how will backup file size???

i ve a file server anda seperate files server. i ve store the main folder(called Projects) on seeparate drive on file server and given the right to user to access that. my question is that can i take normal backup of that typical folder while other users are accessing?and how will be the size of bkf file of 80 GB folder.????

my question is that can i take normal backup of that typical folder while other users are accessing?and how will be the size of bkf file of 80 GB folder.???? Windows builtin ntbackup can't backup open files (I don't think any backup software can) So you need to tell users to be sure to close all files when they're done work for the day and then schedule your backups for around 2 in the morning. As to size, I can't say. But run the backup once and you'll know. Don't forget to test it if it all possible.

Well actually NTBackup will backup open files, unless the facility is disabled. From the NTBackup Help files: Windows XP allows you to create shadow copy backups of volumes, exact point-in-time copies of files, including all open files. For example, databases that are held open exclusively and files that are open due to operator or system activity are backed up during a volume shadow copy backup. In this way, files that have changed during the backup window are copied correctly. Shadow copy backups ensure that: Applications can continue to write data to the volume during a backup. Files that are open are no longer omitted during a backup. Backups can be performed at any time, without locking out users. Stuart

ntbackup can backup open files since shadow copy was part of the OS [2000 sp4?] http://www.ntbackup.us/Articles/ope... All 3rd party backup utils can backup open files if you purchase the open file module. How large your backup file will be depends on backup compression. At most it will be the same size as on the disk. At best if would be half that size [not likely :-)]