Image Backups

[Gerald Wichmann]

In regards to the earlier question regarding backing up millions of small
files, one option brought up was doing an image backup.

What platforms support an image backup? Looks to me like windows doesn t (so
for an NT box this isn t a viable option).

What happens to files that are in use by applications on that filesystem
that you backup with an image backup? Does it lock out the applications or
how do you get a proper image  snapshot  when the filesystem is in use?