading to a database that will fail again. In this situation, you need
to keep an archive monthly so you could revert back to find a good database.
As you know database corruption can be present without causing significant
damage for some time. This is why you need to keep multiple backups.

I find that the .rge files are good at indicating problems. If there is
damage, the export to .rge file will fail. There is also a script to export
folders that fails when there is damage.

<http://scriptbuilders.net/files/exportfolders1.1.html>

Personally, I keep duplicates of my Identity folder plus I export as an
Entourage archive (.rge files). I do this on a regular basis and keep at
least one backup every month.
And finally, is this seven day count based off the time received
(by the server) or from when it is downloaded by Entourage onto my
computer?
Click to expand...

Not sure about this, but from the way you are doing this, it should be OK.

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
The Entourage Blog lists the EHP as one of the top five Microsoft Entourage
resources.
<http://blogs.msdn.com/entourage/>
 
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