Backing up SBS 2003 which is domain controller / Exchange server ?

[johnpau80]

Hey !!!

I am completely new to this networking stuff and need
some answers to the following questions.

We have a Windows SBS 2003 server which is our domain controller and Exchange mail server.

I have around 50 users in this network.

What all folders do I need to backup for by recovery incase of the system crash.

1)What Files & Folders related to my Active Directory & Exchange mail server do I need to backup ?

2) Incase of crash of this server (dead box), if i get another server and install SBS 2003 in that box, what should I do from the backup to this new SBS 2003 box ?

I should be fully up atleast to the backup time(last night backup files )

 

[ShackDaddy]

Run the Backup Wizard that's included in the SBS Server Management console. It will back up everything you need. Don't try to exclude directories unless you know the data there is disposable. The default backup is designed to make your environment/domain fully recoverable, with mail.

ShackDaddy

 

[LWComputingMVP]

Brief tips:

1. Use the SBS Wizards Whenever possible. SBS wants to be managed VERY specifically, through the use of the wizards.

2. There can be only ONE SBS server in a domain. If you are going to buy a second server, DO NOT buy another SBS server unless you're trying to get a more powerful server. You CAN have other servers, they just can't run SBS.

3. Personally, I don't like the SBS backup - it's designed to backup everything and never do a differential, so each and every backup is huge and can take significant time depending on how much data is on the server. That said, you want to use the built-in NTBACKUP program to backup the System State (this contains your Active Directory data) and your Exchange Information Store. Imaging and FULL backups can be easier to restore in a disaster, but can also be more costly to setup and maintain.

If you're new to SBS, you might want to review my SBS links page which contains many links on properly setting up a variety of SBS services. It also includes a link on SBS backup:

http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/sbs.asp