Backup and Recovery Guidelines for Index Server Catalog (247093)

MORE INFORMATION

Before you attempt to back up an Index Server catalog, please note the following:

• Do not run antivirus programs while Index Server is running, or when you back up the Index Server catalog.
• Index Server, antivirus programs, and backup programs all use the Windows NT file notification system. When new or modified files are entered into the directory file system, Windows NT detects the changes and alerts programs through the file notification system. Index Server uses these alerts to determine when to add or re-filter documents for the catalog.
• A contention situation can occur in one of the following ways:
  
  
  • When antivirus programs or backup programs are also using the alerts, and locks the file handles to these new or modified files, Index Server fails to filter the file, and therefore, fails to add the files to the catalog.
  • If Index Server locks the file handles before the antivirus program or backup program, then the file is filtered and added to the catalog. The catalog is then modified and the file notification system detects the change in the catalog. An alert is sent, and the antivirus program or backup program can lock the file handles for the catalog. If a service other than Index Server locks the catalog, when Index Server attempts to write updates to the catalog, it fails. This can cause the catalog not to update and possible catalog corruption.
• If an antivirus program is absolutely required, configure it to exclude the documents where Index Server is filtering, and to exclude the Catalog.wci directory where the catalog resides.
• An alternative may be available if the antivirus program allows specific configuration for the scanning of incoming and outgoing files. Disabling the scanning of outgoing files may resolve issues with file-handle locking and Index Server contention.

Backup

1. Open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), and then select the Index Server snap-in.
2. Right-click the Index Server snap-in, and then click Stop to stop the Index Server service.
3. Determine the location of the Catalog.wci directory that corresponds to the catalog you want to back up. Right-click the catalog name, and then click Properties. The resulting dialog box displays the location of the Catalog.wci directory.
4. Run a backup program that can be configured to include the entire contents of the Catalog.wci directory.
5. When the backup is complete, restart Index Server.

NOTE: You can issue command-line statements to stop and restart the Index Server service. This can be useful if the backup program scheduler permits command-line instructions before and after the backup. For example, the syntax to stop and start the Index Server service is net stop cisvc and net start cisvc.

Recovery

In the case of catalog corruption, extending storage capacity, or moving the catalog to a new volume, please follow these steps to restore a backup of the catalog:

1. Open the MMC, and then select the Index Server snap-in.
2. Right-click the Index Server snap-in, and then click Stop to stop the Index Server service.
3. Determine the location of the Catalog.wci directory that corresponds to the catalog you want to back up. Right-click the catalog name, and then click Properties. The resulting dialog box displays the location of the Catalog.wci directory.
4. Run a restore program that can be configured to include the entire contents of the Catalog.wci directory from the recovery media.
5. When the restore is complete, restart Index Server.