Backup ACT (Automating ACT Backups)

there are several ways how a act Database can/should be saved, so you do not loose any data in the case of a worst case scenario

1 . the standard is the ACT Backup,

+ Easy way how to make a backup
+ Easy to Restore
– can only make backups on the local Drives of the server
 – will not inform you Proactive if a backup fails (only Act16 & Act 17 can inform you via mail)

2. if you have a Server Backup Like symantec including SQL you need to run the following Batch before / after the backup
REM – Change these SET Parameters as appropriate for your system 

REM – Stop ACT SQL Service 
NET STOP SQLAGENT$ACT7 
NET STOP MSSQL$ACT7 
REM 
REM – Perform backup
REM 
REM – Restart ACT SQL Service 
NET START MSSQL$ACT7 
NET START SQLAGENT$ACT7 
END 

+ Backup is done by your standard Backup system
– it is more complicated to restore the database, and needs more SQL Knowhow 

3. if you would like to have a backup on a other drive or location we offer the product service-it that is doing the backup via ftp, so it can copy the database to any NAS or server (i.e. at your hosting location) , Service-IT will also send you a mail on completion or failure of the backup job.
+ the restore is a Standard Act process
+ you get informed if there are any issues (service not runing, out of space, User/password not working)
+ other use full features are included

• like cleaning up your History, 
• sorting your attachments (speeds up act)
• Bounced email handling

4. Backup via VMWARE Snap-shot
Making a standard Snapshot via VMWARE is not ensuring that the database is 100% safe 
to ensure you have the database working your Snapshot tool needs to run a Quiesce and a Log Truncation we recomend this solution as it is a free solution, and we can help you with the setup