sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems Nitsuko-Tie Telephones & Systems Vanguard VM System Backup

Has anyone been able to successfully backup a Vanguard voicemail system?

I tried using the proceedure in "Using a Zip Drive to Perform an Archive/De-Archive Procedure" (doc #17770ARC01). The zipbak.bat file exists, and it's able to read/write to a parallel port zip drive attached to the system. But the zipbak.bat file requires that there be a bunch of .sav files in the c:\vm\backemup directory. I assume the "ARC" command is supposed to create this directory, but it doesn't seem to work.

I also tried the proceedure for "versions 10.06 or higher" in the Vanguard System Guide (17770INS10). I have the hostkey.com utility, but not the "hostkey disk".

Running Software Version 11.01.

Both "authorized dealers" in town told me there's no way to backup a Vanguard system. Their solution was "Buy an Ultramail". But I can't believe they would release a hard drive based system that can't be backup up.

Has anyone been able to pull it off? How did you do it?

Hogwash. You can backup the database with IDEA..the software from CTL right through the serial port. I have backed up Vanguard AND NVM systems using my drive duplicator..of course the drive must still be working to do this. Otherwise you can get a replacement drive from CTL, well we have anyways.

Thanks! Knowing that it *could* be done was all that I needed. It made me go back and dig in deeper to find the problem.

None of the documented proceedures worked; I could never get any response from COM1. COM2 worked perfectly with hostkey though, so I knew my cable was good. I eventually realized that the RS232 line driver on the motherboard was damaged, most likely by someone plugging a phone line into the serial port.

Replaced a 78-cent chip on the motherboard and all is now well. I'll sleep better at night knowing I finally have a backup...