Rebooting a server when users have docs open?

[drjones]

One of my clients is a law firm - about 5-6 workstations - and they are simply awful about keeping literally dozens of windows open with all manner of PDFs and word documents.

They run Win7 Pro and SBS 2011.

I try to coordinate with them to have them close out of everything and reboot their workstations (which also happens very infrequently because they keep a million windows open), but it's difficult. More often then not, I'll login to the server to reboot, check open files & will still see a ton of files open on their workstations.

Their My Docs & Desktop are redirected to the server.

So my question is; is there much risk of data corruption if I reboot the server when my users still have some basic PDFs & Office files open?

I know for Quickbooks & other types of database-driven programs it could be a huge problem....could it affect Office & PDFs too much or am I being paranoid?

Please advise...thank you!

 

[Markverhyden]

Not sure how to do it in QB and other DB based apps but you can turn on local caching within many apps so that local copies of word, excel, are cached in the local app cache. Basically autosave. There is an article on technet discussing something similar related to offline folders.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...les-from-the-local-cache?forum=winserverfiles

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Their My Docs & Desktop are redirected to the server.

If Offline files are enabled....no problem at all.
Even if offline files are not enabled...as long as they're not in the MIDDLE of making changes to something (like...you're rebooting the server at night and nobody is at the office but some users left a few docs 'n sheets open)..."usually" the docs 'n spreadsheets are still fine.

Programs however...like Quickbooks, and other network based software...yeah that isn't so tolerant.

 

[Majestic]

One of my clients is a law firm - about 5-6 workstations - and they are simply awful about keeping literally dozens of windows open with all manner of PDFs and word documents.

They run Win7 Pro and SBS 2011.

I try to coordinate with them to have them close out of everything and reboot their workstations (which also happens very infrequently because they keep a million windows open), but it's difficult. More often then not, I'll login to the server to reboot, check open files & will still see a ton of files open on their workstations.

Their My Docs & Desktop are redirected to the server.

So my question is; is there much risk of data corruption if I reboot the server when my users still have some basic PDFs & Office files open?

I know for Quickbooks & other types of database-driven programs it could be a huge problem....could it affect Office & PDFs too much or am I being paranoid?

Please advise...thank you!

While I'm not sure about Quickbooks and other specific databases, I can say that with Volume Shadow copy on you have a better chance of being covered in the case of a disaster (make sure you schedule it properly too).


Majestic

 

[TAPtech]

Check in the options and settings of those database programs. Some of them have the option to just boot everyone out at once. Probably better to do that first through the program before rebooting the server.

I do this with E2 Shopsystem software sometimes.

 

[drjones]

The only database-driven program I'm aware of that they run is TimeSlips...how tolerant is that of a server reboot?

 

[drjones]

While I'm not sure about Quickbooks and other specific databases, I can say that with Volume Shadow copy on you have a better chance of being covered in the case of a disaster (make sure you schedule it properly too).


Majestic

What's a proper VSS schedule?

 

[Mokester]

They use timeslips? Worked with a few law firms and a couple used timeslips but haven't had any problem rebooting that I can remember pertaining to that program...but I never rebooted while a session was active either. Just remotely reboot their workstations? Lawyers are famous for non-compliance...which I find ironic.

Part of our nightly maintenance was a nightly reboot of workstations that users could opt out of it they were working late...my solution for the lawyers was to perform server work right after workstation reboot maintenance ran...as long as nothing in open files...but I'd also disable all shares as well and basically lock out access until my work was done.

 

[Majestic]

What's a proper VSS schedule?

Well by default the volume shadow service will only backup at (I think this was the exact schedule) at 7 am and 12 pm; at least that's how I've seen it on Windows Servers. I make sure it's done after 4 pm as well and increase the size that is used to give a greater chance of restoration.

Majestic

 

[Majestic]

Dr. Jones, any updates on this? I'm quite curious as to the solution as I've come across a colleague with the exact same situation!

Majestic

One of my clients is a law firm - about 5-6 workstations - and they are simply awful about keeping literally dozens of windows open with all manner of PDFs and word documents.

They run Win7 Pro and SBS 2011.

I try to coordinate with them to have them close out of everything and reboot their workstations (which also happens very infrequently because they keep a million windows open), but it's difficult. More often then not, I'll login to the server to reboot, check open files & will still see a ton of files open on their workstations.

Their My Docs & Desktop are redirected to the server.

So my question is; is there much risk of data corruption if I reboot the server when my users still have some basic PDFs & Office files open?

I know for Quickbooks & other types of database-driven programs it could be a huge problem....could it affect Office & PDFs too much or am I being paranoid?

Please advise...thank you!

 

[drjones]

Well by default the volume shadow service will only backup at (I think this was the exact schedule) at 7 am and 12 pm; at least that's how I've seen it on Windows Servers. I make sure it's done after 4 pm as well and increase the size that is used to give a greater chance of restoration.

Majestic

Ah. So you mean to have a greater number of restore points?

I've had two clients get hit with CryptoLocker & both times VSS saved their bacon. I've since set ALL my clients to 7AM, 12 noon, 5PM and started adding VSS points at 10AM and 2PM as well....

 

[drjones]

Dr. Jones, any updates on this? I'm quite curious as to the solution as I've come across a colleague with the exact same situation!

Majestic

Um....sure.....make sure they have a good backup, reboot & pray?

J/K....kinda...no, no solution that I can really think of other than to warn the client that we *have* to reboot the server and cannot/will not be held responsible for any data loss due to people who did not follow directions & log off prior to the scheduled reboot time.....???

Not like I'm trying to do this at 10AM on a monday or something....

 

[drjones]

Any further input on this?

Since 99% of what's open are PDF & word docs, I think / hope I'm OK to do a reboot....

But they also need to let me reboot their workstations more frequently than every two months.

 

[Knightsman]

I think this comes down to client expectations.

Most of the time, the employee is not trained with how serious it can be if the data loss occurs. Id go in and ask to talk to each employee about it. Willing to bet it gets a lot better.

 

[mraikes]

Any further input on this?

Since 99% of what's open are PDF & word docs, I think / hope I'm OK to do a reboot....

But they also need to let me reboot their workstations more frequently than every two months.

I can't address the PDF/Word corruption issue - although with proper backups even if a problem occurs it's shouldn't be much more than an inconvenience (restoring files from backup).

Server maintenance must be done and sometimes that requires rebooting. After an appropriate discussion with your contact there, notify the users (there aren't that many of them) and just do it.

Users who are properly notified and still fail to close their files assume the responsibility for loss - and the blame if it's a shared filed. The learning curve will be short and they'll know not to ignore your request next time.

If the firm's management won't back you up on this, you've got more of a problem than just wondering if file corruption might be possible.