Welcome to the Retrospect Event Handler for the AppleShare IP Mail Server
This note comes with a special version of the Retrospect Event Handler, an AppleScript application that communicates with Retrospect. This Event Handler enables Retrospect to back up the entire AppleShare IP server, including the AppleShare IP Mail database.
This note is divided into the following sections:
1. Background: Backing up the AppleShare IP Mail Database
2. Installation
3. Configuring Retrospect
4. Restoring your server
5. Contacting Dantz
1. Background: Backing up the AppleShare IP Mail Database
Apple recommends stopping the AppleShare IP Mail Server before backing up the AppleShare IP Mail Database. The Retrospect Event Handler will shut down the Mail Server automatically and let Retrospect duplicate the Mail Database folder, creating a complete, inactive copy. This copy can then be backed up by other Retrospect scripts even when the Mail Server is running. For more information on how to maintain the AppleShare IP Mail Database refer to the AppleShare IP Manual.
2. Installation
The Retrospect Event Handler requires Retrospect 3.0A or later. Retrospect, award-winning backup software by Dantz Development, is bundled with many Apple Servers.
Put the Retrospect Event Handler in the Retrospect folder of your Preferences folder. Double-click the Retrospect Event Handler to launch it, then Quit. The Retrospect Event Handler will launch automatically every time Retrospect launches.
3. Configuring Retrospect
When Retrospect begins to execute any script named “Mail Backup”, the Retrospect Event Handler is triggered. The Retrospect Event Handler shuts down the AppleShare IP Mail Server, and then lets the “Mail Backup” script proceed. After the script has finished the Retrospect Event Handler relaunches the Mail Server.
To use the Retrospect Event Handler, create a new folder named “AppleShare IP Mail Backup” on the AppleShare IP Server. Define both this folder and the active AppleShare IP Mail Folder as Subvolumes in Retrospect, and create a Retrospect Duplicate script named “Mail Backup” that duplicates the Server's Mail Folder to the “AppleShare IP Mail Backup” folder. Schedule the duplicate script to start earlier than your regular backup scripts. Your regular scripts must also contain a custom selector that excludes the active AppleShare IP Mail Folder:
If you'd like to change the name of the script that triggers the Retrospect Event Handler, run the Retrospect Event Handler and choose Edit Script from the Edit menu. Change the text of the property scriptName definition between the quote marks to the desired name, and save the Retrospect Event Handler.
4. Restoring your server
The Retrospect User's Guide contains instructions on restoring AppleShare servers. After completing both the first Restore for Files and the second Restore for Privileges for an AppleShare IP server, create a new folder named “AppleShare IP Mail Folder” at the root level of the hard drive if there isn't already one there. Move the backup copy of the AppleShare IP Mail Database from the restored “AppleShare IP Mail Backup” folder to the “AppleShare IP Mail Folder”. If necessary, click OK to replace any existing copy of the AppleShare IP Mail Database and start the AppleShare IP Mail Server.
