In a single-server environment, it is possible to back up your DS by making a copy of the DIB files. This is analogous to backing up the bindery in the old NetWare 2 and NetWare 3 environments because all the data is located on a single server. It is not a good idea at all, however, to consider backing up your DS by simply copying the DIB files if you have a multiserver environment. Because the DS database is often in a loosely synchronized, loosely consistent state, you can't guarantee that the DIB on a given server has full data integrity at the time you make a copy of the files.
In a multiserver configuration, it is best to use a Storage Management Service (SMS) “compliant backup application to back up the DS via proper application programming interface calls. eDirectory 8.7 introduced a new backup and restore utility called eDirectory Backup eMTool to back up the eDirectory database on individual servers. You can learn more about SMS, eDirectory Backup eMTool, and other tools that back up and restore DS in Chapter 8, "eDirectory Data Recovery Tools."
