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Desktop and Laptop Option PST Backup Methods

Article: 100028633
Last Published: 2018-05-10
Ratings: 0 0
Product(s): Desktop Laptop Option

Problem

How to determine the best method to backup Outlook PST files with Desktop and Laptop Option (DLO)?

Solution

Advantages of VSS-based Backups

Desktop and Laptop Developers have conducted numerous tests and have observed that VSS-based backups are the most robust of all available modes of backups for PST files. VSS not only overcomes the limitations of MAPI or Non-MAPI, but also enables to save optimum disk space.
File Management
In MAPI-based backups, especially large PST files, there is a possibility of PST files being corrupted, which is due to a technical limitation in the way MAPI backups are managed. VSS ensures data consistency at all times and the instances of files getting corrupt while being backed up are negligible.
Usage of Space
In VSS-based backups, the amount of space used by the PST files is minimal in the Network User Data Folder (NUDF). MS Outlook 2010 compresses PST files, sometimes at the ratio of 100:1, that is, 100 MB of mail messages are compressed to 1 MB on a PST file (on disk).
On the other hand, MAPI and Non-MAPI-based backups are incremental backups, and so the files are not compressed but every mail that is added is backed up, and the size of the file on NUDF would be close to 100 MB.
However, as VSS takes a snapshot of the backup selection folder (volume), only the compressed PST file is identified (that is 1 MB in size), and delta is computed on this 1 MB file, which is then copied to the NUDF.
In a realistic environment, a ratio of 100:1 is difficult to attain when there are a few duplicate mails. If VSS is used, then a compression ratio of 3:2 (that is, 3 MB to 2 MB) or 5:4 (5 MB to 4 MB) would significantly reduce the space consumption by 33.33% and 20% respectively. This optimum usage of space in a large environment could easily convert to Terabytes of space savings.
Conclusion
VSS option is tested and proven as the best available option to back up PST files, and is the recommend method for protecting PST files.
VSS backups can be slower than MAPI based backups see related article 100030817 for info on speeding up VSS PST Backups.
 

 

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