How to backup Sun Directory Server Data?

Can we backup the LDAP data by executing a filesystem backup on a daily basis?

This question has popped up twice - once from a local defense customer; the other time is from my Thai customer. 

The answer is "No". The LDAP is constantly running, and thus is "hot". A filesystem backup is definitely not appropriate.  

For Sun Directory Server 6.x, there is this helpful command "dsconf" to assist you in backing up your LDAP data.

I suggest a database backup, followed by a LDIF backup.

Backs up Directory Server data (configuration data excluded)

/opt/SUNWdsee/ds6/bin/dsconf backup -p 389 -c /ldap/backup/db/`date +%Y_%m_%d_%H%M%S`

Exports suffix data to LDIF format

/opt/SUNWdsee/ds6/bin/dsconf export -Q -p 389 -c o=isp /ldap/backup/ldif/123.ldif

By using the "dsconf" command, you can be assured that there is no downtime in your directory service.