Backup Exec 10 and Exchange Questions 4

[ChuckM69]

Normally when I set a backup job to backup an Exchange server, I select both the message level and store level options. However, recently, one client's backup has begun to take forever because of the mailbox message by message backup, resulting in about 9+ GB. However, the entire store backup after completing reports that its nearly the same size (backed up 9+GB, 2 stores, 4 files and x number of log files) and doesnt take more then 1 hour as opposed to nearly 8 for the message by message.

My question is this. Do I understand the two scenarios correctly for backup/restore on Exchange? If I backup message by message, I could theoretically go back and restore a message should someone delete it accidently without overwriting the entire database? This leaves me to beleive that for user data protection or whatnot, this is the better of the two.

With the entire store backup, this could only be used in the event of disaster recovery, if we lost the exchange database, if it got corrupted or whatnot, correct? How about Exchange itself. Honestly, I've never been presented with the need or situation, but isnt there a way to retrieve an accidentally deleted message from within Exchange Mgr for a user, without having to resort to a backup tape? This would effectively render the message by message backup useless.

What are your suggestions on Backup Excec and Exchange server.

Thanks.
Charles

 

[zbnet]

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...C5-1190-4FBF-AEDE-007A8F366B0E&displaylang=en

 

[SLMHC]

If you go into ESM and look at the properties of you store, click the limits tab. here you can set the delete items retention. beware that this will increase the size of your store. then educate your users on how to access the items they delete from the deleted items folder.

-Dave

 

[tekieVB]

ChuckM (Sorry so long reply)

You are correct in that if you do a brick-level backup that you "should" be able to use BE and restore that one important email that someone accidently deleted, or easier.

If your Mailbox Store "Deletion Settings" are longer than the length of time since the important email has been deleted you could just select the Folder where the item was deleted from the select -> Tools -> Recover Deleted Items from whichever folder (of course you have to make the correct registry settings on the users pc).

HKLM|SW|MS|EXCHANGE|Client|Options
ValueumpsterAlwaysOn
DATA:1 (DWORD)

If you want to recover the item for them - make the registry change on your computer...and give yourself permission to open the users mailbox and recover the items for them.

Now for your original question BE and Exchange. Most of my customers backup both the entire store and the individual mailboxes (nightly). I think its overkill to do it every single night but they have a large backup window and tape resources to do it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[markdmac]

The easiest way to set up the dumpster is to set it via script as a login script. Note: if you have SBS this si already configured by default.

[green]
'==========================================================================
'
' NAME: DumpsterAlwaysOn.vbs
'
' AUTHOR: Mark D. MacLachlan , The Spiders Parlor
' URL: [URL unfurl="true"]http://www.TheSpidersParlor.com[/URL]
' COPYRIGHT (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved
' DATE  : 10/14/2005
'
' COMMENT: Allows recovery of deleted items from all Outlook Folders.
'
'==========================================================================[/green]
on error resume next
Dim path
Set WSHShell = Wscript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
path = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Exchange\Client\Options\"

WSHShell.RegWrite path & "DumpsterAlwaysOn","1","REG_DWORD"

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[ChuckM69]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

My hesitation to use the Exchange system's retention method of recovering Hard Deleted or emptied trash items was I guess unfounded. I enabled it on our system at the office and tested it with flying colors.

In light of the fact that in a previous MS Tech support call the MS Technician wanted the entire database and log files for restoration, I've decided that Im going to discontinue this clients brick level backups because of the time incurred. With the rentention time set to the same amount of time that was afforded by backup tapes (2 weeks), I dont forsee the database growing outside of its limits. Therefore I made and "executive decision" and turned on the retention and discontinued the brick level backups. Assuming BE is working correctly now, each nightly backup should commit all log files to the database and backup the private and public stores for disaster recovery situations. The 14 day retention should protect the end users in the event someone accidently deletes an important message from the trash.

Thanks again everyone.

Chuck

 

[Zelandakh]

Depending on the spec of the box and the backup device, you could do as suggested. You ought to be able to get it backed up well under the hour if the store is 9GB. Increase the DIRT from 14 days if possible.

To really cover yourself, get a copy of Quest's Aelita Recovery Manager which allows brick restore from store level backup with BE - best of both worlds and you only need BE for store level then which is faster as it doesn't rely on MAPI connections which are slow. Downside is that it is a bit expensive.

Another option is to NTBackup the Store to disk and BE that to tape. It is more complicated but could be even faster.