My backup server is the PDC and my Exchange server is a BDC. I want to do a proper backup in order to be able to restore all email functionality in case of a disaster. What do I need to select for this to work properly? Would it be easier just to do a complete backup of the entire Exchange server? Or if I only need to select certain directories and shares, then which ones?
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Backup of Exchange What to select?
- Thread starter jseman
- Start date
RichardMoran
IS-IT--Management
Are you trying to do an online or offline backup of Exchange?
i.e. Do you have the Exchange Agent for Backup Exec?
I have the Exchange Agent for Backup Exec, which displays the Information Store, Directory , and Mailboxes, within the backup selections screen. You just select what you want to back up. ( This is an online backup, as Exchange Server is still running )
I assume that if you don't have the agent, it doesn't display these items.
It is possible to backup the necessary data, without the Exchange Agent, but you would have to shutdown the Exchange Services to be able to do this. This would be an 'offline' backup.
I'm not an Exchange expert, but I do recall that when restoring from an offline backup, you do have to run a few extra things to get it back to a useable state.
I used to use NT Backup, in my previous job, which is actually Exchange Server aware. As a result, you can perform an online backup quite easily. To recover the Exchange Server, you just needed to re-install the Exchange Server software (plus service packs, in the correct sequence. ), and under NT Backup, select Information Store & Directory, to restore. You would say that you wished to overwrite the existing Exchange files, and NT Backup would do the rest. If I recall correctly, it stops the Exchange services, restores the data, and then restarts the services again. It was a very simple process. I was able to re-install the Exchange software, and the data ( a few hundred MB ), in less than 30 minutes! I don't even think that I had to reboot the server, after installing Exchange. It was much easier than I anticipated.
I have not had to do this with Backup Exec, but I assume that it would be just as easy using the Exchange Agent.
Hope this helps.
Rik
p.s. I appreciate that depending on the complexity of your setup, if you were manually re-installing the software, you may have to do extra work. ( connectors, etc... )
i.e. Do you have the Exchange Agent for Backup Exec?
I have the Exchange Agent for Backup Exec, which displays the Information Store, Directory , and Mailboxes, within the backup selections screen. You just select what you want to back up. ( This is an online backup, as Exchange Server is still running )
I assume that if you don't have the agent, it doesn't display these items.
It is possible to backup the necessary data, without the Exchange Agent, but you would have to shutdown the Exchange Services to be able to do this. This would be an 'offline' backup.
I'm not an Exchange expert, but I do recall that when restoring from an offline backup, you do have to run a few extra things to get it back to a useable state.
I used to use NT Backup, in my previous job, which is actually Exchange Server aware. As a result, you can perform an online backup quite easily. To recover the Exchange Server, you just needed to re-install the Exchange Server software (plus service packs, in the correct sequence. ), and under NT Backup, select Information Store & Directory, to restore. You would say that you wished to overwrite the existing Exchange files, and NT Backup would do the rest. If I recall correctly, it stops the Exchange services, restores the data, and then restarts the services again. It was a very simple process. I was able to re-install the Exchange software, and the data ( a few hundred MB ), in less than 30 minutes! I don't even think that I had to reboot the server, after installing Exchange. It was much easier than I anticipated.
I have not had to do this with Backup Exec, but I assume that it would be just as easy using the Exchange Agent.
Hope this helps.
Rik
p.s. I appreciate that depending on the complexity of your setup, if you were manually re-installing the software, you may have to do extra work. ( connectors, etc... )
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